Juliet Mushens

I’d say finish the novel first (not sure if it’s unfinished from WIP?) and give it 3 drafts - and then send #askagent

Most agents will give you a guideline as to when to expect a response on their website - for a partial I would say 8 weeks generally #askagent

Yes for sure #askagent

Usually 12-18 months from me selling it but can be 6 months between signing and selling #askagent

Short story collections can be a tricky sell in the U.K. Whilst in the US there is much more of a clear history and market for them even collections by bestselling authors tend to sell fewer copies than their novels do #askagent

I always think about the questions the reader will have and now and when you will answer them #askagent

So hard to predict but I think escapism #askagent

Thank you and yes #askagent

Fine! #askagent

I definitely agree you have to push through the misery and just get the words down on the page without endlessly editing them - only then can you refine. But some people have great first drafts! #askagent

Not essential but I find it useful #askagent

We normally discuss what they want to write next and same with the publisher #askagent

Not knowing the hook at the heart of the story, too slow a pace, lots of grammatical errors #askagent

Read as much as you can and learn to read critically! Apply for work experience programmes if possible #askagent

I think early adult can be difficult as a genre - in the US there is a long tradition of the campus novel but here we struggle a little! But I never know until I see it #askagent

I have some US authors - as long as they know my primary market is the U.K. #askagent

I would probably ABCABC as I think potentially a lot to ask a reader to invest in a totally new character and time 2/3 of the way through a novel. And yes CAN be done well, but challenging #askagent

Yes #askagent

That’s a tough one! Sometimes for me the person can be a good writer but the story/hook doesn’t feel distinct enough and I can’t see how to find it a publisher/wide audience #askagent

I would say focus on the genre it is MOST like - if it’s historical fantasy focus on the fantasy for example #askagent