Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

D. Hawkins 🌈 @DHawkinsAuthor

@leonicka How many words should we shoot for in a query to you?
Replying to @DHawkinsAuthor

I don’t really have a word count limit for queries but it shouldn’t take more than 3 - 4 paragraphs. About the book, where it fits in the market, about the author. #askagent #amquerying

Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

Diane Farrugia @DianeFarrugia3

@leonicka Would a YA/Adult crossover fantasy romance with chronic illness rep. interest you?
Replying to @DianeFarrugia3

Fantasy romance is tricky right now! Contemporary romance is king, despite my best efforts. I see some signs that this is changing (Katee Robert! Ruby Dixon!) but I’m not ready to add it to my #mswl yet. #askagent

Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips
Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

Nathan Maharaj 🦖 @nrmaharaj

@leonicka What's a common query no-no? The kind of thing that instantly puts a query in the No pile, but smart and worthy writers often trip over?

Unclear or absent stakes for the protagonist. Even the most literary, character-driven novel is meant to capture a pivotal moment. If I can’t parse the “something will change or else” of the book from the query I have to pass. #askagent #querytip

Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

Writers are often looking for the maximum number of agents to pitch to but in my session on queries I posit that this is an incorrect approach. You want to look for the most QUALIFIED agents to pitch to. #askagent

Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips
Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips
Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

RaQia Lowo @RaQiaLowo

@leonicka Do I have to move to Canada for you to be my agent? 😂😂

Seriously, this looks like a great conference. I'm preoccupied with finishing MS to query WITH. I can't think of any questions right now.

GREAT QUESTION! Answer is NO! Especially in the internet age it doesn’t matter where your agent lives only that they have the necessary expertise to sell in the territory you want your book to be published. #askagent #publishingtips

Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips
Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

Laura Zats @LZats

It's 2021; it's time to stop comping to Harry Potter

I see some folks in the replies asking why and I’m bored on this afternoon walk so I’ll answer! #askagent

Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

Veronica F. Johnson @vfieldsjohnson

@leonicka Hi @leonicka thank you for taking questions! What level of editing would you recommend for an aspiring author's manuscript before submitting to an agent? Copy, Line, Developmental or all 3?

All of the above! Send the agent the best draft you can. You don’t want to be rejected for something you knew you had to fix. Don’t start querying if you’re still circulating the draft for feedback. #askagent

Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

Léonicka @leonicka

I LOVE this Q and am running a workshop on it June 12.
Short A: Self-publishing is amazing if Self has the skills and resources to fill the function of a publisher.

floridawritingworkshops.com/schedule-2018-… twitter.com/trent_lewin/st…

Functions of publisher incl:
-prepare product for market (incl editing, typesetting, cover design)
-produce product (incl print and bind)
-market product (incl identify target audience and convert them to readers)
-distribute product (incl warehouse, ship, fulfillment)
#askagent

Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips
Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips
Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

G’morning! I’m doing a day in the life and an #askagent on my IG. Y’all should really follow me over there @/leonicka_

Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

Julianne Mundle @JulianneMundle

@leonicka Hi @leonicka, I noticed that you are not interested in manuscripts that “teach a lesson.” Are you able to elaborate on what you mean by that please?

GREAT Q! I want books that kids will pick up for themselves and share with their friends, not books that their parents/teachers will force them read so they learn to share or the value of teamwork or something. I’m not a fan of didactic texts. #askagent

Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

Gina Denny @ginad129

@leonicka If an agent/agency says their response time is X weeks, but X week fell during the holiday fog at the end of December, should I allow more time? Or assume it's a No Response Means No? #askagent
Replying to @ginad129

Great question! Agents with a “no response means no” policy will state so clearly on their site. If they list a response but have missed it, they’re probably just swamped/dealing with all the 2020 nonsense. I recommend giving them a bit more time, then a polite nudge. #askagent

Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips
Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

Ren Kath @RenKath1

@leonicka @alechiawrites As a Canadian writer, would I be looking at a significantly different experience working with an agent in Canada vs the US?

A US agent may be less familiar with the vagaries and idiosyncrasies of the Canadian industry. Might be less familiar with awards system and grant structures. If those things are important to you ask in the offer call. #askagent

Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

Matthias St. Richard @MatthiStRichard

@leonicka Ooh! Are genre-mashers (manuscripts that consciously belong to multiple genres or no genre at all) easier to analyse, or harder?

Not sure what you mean by analyse but they can be a slightly harder sell only because publishing likes easy labels and obvious audience. But that won’t deter an experienced agent cuz when it works it works really well. #askagent