Literary Agent
Cindy Cummins @cindy_cdcummins
What is a good word count for YA-Fiction? I have received good feed back, but one agent said my word count was a bit low. #AskUpstartIt depends on the genre. A contemporary might be as low as 60,000, a fantasy might be upwards of 100,000. #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Nancy Parish @nancyparish
#askupstart What does "I didn't connect with the main character" mean in a query. Is that something that can be easily fixed .When I say that I mean I was unable to care for the character - to be invested in them, to love them. And that usually means something's not right with bringing the character to life, and making their motivations clear. #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Nancy Parish @nancyparish
#askupstart What does "I didn't connect with the main character" mean in a query. Is that something that can be easily fixed .I use this phrase a lot when reading queries. For me, it means that something about the character voice didn't spark. #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Lynn Rogalsky 💻 @lynn_rog
What do you look for in a nonfiction PB, biography or otherwise?Also, are chapter books a hard sell?
#AskUpstart
See my response to another writer here, about CBs. For nonfiction, I look for projects that will be exciting for kids. There are so many possible subjects, but I want a book I know readers will love. #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Kimberly Mitchell @KSMitchell17
What are you desperate to see in your inbox right now? What’s trending with publishers? #askUpstartI'd love see more funny female YA leads. #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Keri @BackyardReading
If an agent is not interested do they typically let the author know, or is it a matter of silence means no? #AskUpstartA thousand different agents might give you a thousand different answers on this. For me, I always try to respond. It's not always timely, but I try! #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Susan Hawk @susanhawk
Time for more #MSWL! In terms of categories, I am really hungry for MG. Stand-alone or series, classic-feeling or not, contemporary or historical, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, adventure - I’d like to see more MG!I'm very hungry to see #MG. I tweeted last week about what I'm looking for in that category: twitter.com/susanhawk/stat…. #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Angie Hawkins @th_littlebirdie
#AskUpstart if you really liked the writing of a submitted piece but it was too close to something you already had, would you ask for other/more mss or decline and move on?I would likely invite the writer to query any future works. #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Nancy Parish @nancyparish
#AskUpstart Is it okay to use movies as comps in a query letter?I'd be sure to use a book, or two books!, before you comp to a movie. But when it fits, go for it! #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Lynn Rogalsky 💻 @lynn_rog
#askUpstart I don't write to them, but I'm curious how trends begin.Now that's a fascinating question! Why does a certain book feel absolutely perfect, at a certain time and place? My gut is that it often will connect to the larger culture - what's happening in the world at the time. #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Rebecca R. Cohen @RebeccaRCohen2
@susanhawk @UpstartCrowLit What is the key to hooking an agent? What stories really catch your eye? #askUpstart #askmeanythingWrite a fantastic manuscript, and pair it with a clear, concise query. I never know exactly what I'm looking for when I open the query box, but I'm always ready to be wowed. #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Danielle Chiotti @daniellechiotti
@mikalroy Lately, I find myself dealing less in trends and more in: does this story surprise and delight me? I want to be surprised and delighted. #AskUpstartI don't think we're in a heavy trend period - no vampires taking over the shelves, no dystopian dominance. Its a good thing! More exciting for the field to be open. I do see exciting growth, esp in MG, where editors are hungry for GNs, and books for the older readers. #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Maureen M. Mirabito @maureenmirabito
I’m planning to query agents in batches—6 to 7 at a time. If I don’t get any interest from those 6 or 7, should I consider a revision? What’s your take? #askupstartIf the comments from agents call out the same issues in the novel, then it's worth considering a revision. Otherwise, get it out as widely as you can! #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Michael Stearns @mikalroy
What “trends” do you see growing or waning nowadays? Or is it utterly foolish to speak of trends at all? #AskUpstartLately, I find myself dealing less in trends and more in: does this story surprise and delight me? I want to be surprised and delighted. #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Maureen M. Mirabito @maureenmirabito
@mikalroy Yes, you’re right. I am. Thank you for that shift. I was always under the impression that the query was the ticket to an agent reading more. First pages makes sense.Just seconding Michael's comment here! No one makes an offer of rep because of a great query. It's the manuscript that matters most! #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Danielle Chiotti @daniellechiotti
@mikalroy @th_littlebirdie The barn was very large. It was very old. It smelled of hay and it smelled ofmanure. It smelled of the perspiration of tired horses and the wonderful sweet breath
of patient cows. It often had a sort of peaceful smell as though nothing bad could
happen ever again in the world.
Charlotte's Web. Every darn time. #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
kirsten pendreigh @kpiependreigh
@UpstartCrowLit #AskUpstart Hello! I write PB's. Susan, I see that you, like many agents, currently prefer author-illustrators...What is your advice for author-only PB writers? Hypothetically, how might a person convince you to consider a text-only PB? ;)Well, you can always send it to me to see! My advice is: persistence! Keep track of who's looking for PB texts, keep improving your craft, and keep going! #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Maureen M. Mirabito @maureenmirabito
What’s been the biggest surprise in the MG market in recent years, both in terms of what‘s written and what’s selling? #askupstartI can't think of a surprise, but I am very glad for the increased representation we're seeing - though more to do there, for sure. I'm delighted that GNs are doing so well, and also love older MG - the boundaries that are being pushed there. #AskUpstart
Literary Agent
Maureen M. Mirabito @maureenmirabito
If I’ve queried you and need to remove olives and mermaids and how much my character hates her new town from the story, how long should I wait to try again? #AskUpstartIf you have something fresh and new, why not try now? #AskUpstart