Hi Michelle, the #TMGTalks have closed until next time. Not clear on your Q. Are you asking if I always respond to queries w/ a full MS request? Then the A is yes. Hope that helps. Otherwise stop by the next #TMGTalks thread.

It's not necessary to let the agent know that a manuscript has been professionally edited. Of course, any manuscript or query letter that comes in should already be polished. #TMGTalks

There's absolutely nothing wrong with having an international background as a new author. In fact, we have many clients from Canada! The question is more so about whether you hope to have a bigger presence is the U.S. and internationally or primarily in Canada. #TMGTalks

More and more editors are asking for #MG fiction that addresses "tougher" issues, and are not shying away from themes that #MG novels of the past may have avoided. #TMGtalks

James wrote Only Dead on the Inside: A Parent’s Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse. Granted that somehow fits within nonfiction/humor. In fiction, I’m rarely looking for zombie books unless it’s really well done. This article might help #TMGTalks m.mythcreants.com/blog/will-your…

It all depends on how and why you want to publish. If traditional publishing is your aim, I would suggest NOT self-publishing. Send a query and find the agent who is as passionate as you are into turning it into print. #TMGtalks

I like queries that start with a question, either literally or figuratively. They ask: What if...? What if X does Y? Etc. It grabs me if it feels fresh and inventive. Then, I'll jump to the end of query to review the bio, but for me, it's always story first. #TMGtalks

Hi! I'm a bit unclear on the question, but I think the answer is you always have a "chance" of finding the right agent, and if your book has a sequel or is the start of a series, research agents who sell those types of projects, for an even better chance. #TMGtalks

ICYMI: Here are some of the highlights from today's #TMGTalks!

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Our agency agreements are simple & fair. Looks after interests of agency & author. Usually covers length of term of representation & restates commission structure. There are All Works Term Rep agreements, Single Work Term Rep, & Print Publishing Only Term Rep agreements #TMGTalks

It's hard to say what the next trend in book publishing will be as no one really has a crystal ball. For instance, who could have predicted 50 Shades or Harry Potter. I always believe that it's best to be making waves rather than following in the wake of others. #TMGTalks

In looking at my own bookshelf, I see The Chicago Manual of Style, Writer's Market 2017, LMP, Publishing for Profit, The Art of Literary Publishing, Another Life, Max Perkins: Editor of Genius, and a subscription to @PublishersWkly & @PublishersLunch can't hurt #TMGTalks

Gotta read On Writing, and a personal favorite, Bird by Bird. #TMGTalks

The holidays can slow things down but I've found that pitches going out to publishers this time of year is slow. The same goes for incoming submissions to literary agencies so this could actually be a good time to be submitting to literary agents who have free time! #TMGTalks

In the children's market, it's watching and participating in a literary landscape that's both slowly and finally striving for inclusivity, diversity, and honesty in the stories being told and who gets to tell them. #TMGTalks

Memoir can be tricky since it shares qualities with fiction. Fiction relies on quality prose; nonfiction relies on an author's platform & built-in readership but sometimes a bestselling memoir can come out of nowehere! Take @JDVance1 or @CherylStrayed, for instance. #TMGTalks

Sounds like it's an honest way of saying that in the literary agent's own opinion, they don't feel confident that they could sell it, but that another literary agent or literary agency might feel differently. #Publishing is a highly-subjective business #TMGTalks

Good to have interest! Best to submit a manuscript to literary agents once you've done all that you can with it. Making changes to a manuscript already on submission could disrupt the reading process. Of course the literary agent and editor will help with edits later on #TMGTalks

Hi Tiffany! I think this varies project to project. #YA and #MG are separated by more than just age ranges. If it's currently leaning YA, I would follow that instinct, and then reassess after some betareads and revisions. #TMGTalks

It's true that trends come and go. My honest opinion is that since paranormal has been cooler than in years past, it's only a matter of time until the pendulum swings back, which I think it will. #TMGTalks