Literary Agent
Cortney Winn @CortneyWinn11
@CortneyRadocaj What was the most impressive query that you ever received? What made it so?I MEAN I’m slightly biased and I always think of @Atomic_Pixie’s query for her YA cyberpunk—it was sharp, & showed me several unique pieces of her story without confusing me. It had descriptors that piqued my interest, and most of all just had me EXCITED to dive into her pages 😍
Literary Agent
Cortney Radocaj 🏳️🌈💖💜💙 @CortneyRadocaj
@AuthorStrop For me it’s detail —way too many queries are vague. They give the basic ideas but not what’s in THAT particular story.i.e. “MC must save the world” vs “x, y, and z lead MC into having a personal stake in saving the world and will do it in this way”
It’s a fine balance between so much detail the reader gets confused, and so little detail nothing stands out as different or unique.
Make sure you showcase the unique aspects—don’t hide the stuff that will hook under vague, this-could-be-applied-to-twenty-other-books statements!
Literary Agent
Kahlan Strop, Author @AuthorStrop
@CortneyRadocaj What’s the best advice you can give for writing a query letter? What makes one stand out to you?For me it’s detail —way too many queries are vague. They give the basic ideas but not what’s in THAT particular story.
i.e. “MC must save the world” vs “x, y, and z lead MC into having a personal stake in saving the world and will do it in this way”
Literary Agent
Melissa Capriglione @ l👀king for comic work @mcapriglioneart
When considering an individual's portfolio, would you (or other agents) typically prefer someone who has finished GNs already? And if not, what are some good things to have ready in a portfolio? #askBrittSiessAlso, some good things to have in a portfolio are examples of sequential art and covers you've done (single issue covers, jacket illustrations, really anything you've been commissioned and paid for).
Literary Agent
Melissa Capriglione @ l👀king for comic work @mcapriglioneart
When considering an individual's portfolio, would you (or other agents) typically prefer someone who has finished GNs already? And if not, what are some good things to have ready in a portfolio? #askBrittSiessIf by finished you mean published, that doesn't matter to me. I care about the pitch in front of me. If by finished you mean drawn already, I'd say no. Once an OGN is sold, the editor is going to work with you to alter the story/art as needed, so what a waste!
Literary Agent
Liz Kramer @ commissions✏️✏️✏️ @lizkreates
Not sure if you've run into this, but if you're pitching previously self-published work, would you treat it differently than a fresh pitch?I've seen webcomics get picked up by in the recent years, so curious what can make it go above and beyond. #askagent #askBrittSiess
I have never pitched a self pubbed book for various reasons. Some webcomics do get picked up, but in those cases, they have a HUGE following and the art is super distinct. If something is already available, I think it needs to have a huge following to put it above and beyond.
Literary Agent
Byron Go 🖋📖 @onetake
#AskBrittSiess What are typical page counts for MG and YA graphic novels?This can vary, and I highly recommend doing a TON of reading in the genre you want to write in to determine your page count. MG can (roughly) be around 200 pages, and YA can be (roughly) between 200-240. There are major exceptions to both of those page counts.
Literary Agent
aka Francis S. Poesy @tcanny
I notice your agent bio says you are looking for Author/Illustrator graphic novel submissions only. Can you talk about your thoughts on this choice? #AskBrittSiessgraphic novels/comics are a visual medium—it's not graphic until there's art. If I'm looking at a script only, I really need to feel that the writing is strong and that special something. In cold queries, I prefer to see the art as well to get a fuller sense of the pitch.
Literary Agent
aka Francis S. Poesy @tcanny
Would you, or any agent, match up a writer with an illustrator before submitting to publishers. I understand that's highly unlikely with picture books, but wasn't sure if it was any different with GNs. #AskBrittSiessIf I sold a script only, the publisher would find the illustrator for that OGN. If I had a client with a script only and I felt another client of mine would be the perfect illustrator, I might see if they wanted to collaborate, but it wouldn't be a requirement.
Literary Agent
PLUGO @PLUGO
One more question if you don't mind?Black & White GNs seem very rare; particularly for young readers. Do publishers want color art only? Does it make sense to color what was originally a B/W GN in its entirety? Would colored sample pages be enough? #AskAgent #AskBrittSiess
This really depends on the story and on the publisher. Some publishers really like BW and less digital art, but I think the overall trend is leaning towards digital, colorful, eye-catching art. But if BW fits the story, then that's the exception.
Literary Agent
srasiqueira @SraSiqueira1307
#AskBrittSiess For an MG GN what is the average of pgs.It depends on the genre and age range. For younger MG, maybe 96-126. For older, maybe somewhere around 200-220. I'd spend time reading recent MG graphic novels to find what page count yours should be at.
Literary Agent
aka Francis S. Poesy @tcanny
Is there a tendency for publishers to prefer works by author/illustrators. Or is that a publishing "urban legend". #AskBrittSiessIt just depends on the story. If a pitch is really amazing and it's by a writer and an illustrator team, a publisher isn't going to be turned off. It's less complicated to deal with only once person (less paperwork) but that's true of any scenario.
Literary Agent
srasiqueira @SraSiqueira1307
#AskBrittSiess, are you looking for GN for younger kids, such as 8-10?Yes. MG and YA graphic novels only—no adult.
Literary Agent
Emily F. Johnson @LifeMoreSweet
What is one thing that would make you feel that an author had really gone the extra mile in preparing a graphic novel submission? #AskBrittSiessA concise pitch with recent comp titles (within three years).
Literary Agent
Juliann Law @juliannlaw
#askbrittsiess Hi! Do certain stories or types of stories lend themselves better to this format than others? If so, which ones?I don't think so. I think there's a reason that so many movies and prose novels get a graphic novel later on. This is a visual medium, and it lends itself really well to so many different stories. I think the trick is just not to overrun the page with words—be visual.
Literary Agent
srasiqueira @SraSiqueira1307
#AskBrittSiess I noticed there are a lot of different ways of writing a script, any template you prefer?Not in particular. I just need to be able to tell when we're on a new page and it needs to be clear who's talking in which panel.
Literary Agent
Justin LaRoccaHansen @JustinLaRocca
Hi @BrittSiess! For an author/illustrator submission how much art do you like to see with a finished script? Is ten or so sketched out pages with a few final spreads good or do you like to see more? Thanks!! #askagent #askbrittsiessI typically like to see 10 fully inked and colored sample pages, a full synopsis of the story, and as much of the script as you have. It's okay if the script isn't finished when you query, but I definitely need to get a sense of the writing.
Literary Agent
aka Francis S. Poesy @tcanny
Does the current demand for MG GNs by publishers, which I'm told is high, make it any easier for writer-only or illustrator-only graphic novelists to catch a break?#AskBrittSiessI think we're definitely seeing an increase in demand, but that doesn't mean it's any easier to sell your graphic novel. The bar is definitely high—and that's a good thing! We're seeing really quality OGNs become mainstream for readers.
Literary Agent
srasiqueira @SraSiqueira1307
If you're author only, do you have to submit a script or can you submit the story with narrations and dialogue with one sample dummy page of your idea? I got samples done by an illustrator, but the agent /publisher does not need to use the same. #AskBrittSiessIf you're the writer only, you would just submit the script. If you're collaborating with an artist, then I'd say both of you would email and pitch together since it's a collaboration. This is different than PBs, where collaborations aren't really common.
Literary Agent
PLUGO @PLUGO
Hi @BrittSiess, Thanks for this.1: When considering a query, how significant are details like page count, size/dimensions or color artwork vs. black and white?
2: If available, are agents willing to use a dropbox link to read a finished project? #AskAgent #AskBrittSiess
Dropbox links are always fine. A lot of people use them because the file is too big to send via email. Page count is pretty important (depending on genre) but it can usually be altered if it's off. Dimensions are decided by the publisher, and I really just have to love the art