Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Rashawnda Dunbar @RashawndaDunbar

@kaitylynne13 I understand the importance of “platform” for non-fiction writers. To secure representation, how sizable must the platform be? Is there a minimum number of email subscribers, social media followers, etc.? #askagent
Replying to @RashawndaDunbar

Nonfiction isn't my forte, so I'm not the best to ask. However, you should have some sort of knowledge or standing in the topic you're writing about. Or have done a ton of research on it. I can't give a general # for social media unfortunately #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Caitlin LaRue @CaitlinLaRue

@kaitylynne13 Awesome! Thank you! And that’s amazing to hear because I think most of us are afraid to scare agents with all our projects pic.twitter.com/yW6g3KxouO
Replying to @CaitlinLaRue

I ALWAYS want to hear the ideas in the works! I don't want a one trick pony. I want to be there for the writer's career, helping them grow and succeed. If I can't connect with other works, I'm not the right agent for them #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Paul Janus @paul_janus

@kaitylynne13 What would you tell an author who is very confident in supporting materials (query letter, synopsis, pitch, etc.) and has drafted the manuscript for years, but gets no requests from Pitch Wars style contests and querying? Time to write a new book? Not right for market?
Replying to @paul_janus

If you've been querying the same project for more than a year, it's time to write something new. It may not be right for the market yet, it may just not be what editors are looking to acquire at the moment, or it may have edits needed you don't see #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

brittany @brittanydixon_2

@kaitylynne13 Should you mention if your book is part of a series in your query? I see a few conflicting points on if you should include it or leave it out. Thanks in advance! 😊
Replying to @brittanydixon_2

If it can stand alone (meaning, it doesn't HAVE to have a sequel to complete the plot), say that. If it's intended for a series, you should tell us that. #askagent I see a lot of "standalone with series potential"

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Broken Skies of Escari @TheEscarian

@kaitylynne13 Do agents always request a full MS, revised and all? Or can they be interested by an ongoing WIP?
Replying to @TheEscarian

We can be interested in a WIP, but usually we only offer rep for a complete MS (fiction). I probably wouldn't offer rep without seeing the final, query-ready product #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Jenna Aker @jenbarie

@kaitylynne13 How do you go about choosing an agent if you’re hoping to write in a few different genres? Is it better to choose just one? #askagent
Replying to @jenbarie

It's ok if you plan to write multiple genres in the future, but you should choose the agent that's the best fit for that current manuscript and ask their policy on other genres. The call will clarify if they're willing to rep other genres in the future for you #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Valentina Marie💖💛💙✨📚 @thecliffhanger_

@kaitylynne13 What should you do if you like multiple agents at one agency? I know it’s bad form to query them all so how long should you wait before trying to query another one?
Replying to @thecliffhanger_

Depends on policy. Corvisiero asks not to query multiple agents. If we think it's a fit for someone else, we share. Other agencies allow you to re-query. I'd wait a week at the least (or longer, if you get feedback and edit) to re-query, if allowed #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Caitlin LaRue @CaitlinLaRue

@kaitylynne13 What is the most important quality you look for in a client? #askagent
Replying to @CaitlinLaRue

Openness to editing and at least two or three other ideas cooking for future works. I need to know we're compatible (I am hugely editorial) and I need to be sure you have more than just the one story dancing around in your head #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

T.K. Joly @TKJoly

@kaitylynne13 What is one thing you're seeing too much of these days, genre or trope-wise?
Replying to @TKJoly

also seeing a TON of WW2 still - mostly set in Germany, Russia, or Poland. Really hard for this to get picked up since everyone is writing it #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

T.K. Joly @TKJoly

@kaitylynne13 What is one thing you're seeing too much of these days, genre or trope-wise?
Replying to @TKJoly

I'm seeing a bunch of Chosen One storylines that aren't unique enough to stand out. Also seeing a ton of "suddenly discovering your powers" in MG and YA. Most feel like replays instead of a new twist to an old favorite #askagent

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Laurie Lascos @LaurieLascos

@kaitylynne13 What do you prefer to go in the bio-paragraph of the query if an author has no existing publications, yet?
Replying to @LaurieLascos

I usually advise just giving a bit about you. At minimum, where you went to college, what you majored in, what your current job is, or current state you live in. Just give us a little feel of YOU #askagent