Juliet Mushens
Literary Agent
Mushens Entertainment
Literary agent at @MushensEnt, sartorialist and cat wrangler. Wartime consigliere. Pollyanna-ish. Generally heard before I'm seen. Bend and SNAP.
Literary Agent
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Cesca Major (C.D.Major) @CescaMajor
@mushenska @MyRejections I remember thanking you for your rejection on a book that was later published. You were kind enough to then offer to re-read if I did work on it. It was so encouraging so I was pretty pleased I didn't reply, 'screw you Mushens I'm the next JK!' #justsayin #AskAgentYes worth remembering that a no for that book doesn’t mean a no for the next one! Several of my clients had projects I had passed on before the one I signed them for #askagent
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The Columnist @Sime0nStylites
@jounwin @mushenska @MyRejections A related question, out of curiosity, when you’re reading a submission how quickly do you tend to get a sense for whether it’s potentially really interesting (ie read on) or regretfully perhaps move on?I read as much as I need to! Sometimes that can be the pitch letter before realising it isn’t for me, sometimes it can be 50pp before I realise the writing doesn’t work, or the concept isn’t strong enough etc #askagent
Literary Agent
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Victoria Benstead-Hume @victoriahume
Afternoon! I write YA Sci-Fi. I've been told there's more market for that in the USA, do you think that's the case and therefore would it be better to submit overseas as well as to UK agents? Thanks! #askagentYes you certainly can try both markets #askagent
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Feargus Woods Dunlop @thisactorslife
How do you strike the balance between already having something too similar & it being too far out of your remit/interests? #AskAgentI would say that I represent books in the same genre for sure but the pitch can’t be too close. So two novels which are thrillers set in Cornwall, fine, two novels which are thrillers set in Cornwall where a nun is the detective - not fine #askagent
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Ben Edge @bnedge
#AskAgent If I’ve previously submitted to a few agents, and based on feedback have gone back and changed the book entirely (setting, time period, title, pretty much everything except the core themes and structure) would I be able to resubmit to agents previously submitted to?Not usually, but certainly try new people! #askagent
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Elizabeth Frattaroli @ELIZFRAT
Do you prefer your authors to have a brand and stick to one genre/target age range, or would you encourage people to try and diversify once they are established? (I'm thinking particularly of YA writers at present, as I know some have been asked to write up or down) #askagentIf I sign someone for a novel in X genre, I know it's likely that the publisher will want to build them in that area - readers tend to be loyal to genre rather than author, unless they are successfully established already. However, you can diversify with pen names etc #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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Linda @lindcai
@julietpickering @mushenska @jounwin I found Spread the Word's diversity report an interesting read. What are your experiences of taking on/pitching novels by BAME writers? I'm Asian & so excited to see more Asian writers being published but wonder what my chances are realistically. Many thanks :) #AskAgentI am very eager to find more ownvoices novels - and I'd say I have a pretty strong hit rate in placing those clients with publishers #AskAgent
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MyRejections @MyRejections
Why do increasing amounts of agents just not get back to writers at all, despite their website promises? Excluding the lovely & polite agents replying to this hashtag of course...#askagent
myrejections.com/post/unsolicit…
I do respond to every submission, which is a time-consuming process. However, it can be quite painful to take the time to read & respond and then receive a snarky, mean spirited reply: my rejection is never intended personally, whereas people often take them that way. #AskAgent
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Ms Barney Harper @MsBarneyHarper
This may be a silly question but please forgive me I'm new. Do I need an agent for a non-fiction book? #AskAgentyes, most publishers only accept submissions via agents #AskAgent
Literary Agent
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Jeanna Louise Skinner @JeannaLStars
I see witchcraft is having a moment lately. What genre would you say these kind of books fall into? Specifically a mostly contemporary set romance with historical and witchcraft elements? I'm wary of calling it paranormal as I know it's a hard sell. Ty #askagenttotally depends, e.g. THE FAMILIARS was reading group historical, whereas others have been more romantic. Maybe timeslip, if it's contemporary with historical elements? #AskAgent
Literary Agent
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Tim Bisset @timbisset
#AskAgent some literary agencies have TV/screen agents. Have you (or would you be swayed) by taking on a book which you 80% loved, but thought "this could really work/be easy to sell as a TV/film?" Genuinely asking out of curiosity, not in this position!no, I haven't been #AskAgent
Literary Agent
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Karen Vivers🏴🇳🇱🖊️ @KarenVivers
#AskAgent is it sensible to keep submitting over holiday times (July/August)?no one is on holiday this year, ha ha, so probably fine #askagent
Literary Agent
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Abi Lown @AbiLown
@jounwin How often does a working title change before publication? Is it important that you’ve researched other similar titles out there before submission? #AskAgentthey change often! The best titles place the book in a particular market and/or tell a story in and of themselves #askagent
Literary Agent
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Linda Stephen @linstevo1
@julietpickering @BristolPrize @mushenska @katenashagent @RobbieGuillory Thanks for doing this! How specific should a synopsis be? I've seen some guidelines say to include every plot twist while others say they don't need (or really want) to know every twist- just to flesh out the pitch. #askagentStick to 1-2 pages and tell me who dies at the end #askagent
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EJ Kingsley @ericajok
@mushenska #askagent Last week I read somewhere when rejections say "we don't think we are right to represent you" or "another agency may soon be keen..." then it has potential, But does it matter if no one asks for a full? Is it just a better-worded rejection?Hmm I would say that sounds like a standard rejection to me - normally even a line of personalised feedback is encouraging though #askagent
Literary Agent
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E.S. Alexander @ESAlexander4
#askagent Oooh, knew there's something else I wanted to ask: Titles. I have one (obviously) but wasn't thinking too hard about it when submitting. I've now hit upon a much better title that is much more compelling. Do agents judge a manuscript's title...or is that not an issue?I wouldn’t sweat it, titles often change #askagent
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Lilith Antoinette (not related to Mary) @justlilytbh
#askagent should you hire an editor before submitting or is that somethin an agent can help with? Im on a third draft with some great constructive beta reader responses.You don’t need to hire an editor but should get it as polished as YOU can #askagent
Literary Agent
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E.S. Alexander @ESAlexander4
#askagent Are the days of Max Perkins working with Tom Wolfe (and F. Scott Fitzgerald etc.) long gone? Just how involved are today's agents (YOU :-)) in helping shape books that show potential, if not immediately publishable?I loooove editing #askagent
Literary Agent
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William C Powell @WillCamPowell
@mushenska #askagent when researching agents I look at their requirements and think, yes, great match for newest finished MS, but not for WIP (or other un-trunked MSs). Should I just move on in search of the perfect agent, or query and hope we can reach an accommodation on other works?I’d query the current MS to the best fit for it and worry about the rest later #askagent