Dr. Uwe Stender @UweStenderPhD · 8 Jul 2018
Melissa Charles @2TheImp
@UweStenderPhD Which would you recommend, querying, or trying to participate in something like Pitch Wars? I'm wrapping up my MG, and debating with myself which route to try.Both. One does not exclude the other. Unless your query and book works via query, then you have an agent and don't need competitions.
Dr. Uwe Stender @UweStenderPhD · 8 Jul 2018
Audra McElyea @AudraMcElyea
@UweStenderPhD #askagent do most agents ask for r&rs these days before signing a client? Also, when it comes to r&rs—does this usually signify high interest, or not?I cannot speak for others, but I don't. Yes, if *I* ask for an R&R it means WAY more interest.
Dr. Uwe Stender @UweStenderPhD · 8 Jul 2018
Sahar @Dawnfulness
@UweStenderPhD Hi again! If a writer gets an offer, what's the appropriate time period to give other agents a chance to review previously sent queries and respond? Thanks!!Oh boy, you will get me in trouble. The current "standard" is 2 weeks, but I PERSONALLY will drop EVERYTHING to read if I am in competition. So, frankly, if someone cannot prioritize you within a week, I'd say bye bye, but I violate the pretend DOGMA. So whatevs.
Dr. Uwe Stender @UweStenderPhD · 8 Jul 2018
Allison Miller @AllisonDamMillr
@UweStenderPhD #askagent My current WIP is over 100k words and still not finished, but close. Is there a word limit preference for first time science fiction writers. Those books tend to have a higher word and page count, at least that I've noticed.I don't really know about adult scifi, but from what I think I know, you should be ok.
Dr. Uwe Stender @UweStenderPhD · 8 Jul 2018
Samantha Lienhard @SamLienhard
@UweStenderPhD #askagent If the conflict/stakes shift as the story goes on, should the query focus on the immediate conflict/stakes at the start of the book, or more important ones later on? (Or both?)I would say both, but ,as I always say, I cannot speak for others.
Dr. Uwe Stender @UweStenderPhD · 8 Jul 2018
Brian Hathaway @B_RockNYC
@UweStenderPhD How can you tell if you should keep querying or do (yet another) polish? Without much feedback, it’s hard to tell. Thanks Uwe! 🙏🏼✨If your first ten queries are rejections, you may want to tweak it.
Dr. Uwe Stender @UweStenderPhD · 8 Jul 2018
Rebecca Fryar @rebecca_fryar
@UweStenderPhD @Maria_Tureaud An agency I submitted to six months ago has a pass from one is a pass from all policy. Now a new agent is with the agency and I would like to query. But I have a pass from an agent there before this new agent joined. Query new agent or not?I don't know their policy specifically, but I am a VERY literal person, so I would not query them, but I don't know their structure.
Dr. Uwe Stender @UweStenderPhD · 8 Jul 2018
Audra McElyea @AudraMcElyea
@UweStenderPhD #askagent do agents alway go in order for queries in the slush pile or do they get excited about Twitter pitch events/ conference materials requested/r&rs etc. and read those right away? Do y’all read referrals from clients/other agents sooner as well?I go in order...clients' manuscripts first and in order of appearance. Sometimes deadlines are attached, then I prioritize by deadlines. As far as submissions go, it depends on the hype some projects have/get. If there is a lot of hype, I start there first.
Dr. Uwe Stender @UweStenderPhD · 8 Jul 2018
Nancy Parish @nancyparish
@UweStenderPhD #askagent When researching agents, what are some red flags to look out for. especially w/ new agents. thks.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.
Jessica Faust @BookEndsJessica · 8 Jul 2018
Debbie @Debbie_TeeVee
@BookEndsJessica I’ve recently heard some advice (via podcast) for querying: be short and to the point. The prospective client the agents were chatting about submitted an Adult Contemporary (romance). Should queries be more descriptive, say, for something like YA Fantasy, or still very pointed?Queries for everything should be tight. Like cover copy. #askagent
Jessica Faust @BookEndsJessica · 8 Jul 2018
Rebecca Fryar @rebecca_fryar
@snockowitz @BookEndsJessica @bookendslit The only reason I am considering it is because both agents were very supportive, and showed initial interest. I would love working with either.Query again. What do you have to lose? #askagent
Naomi Davis The Caffeinated @NaomisLitPix · 6 Jul 2018
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
Literary Agent Mark Gottlieb @Mark_Gottlieb · 6 Jul 2018
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
Jessica Faust @BookEndsJessica · 6 Jul 2018
Stacy Nockowitz @snockowitz
@BookEndsJessica Hi! Did I see something earlier this week from you about writing conferences? Can you tweet out that link again, please? #askagent Thanks!I also did a recent blog post bookendsliterary.com/2018/07/05/get… #askagent
Jessica Faust @BookEndsJessica · 6 Jul 2018
Katja 🌼😯🌸 @OneOfUsHasToGo
@BookEndsJessica definitely fictionalised but the facts are so important to me).Would this be a problem when an agent or rather the editor wants to 'take over' the changes and I don't want them?
Should I rather self-publish?
Thank you so much!!
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
Jessica Faust @BookEndsJessica · 6 Jul 2018
Katja 🌼😯🌸 @OneOfUsHasToGo
@BookEndsJessica We should all hope to get a wonderful agent like you one day... :)!Question 1: I'm nervous about the future editing of my current WIP. Less about 'the way' it's written but more about changing the facts in there. It's not memoir but 'memoir with a plot' if I can say so (it's...
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
Jessica Faust @BookEndsJessica · 6 Jul 2018
Erica Secor @thedavisgirl
@BookEndsJessica Boosting!Also: how should I indicate if my ms includes “found documents” (incident reports, detention slips, student essays, passed notes, etc). Do I mention it in the query? For now, each document has what it is at the top of its own page (in lieu of a chapter title).
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
Dr. Uwe Stender @UweStenderPhD · 5 Jul 2018
Shereen Cook @ShereenCook
@UweStenderPhD Does it make sense to customize comps to things an agent likes or reps? Or does that come across as trying too hard or being disingenuine?I cannot speak for other agents, but I don't like it. Feels disingenuous.
Dr. Uwe Stender @UweStenderPhD · 5 Jul 2018
Megan Davidhizar @MDEnglishTeach
@UweStenderPhD Just curious: I see agents who are also authors getting their own agents. Why would agent-authors choose not to represent themselves?If a person is a therapist, but needs therapy themselves, they would likely go to another therapist and not work on themselves.
Dr. Uwe Stender @UweStenderPhD · 5 Jul 2018
Alex Perry @Alextheadequate
@UweStenderPhD An agent has had my full for about six months. If I've revised significantly since then (cut 10k words and changed the setting based on agent advice), should I let the first agent know?I would.