Literary Agent
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Michelle Wangsgard @m_wangsgard
#askPSLAHi there!
How do you personally (and/or as an agent) know when a project is ready for querying? I know it’s when you feel it’s the best it could be, but is there anything specific you do or feel or look for??
Thanks so much for doing this ☺️!
You want your project to be in good shape, of course. But if it gets to the point where you're only making one-word tweaks here and there, I'd say it's time. Make sure you have someone else read for plot holes, too. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Eilene Spear @EileneSpear
I am ready to query, but I know my title is awful! Is that a showstopper? #askPSLANope! So many titles change from agent to editor to publication.
You should still have a title that you’re proud to shop your book around under though. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Marcie Price Jackson @MissMarciePants
#askPSLA thanks for answering Qs today! I’m wondering, at what point do you shelve your MS? I’ve read various numbers- 10 queries, 50, etc.? I’ve had several full and partial requests, but haven’t found “the one” yet.Keep going!
There are lots of stories about authors who queried 100+ agents. Just make sure you're sticking to agents who feel right for you.
It can be tempting to pitch EVERYONE, but remember. An agent who isn't a good fit for you, is worse than having no agent. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Daniel M. Clark @danielmclark
#askPSLA and my last question is… how important is it, really, for authors to be on twitter? I tend to leave the platform for years at a time because I really don’t like it. If I have to keep it up for the sake of a career, I’ll do it, but I’d rather not lolFor NF, that following can help. For fiction, having a twitter community to support you and your work can be rewarding, but it's not crucial to selling your work. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Daniel M. Clark @danielmclark
#askPSLA how important is it for an author to have a life story. I mean, does it matter that I haven’t held any excited jobs, or that I’ve never, you know, killed a guy? Is a rather dull or average life a roadblock in publishing or author marketing?ROFL. It's not important. So many of the debut authors I've signed had bios in their query letters like "worked as a lawyer for fishermen" and "I have a corgi and like hockey."
And honestly, that stuff IS exciting and interesting to me. Life exists outside books! #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Marcie Price Jackson @MissMarciePants
#askPSLA thanks for answering Qs today! I’m wondering, at what point do you shelve your MS? I’ve read various numbers- 10 queries, 50, etc.? I’ve had several full and partial requests, but haven’t found “the one” yet.If you're getting those requests, that means you're on to something. It might be time to do another edit or lean into a writer critique group. It sounds like your query is doing its job. If you've lost your passion for the MS, that's when I'd shelve the MS for now. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Maureen Moretti @maureen_moretti
@snlefebvre Publisher's Marketplace's free website lists internships, as well as bookjobs.com. There are a number of programs, including Columbia, NYU and Pace that offer publishing certificates to learn more. #askPSLAAlso try twitter and social media searches. Some companies/agencies will share postings there too. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Francesca Donlan @fdonlanVCB
@PSLiterary @maureen_moretti @ericsmithrocks @readbystephanie Thank you for sharing your time. Are memoirs still viable in the industry - when you are not famous and don’t have a big following but a good story. #askagent #askpslaI think so. I've sold a few.
If you're worried about establishing that platform, it is never ever too late. Publishing articles and essays on whatever you're writing about, should be a very welcome challenge.
After-all, you wrote a memoir about this! :-) #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Brandy meinhardt @MeinhardtBrandy
In terms of sensitivity readers, is it important if any characters are of a marginalized community? My MC witnesses members of her family commit a hate crime towards a married gay couple. Wondering if I should get SR? #askPSLAIf you're already thinking about it, it couldn't hurt to do so! IMO sensitivity readers are a great tool. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Noreen @naziaso
@maureen_moretti @PSLiterary @AEAndersen_ @readbystephanie #AskPSLA follow up to this. What are you looking for (more editorial or a polished MS)? Thx!!I'm always looking for your most polished MS! After I sign a client, we work on subsequent edits but we've discussed our mutual editorial vision beforehand. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Ayesha Farhat @farhatayesha
#askPSLA would a wordcount of 75k for literary fiction put an agent off? I'm writing around a South Asian/ Muslim theme. Is that interesting for your agency?I think all of my literary fic authors' books (see @boycebabbles' novels) come in at around that.
That's a perfectly fine word count! #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Jenn Mecks @jomecki
Would you rather have a query with no comps or a query with weak comps?Also, is it ok to offer writers (as long as they’re not brands to themselves like Neil Gaiman and JK Rowling) instead of title comps (ie, for fans of x and y)?
#askagent #askPSLA
I like creative comps! Going the author route works for me, but I want to see what part of their style you are comping (e.g the humor of x). Weak comps are a waste of your word count IMO. Again, specifying what part of the comp is similar (in the style of x) is🔑. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Noreen @naziaso
@readbystephanie #askPSLA if you liked my pitch during a pitch event is it okay to submit to you after revisions? Do I mention the pitch event even though it was a couple months ago?Absolutely send it my way! Do mention the pitch event since that lets me know why you're sending me samples and reminds me that I've already liked part of your creation. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Francesca Donlan @fdonlanVCB
@PSLiterary @maureen_moretti @ericsmithrocks @readbystephanie Thank you for sharing your time. Are memoirs still viable in the industry - when you are not famous and don’t have a big following but a good story. #askagent #askpslaIt depends on the story! A good story needs to translate into something that readers will pick up and buy. A following demonstrates a preexisting market for the book. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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KD FIELD @FieldKelli
@PSLiterary @maureen_moretti @ericsmithrocks @readbystephanie Sent query letter and synopsis. Was asked for a partial manuscript and then heard nothing back. Is if bad form in the industry to follow up via email or should I assume after 16 weeks its a hard no?I'd just double check what their submission guidelines say?
Some agency websites say they'll get back to you in 6 to 8 weeks, etc. If they haven't, nudge away! #askpsla
Literary Agent
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Ashley Jean @missashleyjean
#askPSLA Is it frowned upon to nudge an agent with an updated ms if they have not responded to the initial full request?I'm a big fan of nudges. I say go for it.
Although, if you're nudging with an updated manuscript like... two weeks later? That's maybe telling me the book wasn't ready to pitch in the first place.
Just dish a little bit of the why. I've signed folks who nudge. :-) #askPSLA
Literary Agent
K. Belvedere @kbelvedere
#askPSLA Hi, agents! Thank you for answering these questions. I'm wondering what immediately puts you off a query letter or sample? Are these industry standards or personal peeves?This is a tough one. I want to give every query a chance! If the word count is significantly too long or short, I am less likely to request. This one is more industry-related, as I'm looking for an author who knows their genre! #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Angie Hawkins @th_littlebirdie
#askPSLA Are all manuscript requests followed up with a reply, or is a no-response considered a “No” from the agency?If an agent has requested to see more of your work but ultimately passes (or not), you will absolutely get an email! It may just take time. 🙂 #askPSLA