That's a tough one as we all start somewhere. I would say that if they seem sleazy, they probably are. Also, don't let them charge you. The only pay an agent gets is their commission AFTER they sell your book. Follow your instincts.

Queries for everything should be tight. Like cover copy. #askagent

Query again. What do you have to lose? #askagent

The first question every potential client asks me is about my communication style.
So here's an example of an actual email I sent to a client last night (shared with permission). #askagent

Hey folks, I created a Facebook Page for my #LiteraryAgent persona! Feel free to stop by, Like the Page and #AskAgent anything, thanks! facebook.com/Literary-Agent… #LiteraryAgency

I also did a recent blog post bookendsliterary.com/2018/07/05/get… #askagent

Well then I think you need to decide if it's fiction or memoir. It can't be both. And yes, edits can be a problem if you are already refusing changes that could make a story stronger. #askagent

If it's fiction it's fiction and you need to not be afraid to fictionalize. I often find that's the struggle authors have with taking a "real story" they get caught up in what really happened and forget that it's fiction. #askagent

Is this nonfiction? Are they critical to the story? If they aren't critical to the story and the progression of the story I'm not sure you need to include the information in the query. Would it need to be on cover copy? #querytip #askagent

I cannot speak for other agents, but I don't like it. Feels disingenuous.

If a person is a therapist, but needs therapy themselves, they would likely go to another therapist and not work on themselves.

I would.

I don't know that is a thing. Maybe you shouldn't listen to that someone. I don't know.

I would first have to love whatever you originally sent me. Once I do, then I would explore more about you. And that means I may look at your website.

Yes, but I wouldn't phrase it that way. Everyone has a dream, and one should pursue it. I applaud the effort even if the result may not be ideal. I admire people who write a novel. That is a hard thing to do. One can always get better. Keep the dream alive.

Somehow writers currently are overthinking the comps part. There must be Social media groups where this is overthought. Comps are great to place the product. If they are recent, they're on people's radar, but if they comp to instantly recognizable older stuff, it'll work, too.

Standalone with series potential is a good way to describe it. I could make up a long German compound noun to describe the second part, but to me that'd still be part of a series about that world and with more or less familiar protagonists. So standalone with series potential.

No. If the first book or two of the series bomb commercially, there just isn't the demand. Think of TV series being pulled after the pilot or 3 episodes in.

I suspect agents pay attention. It sounds wonderful. I just don't have the time. I need to read clients's work, study royalty statements, work on contracts etc., I need people to make the effort to find me, I won't find them. But kudos to the concept.

That also depends, but think of an agent's circumstance. They've to read client manuscripts, other submissions, queries etcetc...if you don't capture my attention in the first 2-3 or maybe 10 pages, I will likely pass. I would never get to the great part. It's a war of attrition.