Kiara Valdez
@dezinpub
Editor
@01FirstSecond Editor Extraordinaire | Writer | ✏️STEPPING UP | She/Her | Opinions are mine | Demi-Bi Afro🇩🇴 | #LatinxInPub | Rep’d: @BrittSiess
3 MSWL
6 AskAgent

Exquisite ⚔️🤎 @ExquisiteWill

What are things that immediately turn you away from a pitch? #askdvpit

Some red flags:
1. If the person knows nothing about the market (i.e if you are pitching your story as MG but it definitely reads YA, etc or if their comps are SO off)
2. If the story obviously doesn’t feel like it was written for GN #askDVpit

Tiffany Liao
@Tiff_Liao
Editor
Executive Editor @zandoprojects . 408 in the land of 212. It's pronounced meow with an L. Opinions are my own. She/her.
26 MSWL
5 AskAgent
1 Tips

Tangent Points @PointsTangent

#askDVpit
How often do trends lasts or return if they've gone out of favor? For instance, high fantasy or paranormal MCs?

It's hard to predict the trajectory of a trend but what is certain is that nothing kills a trend faster than flooding the market with the same tired iteration. Readers grow fatigued with copycats but not an entire genre. If you have a fresh take, go for it! #askdvpit

Emily Forney
@EmilyKaitlinnn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @bookendslit • Undiscovered National Treasure • Neighborhood Book Bimbo • emilykaitlin.com for #MSWL (she/her)
58 MSWL
16 AskAgent

KateReen @KateReenAuthor

How do you feel when a manuscript from a non-native English speaker lands on your desk, trying to get published in English? Is the distance an issue? #askdvpit

Distance is truly not an issue. I have many authors on my list who do not live in the US and as long as you’re passionate about your storytelling and willing to work with me on your project, I’ll look at it #askDVpit

Emily Forney
@EmilyKaitlinnn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @bookendslit • Undiscovered National Treasure • Neighborhood Book Bimbo • emilykaitlin.com for #MSWL (she/her)
58 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Jessica Corra 🍂 🕸 🎃 @jessicacorra

#askDVPit Best editing tips or resources? How do you know you're improving the book and not rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic?

This is the funniest metaphor omg. I am a HUGE advocate for finding people you trust to read your work but also relying on mentor texts. Read widely and diversely OUTSIDE of your genre. You can learn rhythm from PBs and voice from MG and tension from romance #askDVpit

Kiara Valdez
@dezinpub
Editor
@01FirstSecond Editor Extraordinaire | Writer | ✏️STEPPING UP | She/Her | Opinions are mine | Demi-Bi Afro🇩🇴 | #LatinxInPub | Rep’d: @BrittSiess
3 MSWL
6 AskAgent
Emily Forney
@EmilyKaitlinnn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @bookendslit • Undiscovered National Treasure • Neighborhood Book Bimbo • emilykaitlin.com for #MSWL (she/her)
58 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Rain Ashton says buy BAD WITCH BURNING @RainTheWriter

What do you think of marginalized folks trying out dead tropes/genres? Are the dead-dead genres still dead no matter what? I'm asking mostly for adult! #askDVPit

For me, tropes will never die. Ever. People might have seen a similar pattern of story told in the same western, white, cishet lens, but that doesn’t kill a trope. Marginalized creators can/should absolutely get space to explore classic storytelling #askDVpit

Kiara Valdez
@dezinpub
Editor
@01FirstSecond Editor Extraordinaire | Writer | ✏️STEPPING UP | She/Her | Opinions are mine | Demi-Bi Afro🇩🇴 | #LatinxInPub | Rep’d: @BrittSiess
3 MSWL
6 AskAgent

AdrianaLWrites @Adriana_Writes_

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received during the writing journey? Editors/agents — what is one thing you tell all your authors? #askdvpit

I don’t say this enough but focus on your authentic truth—whatever that means to you. Whether you’re writing memoir or some space odyssey, everything you write has a piece of you in it and if you focus on being genuine, it will reach ppl in a profound way. #askDVpit

Emily Forney
@EmilyKaitlinnn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @bookendslit • Undiscovered National Treasure • Neighborhood Book Bimbo • emilykaitlin.com for #MSWL (she/her)
58 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Anne Liberton is down @Anne_Liberton

do agents ever consider pitches for novellas or is it better to query first with a novel?
#askDVpit

There are agents who do like novellas! I think that’s a taste just like any other genre/format/age demographic! Just check out their manuscript wishlist before querying! #askDVpit

Tiffany Liao
@Tiff_Liao
Editor
Executive Editor @zandoprojects . 408 in the land of 212. It's pronounced meow with an L. Opinions are my own. She/her.
26 MSWL
5 AskAgent
1 Tips

Rush is revising @RushWriteNow

How do you feel about using TV shows as comps? I have one book and one TV show in my query #askdvpit

You can definitely use TV shows (I've been asking for a Pushing Daisies premise for years!), but I encourage specificity since TV shows by nature have broad appeal.

Is it the style/tone of the show or the premise? An epic memorable twist or a fan favorite character? #askdvpit

Emily Forney
@EmilyKaitlinnn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @bookendslit • Undiscovered National Treasure • Neighborhood Book Bimbo • emilykaitlin.com for #MSWL (she/her)
58 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Ann Dayleview @AnnDayleview

#askDVpit If a story has a made up type of science is that SciFi or Fantasy? Thanks!

Well that depends! Is the story rooted in a technologically driven world? Is the science the anchor to the story? If so, sci-fi. Is there science that is around another magic system or other worldly space? Could be fantasy. @NaomisLitPix can I get a hand? #askDVpit

Tiffany Liao
@Tiff_Liao
Editor
Executive Editor @zandoprojects . 408 in the land of 212. It's pronounced meow with an L. Opinions are my own. She/her.
26 MSWL
5 AskAgent
1 Tips

AdrianaLWrites @Adriana_Writes_

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received during the writing journey? Editors/agents — what is one thing you tell all your authors? #askdvpit

Protect your creative joy--fiercely! Your job as the author is first and foremost to create and to find fulfillment in the process. The publishing process can be fickle and mercurial, full of highs and lows, and it's important to always be able to return to this joy #askdvpit

Emily Forney
@EmilyKaitlinnn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @bookendslit • Undiscovered National Treasure • Neighborhood Book Bimbo • emilykaitlin.com for #MSWL (she/her)
58 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Exquisite ⚔️🤎 @ExquisiteWill

What kinds of ideas are missing/ do you see a theme of too many of one idea? Or does it not matter since you’re just looking for our unique spin on traditional type ideas #askdvpit

Hmmm do you mean just in storytelling as a whole during these events? Honestly I don’t care if I see a hundred fake dating pitches, because I love the trope and I want something fun and new that I can work on. So I don’t look at patterns like that #askDVpit

Beth Phelan
@beth_phelan
Literary Agent
she/her. mg & ya literary agent @galltzackerlit . founder 501c3 NPO @_DiverseVoices (#DVpit/#DVart, DVcon &more). closed to unsolicited submissions.
128 MSWL
125 AskAgent
27 Tips
Susan Graham
@Grahamophones
Literary Agent
would love to be stabbed by Jim, professional hype man (agent at @Einstein_Lit opinions my own) #friendship #teamwork art by @anuanew , pn they/them (agender)
119 MSWL
14 AskAgent
128 Tips

Britt Writerly @BrittWriterly

@Grahamophones 💯. Any tips on how to pitch that without overcrowding the tweet?
I'm really wondering if I need to name each character and their individual motivation or if I can identify the group and present their collective stakes #askDVpit (sorry left the hashtag out
Replying to @BrittWriterly

Group & stakes are fine!
Maybe it's warring factions, or a starfleet team, or a cheerleading squad. Whatever it is. #askdvpit

Or if you have ONE character to focus on, that's fine, too. You could do 1st character & then say "2 povs" or whatever it is, so we know this isn't IT.

Deeba Zargarpur
@deebazargarpur
Editor
📚 Senior Editor S&S @SalaamReads @simonteen @simonKIDS ✍🏽 HOUSE OF YESTERDAY (11.29.22); FARRAH NOORZAD (2024) 💫 All opinions are my own 🇦🇫🇺🇿🇹🇯
16 MSWL
11 AskAgent
Caitie Flum
@caitief
Literary Agent
Associate agent at Liza Dawson Associates. Thoughts are my own. Huge nerd, musical theater lover
79 MSWL
49 AskAgent
62 Queries
27 Tips
Leonicka Valcius
@leonicka
Literary Agent
she/her 🇭🇹. Christian ✝️. JD Candidate 2024. Literary Agent @TransLitAgency . Closed to queries.
87 MSWL
51 AskAgent
5 Tips

C. L. Doupagne🌈 (they/them) @DoupagneC

Are the first one or two pages enough to tell if a manuscript matches your tastes or do you read all 10 - 20 sample pages?

#askDVpit

first 2 pgs will tell me if the book is BAD. Always need to read more to see if it's a great fit. (I've read entire manuscripts and then decided not to offer :/ ) #askDVpit

Susan Graham
@Grahamophones
Literary Agent
would love to be stabbed by Jim, professional hype man (agent at @Einstein_Lit opinions my own) #friendship #teamwork art by @anuanew , pn they/them (agender)
119 MSWL
14 AskAgent
128 Tips

C. L. Doupagne🌈 (they/them) @DoupagneC

Are the first one or two pages enough to tell if a manuscript matches your tastes or do you read all 10 - 20 sample pages?

#askDVpit

This depends on the query, but I usually read the whole thing regardless. Lots of times the first two pages aren't really where the crux is, so reading to the end gives me an idea if I want to read more & get further in, esp if it just needs an edit. #askdvpit

Beth Phelan
@beth_phelan
Literary Agent
she/her. mg & ya literary agent @galltzackerlit . founder 501c3 NPO @_DiverseVoices (#DVpit/#DVart, DVcon &more). closed to unsolicited submissions.
128 MSWL
125 AskAgent
27 Tips