If you can't find one, turn to movies or series. If that still fails you, just don't include a comp. But, please, in the name of sanity, don't write in your query: "There has never been anything at all like my novel ever, not ever, in the history of novels in all cultures."

Yes, the genre is called: write- fascinatingly-amazing-books-very- well-and-don't-chase-trends-while -doing-that. Compulsion beats calculation in writing.

I think that comp titles serve their purpose best when they reflect your book best in the image of well known books, films, whatever. So the comps have to be fairly to very well known, and the book must truly be in that vein. Dann wird alles gut.

Be concise yet catchy.

Sometimes an axe is better than a scalpel... And vice versa.

No.

I personally like contemporary YAs to be somewhere between 70-92 K. Exceptions prove the rule.

YA to me features the most sophisticated voices in all of contemporary American literature. So, yes, of course.

It's not necessary to let the agent know that a manuscript has been professionally edited. Of course, any manuscript or query letter that comes in should already be polished. #TMGTalks

There's absolutely nothing wrong with having an international background as a new author. In fact, we have many clients from Canada! The question is more so about whether you hope to have a bigger presence is the U.S. and internationally or primarily in Canada. #TMGTalks

More and more editors are asking for #MG fiction that addresses "tougher" issues, and are not shying away from themes that #MG novels of the past may have avoided. #TMGtalks

James wrote Only Dead on the Inside: A Parent’s Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse. Granted that somehow fits within nonfiction/humor. In fiction, I’m rarely looking for zombie books unless it’s really well done. This article might help #TMGTalks m.mythcreants.com/blog/will-your…

It all depends on how and why you want to publish. If traditional publishing is your aim, I would suggest NOT self-publishing. Send a query and find the agent who is as passionate as you are into turning it into print. #TMGtalks

I like queries that start with a question, either literally or figuratively. They ask: What if...? What if X does Y? Etc. It grabs me if it feels fresh and inventive. Then, I'll jump to the end of query to review the bio, but for me, it's always story first. #TMGtalks

Hi! I'm a bit unclear on the question, but I think the answer is you always have a "chance" of finding the right agent, and if your book has a sequel or is the start of a series, research agents who sell those types of projects, for an even better chance. #TMGtalks

Well, if I never heard of the book, because it us under-the-radar, then it is not helpful as a comp to me...so I guess it depends...and then there are always films and TV shows..and then I also would not "over-worry" about comps.

I cannot escape my heritage, so I need a certain order to things. So I read the ones at the top of my Inbox first, thus the most recent one first etc...but I am also obsessed with a clean Inbox, so I read them until the Inbox is empty.

I wouldn't. And don't hate me, but it should be vein not vain...though it probably is because of auto correct.

I guess if it is rejected without having been requested, then the topic and/or the hook did not interest the agent. If the topic and/or hook have not changed, then it may be rejected again if those were the reasons for the original rejection.

I don't think it necessarily would as publishers know what would be realistic for a small house, but that also depends on the small house.