Editor
Exquisite ⚔️🤎 @ExquisiteWill
What are things that immediately turn you away from a pitch? #askdvpitSome 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
Editor
Tangent Points @PointsTangent
#askDVpitHow 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
Literary Agent
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? #askdvpitDistance 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
Literary Agent
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
Editor
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 #askdvpitTV shows are definitely a useful comp, especially when it captures something you can’t use a book comp for. #askDVpit
Literary Agent
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! #askDVPitFor 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
Editor
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? #askdvpitI 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
Literary Agent
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
Editor
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 #askdvpitYou 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
Literary Agent
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
Editor
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? #askdvpitProtect 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
Literary Agent
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 #askdvpitHmmm 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
Literary Agent
Susan, A Cabbage Man Graham @Grahamophones
Depends! But keep in mind MG ranges from 8-12 & often kids are reading up or down so reading levels can vary widely. If you want your book accessible to younger readers, shorter may be better, or if parents are reading at bedtime. #dvpit - Personally, I think it's ok if the ch- twitter.com/hemrajaniwrite…Just realized I did this one wrong too (typing too fast, I'm sorry!) #askdvpit
Literary Agent
Vanessa Grossmann @vcgrossmann
#askDVpit Should our pitches be similar to what you’d see during #sffpit #pitmad or other pitch events or should they focus on marginalized characters/subject matter in the book? Are agents looking for plot or do they want to see what makes your work #dvpit appropriate?pitch like you would in any other event! dvpit is just about the specifics of who is pitching, which doesn't necessarily mean character, altho it can. #askDVpit
Literary Agent
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
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.
Editor
Susan, A Cabbage Man Graham @Grahamophones
I know so many agents with international clients! We have a few! Don't worry about it & just send in your work :) #askdvpit twitter.com/ilsewrites/sta…also wanted to chime in as an editor, i also have international authors! :) #askDVpit
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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
Literary Agent
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