Juliet Mushens

@mushenska

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.

querytracker.net/agent.php?agent=5823

· 13 May 2020

Deborah Jenkins @Loverofhats

@Loverofhats @mushenska Is it acceptable to submit a novel to several agents and publishers (who welcome unsolicited manuscripts) simultaneously, as long as you mention it? Thanks in advance for this

Replying to @Loverofhats

yes it's fine, but update everyone of movement - if you get an offer of publication I'd tell agents #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Danica Pine @danica_pine

@mushenska @julietpickering Is it a problem to submit a MS written in British English to an US agent and vice versa? #AskAgent

Replying to @danica_pine

not at all #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

millie ryan @milliejryan

#AskAgent most important things that you look for in a query letter? Personable vs Formal?

Replying to @milliejryan

succinct, good clear pitch, professional #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Jade M. Loren 🔮 @jadewritesbooks

#AskAgent this is mostly a UK vs US thing, but cover letters/query letters -- same format as each other? As in strong hook, book, cook?

Or is the UK cover letter more like you'd get in a CV?

Replying to @jadewritesbooks

they're the same thing #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Johanne Winwood @supavillain999

@mushenska @julietpickering If you've previously submitted a fantasy novel ( no interest) to an agent looking for general subs, would it be acceptable to submit a general fiction to the same agent? Or is it a case of once they say no, don't bother them again?#AskAgent

Replying to @supavillain999

absolutely fine to send to the same agent again #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Lucy Grace 🐝🖍️🏳️‍🌈 @lgracewriter

@mushenska @julietpickering Hi, would you think I'm am idiot for not knowing exactly how to label my ms? I know clearly what it's NOT, but find the lines between book club / women's / domestic thriller etc. blurry. Just putting together query & synopsis now. Have you read work & taken it when mislabeled? Tx

Replying to @lgracewriter

yes absolutely - one of my authors submitted her literary thriller under the belief it was YA! #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Cal-Amity-Pen @PenAmity

@mushenska @julietpickering If you could magic a perfect query into your inbox what would it look like...
#Askagent

Replying to @PenAmity

a neat and hooky pitch! #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Elspeth Wilson @ElliJWilson

@julietpickering @mushenska Would you say getting multiple personalised rejections is an encouraging sign for a new author? Thank you! #askagent

Replying to @ElliJWilson

yes, anything personalised is encouraging #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

👑 Daniel Riding 🏳️‍🌈 @danielriding

@mushenska @julietpickering I can't seem to nail down one thing I want to write. I want to write, 5-8, 9-12, teen, fantasy, contemporary, romance, literary, horror, fantasy etc etc etc. I want to write EVERYTHING. How do I find a focus? #AskAgent :)

Replying to @danielriding

I'd start with the project which you most enjoy, and potentially which you most enjoy reading #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Dexter Oakwood @dexter_oakwood

@mushenska @julietpickering With a major recession ahead of us, and the self harm of Brexit still to come, will agents be signing fewer new writers? Will it become even harder to get rep and a publishing deal?

#AskAgent

Replying to @dexter_oakwood

I'm still reading and signing - my business now will be for books which publish in 12-18 months so I think we have to shore up the future partially by finding new talent #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Caroline @carolinenwigg

@mushenska #askagent thank you. Glad it was a success for him!
So should I mention in the cover letter that it’s already been posted on there, or just not say anything?
☺️

Replying to @carolinenwigg

you can mention it if you want! #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Saara El-Arifi @saaraelarifi

@mushenska #askagent how many scenes is too many scenes in a chapter (when it isn’t being used as a creative device)?

Replying to @saaraelarifi

I'm not a stickler about these kind of writing rules - as long as it's easy to follow it's fine #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Michelle M McGrath @MichelleMMcGr

@mushenska @julietpickering hi there, do you find all new clients through the submission process - or other ways? Heard a podcast interview yesterday with someone in the industry who said "Few authors are found in those slush piles" and felt very disheartened. Didn't listen to the rest! :-) Thanks
#AskAgent

Replying to @MichelleMMcGr

99% of mine came from slush, including now million copy bestsellers! #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

👑 Daniel Riding 🏳️‍🌈 @danielriding

@mushenska @julietpickering #AskAgent how had agenting/publishing changed during the current covid climate apart from working from home?

Replying to @danielriding

Contracts over Docusign! #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Jessica Payne @jessicabluewri1

@mushenska @julietpickering Do U.K. based agents often represent US authors? Is publishing different, or do agents there have access to the same houses US agents do? Recently saw a MSWL perfect for my book, but UK based agent. Thanks!

Replying to @jessicabluewri1

I do rep some US authors - but my primary market is the UK, and I then work with a US co-agent to place the book there. It also depends on the feel of the book, e.g. some settings feel peculiarly American, or British, so best to target an agent there! #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Tonia Markou @toniawrites

@mushenska @julietpickering Should the events of an epilogue also be mentioned in the synopsis? Thank you in advance for your answer and time. #AskAgent

Replying to @toniawrites

if important to plot then yes #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Caroline @carolinenwigg

@mushenska Fab, thank you! Also, I’ve published a story on Wattpad and want to query it to agents. Can I do this if it’s already online? Or will the fact that it’s already on Wattpad turn agents off?
#askagent

🤓

Replying to @carolinenwigg

it's fine - I actually rep a big Wattpad success who's now a NYT bestseller :) it worked out well for him! #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Liz Harvey @lizlaumiere

Hi, if an agent requests a full, how long until I might expect a reply? (I know... but rough window?!) Would you give feedback even if it’s a No? Would you even get back to me?? Thanks! #askagent

Replying to @lizlaumiere

I always reply to full requests, can take me a while depending on other demands on my reading time! But I do give feedback too #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Zoë🌹 @zoeclarewrites

Is there a particular genre agents receive a lot of queries for? I see a lot of people asking about fantasy novels but rarely other genres #AskAgent

Replying to @zoeclarewrites

Just speaking for myself, I get a lot of YA fantasy and a lot of thrillers #AskAgent

· 13 May 2020

Caroline @carolinenwigg

@mushenska @julietpickering #AskAgent is a 17-year-old protagonist too old for young adult? I’m not sure if my novel should come under new adult or stay as young adult?

Thank you! 😊

Replying to @carolinenwigg

That's fine! Your audience tends to read up, so a 17 y/o protag would be read by a teen audience #AskAgent