
Literary Agent
Nancy Lumgair @NancyLumgair
#wfgcaskanagent When writing your bio in a query, what should one put if they have no degree, or writing awards/published writing?Most don't have an English degree or published works! It's okay. Share a bit about what you do for a living, a hobby or two. It helps if what you do/are interested in shows your knowledge of the book's topic (you're a scientist & wrote a novel about a chemist) #WFGCAskAnAgent

Literary Agent
Author-Kate Banco @KateBanco
#WFGCAskAnAgent Laura, what is your best advice to get started with queries?#newbie #wip
Do your research. There are all sorts of resources online and in books about querying and finding agents. queryshark.blogspot.com, query tracker, Writers Market, Jeff Herman's Guide -- they all provide the resources and tools you need to get started. #WFGCAskAnAgent

Literary Agent
L. Ryan Storms @LRyan_Storms
When you’re talking with an author you’d potentially like to sign, what questions do you like to hear them ask? What questions do you tend to ask them? #wfgcaskanagentI want to hear ?s about my communication/editorial style, books I enjoy reading, other elements about the market more than "how many clients do you have" or "who would you send this to?"I ask about their favorite books, most recently read book, and future WIPs. #WFGCAskAnAgent

Literary Agent
Jennifer Carstens @Jen_Carstens
@UweStenderPhD What are your thoughts on #horror? With success of IT and BIRD BOX do you think it may be in the midst of a resurgence?I stick with what I have always believed: a great book will find its audience.

Literary Agent
Sam Subity @sjsubity
@UweStenderPhD Is it OK to quote from beta readers in my MG query letter? Or does that make me look like an amateur?Let me counterask bluntly: Why would I care what your Beta Readers think?

Literary Agent
Karma Lei Angelo @KarmaLeiAngelo
@UweStenderPhD Do you meet writers in person to discuss their books, especially if they are willing to travel to you?Oh god no. That feels stalkerish to me. If I happen to be in the same city , then sure, if not, then no.

Literary Agent
D.L. Shepherd @DL_Shepherd
@UweStenderPhD Thanks for doing this #askagent session Dr. Stender! If an author already has a book published with a small press when they query you, would the sales for their first book matter, or are you only concerned with the project at hand?In that case sales would only be important to me if the number is really high for such a small press.

Literary Agent
tmowtx @tmowtx
@UweStenderPhD #askagent What is your preference in picture books: fiction, nonfiction, humorous, prose, verse? Anything you absolutely stay away from?I don't know. I need to love it. And that is like dating, I only know it when I feel it.

Literary Agent
Berinna Chambers @happywriter2017
@UweStenderPhD @Coffee_Is_love What do you think of talking animals?They need to be able to speak German in addition to English. I want my talking animals to know at least one foreign language. ☺

Literary Agent
Jennifer @jenofalltradz
@UweStenderPhD If an author has self published a book that is the first in a series and would like to have it and the remaining books published traditionally is that even a possibility?Would you even consider looking at a self-published book?
If the novel sold a lot of copies, like A LOT, yes, if not, No.
I would prefer a "virgin" book, newly written, never having been commercially available before.

Literary Agent
Aleister Meowley @allistermeowley
@UweStenderPhD What should you weigh when choosing an agent if they all have a very good track record of sales?Ask yourself: will they stand by me if they cannot sell my novel, or will they drop me like a hot potato?

Literary Agent
Robert Dean @Robert_Dean
@UweStenderPhD Does selling a screenplay with a real chance of getting made matter to an agent in terms of taking on a writer that’s queried them? #askagentScreenplays are usually repped by talent agents.

Literary Agent
Andrew K. Clark @theandrewkclark
@UweStenderPhD I like the bottle idea. I have heard 'your agent will find you an editor' and 'your publisher will find you and editor' and 'you should have a dev edit before you query your A-list agents'. Lots o' opinions.The bottle idea works best.😊

Literary Agent
JWParente @jwparente
@UweStenderPhD Which genres do you feel are exhausted and fizzing out in the current market, and what are you hoping really comes across your desk/inbox? #askagentThe only thing that is exhausting to me is a poorly written novel. I just want something I can love and want to represent.

Literary Agent
Ari Augustine @SouffleLumiere
@UweStenderPhD If a writer doesn't have previous publishing experience, what should they include in their bio within the query that an agent would be interested to know?I Don't know. Whatever you feel like sharing with me, as long as the info is no more than a couple of sentences and not boring.

Literary Agent
AE MacLennan @aelizmaclennan
@UweStenderPhD If you offer an R&R what is common practice in terms of the author continuing to query or pausing until you take a look again? Thanks so much for doing these very helpful #askagents!Keep querying, may be an agent will take it as is. But if you do the R&R based on MY comments and work, you need to give me first dibbs on that version. If you Don't, you would be a jerk.

Literary Agent
Karma Lei Angelo @KarmaLeiAngelo
@UweStenderPhD @AnetaCruz If we are working on a detailed series with more than just a trilogy, would you also like info on future books and the branding?I would write one book and outline the series. What if Book 1 does not sell? Now you may have wasted your energy on books that may never happen. And what if edits are necessary and you have to pull plotlines from Book 2 into Book 1? Or vice versa. Don't get ahead of yourself.

Literary Agent
Karma Lei Angelo @KarmaLeiAngelo
@UweStenderPhD Your website does not offer specific details on what to include in the query (word count, genre, etc.). Are there any specifics you prefer to see when a query is submitted to you?There are many books and online resources that describe how to write a query, and what should be included. I would study those and write my query accordingly.

Literary Agent
Chris Bedell @ChrisBedell
@UweStenderPhD How to mention a dual timeline in a query for a YA novel? Should one paragraph be devoted to each timeline after the hook part of the query?I don't know. Write the query that reads the best. I am unable to answer that unless I see the query. Dual timelines worked great for my clients @ElizabethLaBan and @JBaylissWrites

Literary Agent
Brandy Baughman @merelyimprobabl
@UweStenderPhD Also when offering rep are you interested in what else the writer is working on and is it a turn off if the have projects in various categories ie ya fantasy, ya thriller, Adult Fantasy?Yes, I am interested. I would suggest you focus at least on an age group for your first 3 novels or so to build an audience for yourself. Plus many writers *think* they can write for all sorts of ages, but most really truly cannot.
