Literary Agent
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Vanessa @vanessaepeay
do you prefer for queries to have personalization or jump right into the pitch? #askPSLAWhen it comes to personalizing your query, don't feel like you HAVE to force it. Not all agents have a personal website, a social media presence, etc. where you can learn those fun little tidbits.
Just jumping in with "I hear you're looking for X" works just as well. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Vanessa @vanessaepeay
do you prefer for queries to have personalization or jump right into the pitch? #askPSLABoth! I'd love a line somewhere that briefly lets me know why you think I'd be a fit. Maybe you saw something on Twitter. I already know the genres I represent so the "I think we're a fit b/c you rep x genre" is less effective with me. 🙂 #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Elishia @elishia_e
#askPSLA #askagent How do you think publishing is being affected by Covid-19? Do you think acquisitions will slow down? Also... are you pumped or dreading all the post-apocalyptic/dystopian fiction that’s about to flood your inboxes? 😆Like every industry, publishing is evolving daily in response to C19. I've seen pub dates pushed back, layoffs, cancelled tours, and more but it's hard to predict what the new landscape will look like. As long as it's tasteful/original, I'm looking forward to reading! #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Daniel M. Clark @danielmclark
#askPSLA is there room for optimism in sci-fi/fantasy? After a long stretch of grim n’ gritty, are agents looking for optimistic queries?Absolutely. I've seen people refer to it as "hopepunk" here on the Twitter dot com.
I'm lucky enough to work with @mikechenwriter, and his novels are packed full of optimism and hope. Like a sci-fi golden retriever. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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Eric Smith @ericsmithrocks
With platform, it depends.You can have a big social media following and that's great, but I need to see you're an expert in what you're writing. Platform in publication (essays, articles) help prove that.
Most of my NF authors don't have a huge social following. #askPSLA twitter.com/JulieSHasson/s…
I have a post about putting together a non-fiction proposal that digs into platform, that I think might be helpful. cc @JulieSHasson
Shout out to @slaughterwrites for being open and vulnerable with this, cause we put the whole thing up here. ericsmithrocks.com/blog/2019/5/21… #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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maria vicente @msmariavicente
@AliceArley Very rarely do I think a picture book manuscript can exist without art notes (even if minimal). The text should always leave room for the art to tell part of the story, and if you don't explain what's missing in the manuscript, then the reader won't understand the book. #askPSLAI have a short post on my website about this. mariavicente.com/blog/visual-th… #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Alice Arley 🐇🌹🍵 @AliceArley
I know that art notes are only to be used when absolutely necessary to understand a story in PB, but I have also seen some say no art notes ever, no matter what. Leave it to the reader and illustrator to decide. Do your agents or agency have an opinion on this? #askPSLAVery rarely do I think a picture book manuscript can exist without art notes (even if minimal). The text should always leave room for the art to tell part of the story, and if you don't explain what's missing in the manuscript, then the reader won't understand the book. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Michael Lunsford @LunsfordMichael
Why do so many MG agents automatically reject any MG book with an animal protagonist? (Hoping the answer isn’t just personal preference.) #askPSLAPersonal preference. ;)
And also, they're a tough sell at publishing houses. Maybe the market's oversaturated right now? #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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maria vicente @msmariavicente
@thatpurdywriter I wish the conflict wasn't always focused on what makes a "diverse" character "diverse." Ex: A YA book with a queer protagonist that doesn't focus on trauma associated with their sexual identity. Instead, the conflict is that they're being chased by a dinosaur. #askPSLAOr just more joyful stories in general! A book about hanging out in a cat cafe, rather than dealing with the world ending. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Sarah Purdy @thatpurdywriter
@msmariavicente Can you elaborate a little on joy in books? I want to read and write more joy! ^_^ But how can that co-exist with the relentless conflict required? #askPSLAI wish the conflict wasn't always focused on what makes a "diverse" character "diverse." Ex: A YA book with a queer protagonist that doesn't focus on trauma associated with their sexual identity. Instead, the conflict is that they're being chased by a dinosaur. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Kaliyah Martin @kaliyah_nicole
Hi @msmariavicente and @maureen_morettiWhat is something in either a query letter or the first few pages of a manuscript that immediately captures your attention and usually leads you to request more? #askPSLA
I mentioned this in an earlier response, but I'm always looking for a great writing style at the beginning of a manuscript. In a query, if your concept is something I truly haven't read before (many queries sound repetitive of one another), then I'll want to know more. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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Ginger Ninja @engriffs
#askPSLA at what age do you feel young adult cuts off/it's adult? I'm querying a manuscript with a 21 year old and a little unsure.The oldest I've read in YA (that I recall now, anyway) is a protagonist starting their first year of college, so 18/19 typically. 21 might be a bit too old. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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IR Garner @irgarner
@PSLiterary @maureen_moretti @msmariavicente My ms combines translations of great Russian 20th century writers and historical commentary about their roles at the Battle of Stalingrad. Do I pitch it as literature, non-fiction, or translation? Is it even trade publishable, or better in academia? #askPSLAIt sounds more academic to me, a mix of literary commentary and history. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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S. Beard @ABeardedScribe
Can a MS be pitched as an age crossover? I see people pitching "Adult SF with potential for YA crossover" or "YA romance with potential for Adult crossover." I had assumed those would be New Adult, but some are saying that's "not pitchable."#askPSLA
They probably would be New Adult if that category had developed like many hoped it would. Alas, it's not really a recognized category in traditional publishing, so you're right to pitch as having crossover potential. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Aaron Wyckoff @ajwyckoff
In comp titles for a query, would you rather have titles that are similar genre but maybe not writing style, or titles that are similar writing style from a different genre (having trouble finding any that meet both criteria) #askPSLASimilar writing style. I don't need comp titles for genre—those are easy to find. I'm more interested in comp titles that have to do with style, tone, theme, etc. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Casey Mulligan Walsh @caseyhen1
What is your preferred range for memoir word count from a first time author? #askPSLAMemoir's tricky, they can be quite effective even when on the shorter side. I would say 60k-80k. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Aaron Wyckoff @ajwyckoff
Do you have any unusual pet peeves when it comes to queries? (beyond the traditional things that most agents hate) Or any that seem to be coming up a lot recently? #askPSLAI really dislike it when someone puts down other books/tropes/topics/etc. in their query letter. Just focus on your own book, not what other people are writing! #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Aaron Wyckoff @ajwyckoff
What are you hoping to see more of in your inbox this year? #askPSLAMy wish list is on my website, and I'll update it throughout the year as I think of more projects I'd like to see. #askPSLA mariavicente.com/representation