Juliet Mushens

· 22 Apr 2020

Lou Cook @LouCookWrites

@julietpickering How long does it typically take you to respond after requesting a full? #askagent

For me it totally depends how many edits I have for clients and how busy I am. I'd say 1-2 months usually. Sometimes much quicker! #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

TinDogPodcast -STAY AT HOME @TinDogPodcast

#askagent if I had a successful self published book would an agent seek me out?

Replying to @TinDogPodcast

I wouldn't seek the author out: 1) if it's self-published successfully is there a traditional market left for it and 2) what could I add that you haven't already got? But if the author approached me bc they wanted a traditional route I'd certainly be open #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Wendy Burke @WendyBurke101

@mushenska @julietpickering #askagent Hi to both Juliets, thanks for doing this. What would your thoughts be on seeing 'accessible literary/reading group fiction' in a query? My debut novel crosses both genres but this description feels clunky!

Replying to @WendyBurke101

I'd probably just call it reading group fiction #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Toni @toniwordsmith

@mushenska @julietpickering Hello, I have a question about pen names! Is there anything I should consider from a marketing/commercial stand point when picking a pen name? #askagent

Replying to @toniwordsmith

Not really - I'd probably sub under your 'normal' name and then mention to the agent you want a pen name and why if they offer rep. A few of mine write under them #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

👑 Daniel Riding 🏳️‍🌈 @danielriding

@mushenska @julietpickering Do you think there is room for a gay mm rom com in a traditionally published mainstream world? And is it so ething either of you would consider representing if the work was good enough? ❤👑👬 #askagent

Replying to @danielriding

I'd definitely be open to it! #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Rosie @RosieP1987

@julietpickering #askagent What are your views on the dreaded prologue? I’ve seen advice (for example in Mslexia) that aspiring authors should simply ditch any form of prologue. Not sure I agree with the premise, but what do agents think?

Replying to @RosieP1987

I don't mind a prologue as long as it feels necessary and not a way to inject tension into the first 3 chapters if they feel on the slow side #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Milla Reed @milla_reed

#lockdown is affecting us all in different ways. Do you think it has changed how agents look at pitches at all? #askagent

Replying to @milla_reed

totally depends on the agent! I'm probably reading more as I don't have meetings or travel time! #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

That Publishing Blog @thatpubblogger

Hi @julietpickering, @mushenska #askagent

If you have queried an agent in the past in one genre only to then write an MS in a different one, would the former query hinder chances of being taken on with the latter? Should the 1st query be mentioned in the 2nd covering letter?

Replying to @thatpubblogger

you don't need to mention it at all #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Tony Frame @ThatTonyFrame

Hey agents - I have finished my horror novel & it's word count is 145,000. Is this too long to be taken on as a first time writer? I am looking to cut that down but might find it difficult to just cut parts out without interfering with the story. Cheers! #askagent

Replying to @ThatTonyFrame

that is definitely on the long side - my concerns would be about maintaining the pace (and the dread!) over that word count. I'd suggest putting it away for a month and when you come back to it you'll likely have a better idea of what is extraneous #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Anup 📝📚 @anuponthenet

@mushenska @julietpickering What are some of your favorite adult SFF books? thanks.

Replying to @anuponthenet

Outside of the authors I represent I love NK Jemisin, Robin Hobb, Naomi Novik, Joe Abercrombie, Ray Bradbury... #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Nikki Dudley @nikkidudley20

@mushenska @flyraccoonfly #askagent If your full ms request is rejected but you received feedback, is that a good sign? Most are form rejections so any feedback is good, right?!

Replying to @nikkidudley20

yes definitely a positive #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Ben Ross @flyraccoonfly

@mushenska @Jawahara Does this really happen for every book you take on? I occasionally feel this way about a great book, but honestly not every book that I've read that's been published... I get that it's subjective, but every agent seems to say this!

Replying to @flyraccoonfly

Yes! I HAVE to love that book in order to edit it, pitch it, believe in it thru rejections, shepherd it through publication and then work with the author on their next projects. But it IS subjective - I guarantee my fave novels are not everyone's favourites! #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Mark Lowes @MJLAuthor

Are there any upcoming popular trends/topics/genres you're seeing?
#askagent

Replying to @MJLAuthor

a LOT of pandemic novels #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Lynne Shelby @LynneB1

Hi, What is the maximum length/word count you would recommend for a contemporary romantic novel? #askagent

Replying to @LynneB1

most are around 80-100k #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Jenny Ireland @IdreamofNarnia

@mushenska @julietpickering #askagent is the New Adult market popular at the minute? Particularly for women's fiction/ romance genres.

Replying to @IdreamofNarnia

it never really took off in the UK - quite a few publishers tried it but it struggled over here as a genre #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Carol Lucas @callydcfc

#askagent if I got a full request from an agent and it was then rejected, is it bad form to mention it when I query the next book?

I'm leaning towards not mentioning it

Replying to @callydcfc

Up to you to be honest - if your gut says not to mention it then go with that #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

JD Horner @jd_horner

#askagent
Hi there. I’m currently editing my fourth contemporary fiction novel but it is 130000 words. I’m finding it difficult to cut back without loosing clarity or something necessary. When you receive a submission, is this length a definit no-no?

Replying to @jd_horner

It's not an instant no, but it would make me worry that the pace would be difficult to sustain #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

julieP @readmynovels

Hi. do you, as an agent, edit submissions? Does the publisher expect to edit, perhaps change the book title, make other adjustments if a novel is accepted?
#askagent

Replying to @readmynovels

Yes, I do, and yes, the editor will expect to some work on the book also - can range from minor nips and tucks to quite big structural work #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Beatrice Anobah @anobah_beatrice

@mushenska #askagent hi Juliet, how does one know their MS is ready for submission? My MS has been critiqued, workshopped, re-edited...I keep thinking I'm on the final draft but I also thought that about 2 drafts ago!

Replying to @anobah_beatrice

You'll never QUITE know but I'd say that after 3 drafts, hit that send button #askagent

· 22 Apr 2020

Gemma @GemIsWriting

With the looming economic uncertainty, do you think agents/publishers will be even more wary about signing authors writing in genres already considered a 'tough sell' (e.g. SFF)? #askagent

Replying to @GemIsWriting

Right now, it's business as usual - editors are still buying as they need to bolster their lists for the next 12/18 months. We got through 2008 so I think we'll get through this #askagent

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