
Literary Agent
ronnie 🏳️🌈 #amquerying @mxronnieriley
@kaitylynne13 @noulakaraszi Should you include your intentions with your story in your query? (i.e. mentioning that characters’ sexuality and race are not a main point of contention, or that the story focuses on how to support SAS vs the assault itself)I would focus on the pitch itself. If the agent loves it and wants to set up a call, then you can fully discuss your intentions with the work #askagent

Literary Agent
Shayna Grissom @ShaynaGrissom
@kaitylynne13 How do agents feel about small press writers?I think they love them? lol I don't see why that would be a problem or negative at all =] #askagent

Literary Agent
Luke Maynard @lukemaynard
@kaitylynne13 Thanks for doing this, Kaitlyn!How do agents generally look on hybrid #selfpub/#tradpub authors now? I don't mean people trying to shop a MS they've already published, I mean #writers who do both because some saleable things are a better fit for agents, & some oddities less so.
Hybrid is wonderful! Most agents I know welcome hybrid authors and are there to help them in their career efforts on both sides #askagent

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
Dana Brown @DanaRBrown16
@kaitylynne13 Is it possible to query a book with a notable artist attached to doing the artwork for the cover? Would this turn away an agent or would they welcome it? #askanagentIf you have someone attached to the illustration/artwork already, I'd state that. That shouldn't be skipped unless you aren't committed to working with them for the piece #askagent

Literary Agent
Bethany Averie @WriteByBethany
@kaitylynne13 I've heard mixed things on this: if the story is written in first person past tense, is it okay for the blurb to be written the same way when querying? I've often heard not to make it first person in queries, but then again, if that's the POV, shouldn't it be that way? #askagentNo, the pitch should be from the author, so third person and in present tense. The query shouldn't reflect a character's voice #askagent

Literary Agent
Stephanie Escobar @pokemonpatronus
@kaitylynne13 What is a tasteful way to respond to a rejection? I want to know their reasons for rejecting me; I know I can become a better writer from it, but am not sure how to ask the agent in a professional way.honestly, if the agent doesn't provide feedback, I wouldn't respond asking for more. It's unfortunate, but some don't have time to give more than a form rejection or some simple yet helpful feedback #askagent

Literary Agent
Sierra @sierrapung
@kaitylynne13 Thanks for answering! I love hearing behind the scenes stuff like this. Follow up Q. How often do you reject for query? For pages? For concept? For something else? Thanks again :)Don't really have numbers for that, but often it's if the query is just something I'm not interested in, or if the pages are just not strong enough writing. Sometimes it's synopsis, but that varies #askagent

Literary Agent
🌼Clementine🌼 @clemmiegirlnz
@kaitylynne13 Hi Kaitlyn! Thanks for this. So much to learn here. My question is - if I queried an MS with an agent at a no from one = no from all agency, and it was rejected, but I see another agent at the agency puts out an MSWL that fits my MS, is it ever okay to query the second agent?if they specifically request it in a contest/conference, or put out a MSWL that is really your story's exact focus, or if they join the agency AFTER you were passed on (because, hey, they weren't there for you to choose) you should be ok #askagent

Literary Agent
H.W. Johnston @hwjohnston7
@kaitylynne13 @KJHarrowick Are novellas something agents stay away from?Not all of them! Check their preferences. I don't take novellas, but another agent in the agency might, so deff do research #askagent

Literary Agent
Metra Kootsikas @Nice2Meecha
@kaitylynne13 Hello Kaitlyn! I see lots of agent tweets on major query mistakes...what % would you say are actually good, researched, strong queries? Even if the MS is not for you, is your inbox filled with competitive, well-written queries?I have a Maybe pile of around 60 queries right now. All decent or great. Sometimes I request, sometimes I don't. I have CLIENTS right now who didn't have the best queries. I don't have %, but it's more about the plot or writing that grabs me even if query is sub-par #askagent

Literary Agent
Mackenzie Reed @mackenziemreed7
@kaitylynne13 Last question from me! If an editor likes your pitch (like from Pitmad), is that something that should be mentioned in an initial agent query?Keep a list of any editor that liked your pitch. You can mention in the query, or you can just save it for when you get an agent offer and let them know, so they can reach out to the editor #askagent

Literary Agent
Jon Wallace 🏳️🌈 @_Jon_Wallace_
@kaitylynne13 Thanks! Also, besides following an agent’s requirements for formatting, is there anything that makes a query really stand out for you?Really, just a unique hook. What makes yours different from others in the same plot/genre. #askagent

Literary Agent
Jennifer Kinzler @JenniferKinzler
@kaitylynne13 What do you think about the gray area between MG and YA? Is there a place for a 14yo MC starting high school?We want to see more in this age. It's a murky area and we don't have nearly enough. It would most likely by MG or YA dependent on voice/plot #askagent

Literary Agent
Biciido @DeeqaJibrell
@kaitylynne13 Do you have any suggestions on how to tackle a query hook when you have multiple main characters? Do you focus on the main plot or on one BIG main character? Thank you!if 1 character feels like the main one the plot revolves around, focus on them. It's hard to do more than 2 characters in a query. Things often get complicated after that #askagent

Literary Agent
Jamie 🏳️🌈 @jlzwrites
@kaitylynne13 If you query different projects and get an offer on one should you notify the other agents you’ve queried that don’t have the same project and give them the opportunity to look at it? I’ve always wondered if this happens and what the protocol would be.yes! definitely. Email the agents who have your other work(s) and let them know, and include the pitch for the other book at least so they can say yes or no to reading it #askagent

Literary Agent
Cierra McGee @CDGMcGee
@kaitylynne13 @iza_sultan Follow-up: I've read tips from agents (specifically thinking of Donald Maass) advising only to use shelf-specific genres in queries. For example, I'm writing a space western--but since that's not a "real" genre you'd find in bookstore, am I better-off calling it sci-fi?
Literary Agent
Stephanie Bolla @StephanieNBolla
@kaitylynne13 @emlocklin I read that having a large social media presence is a key factor when agents are choosing who to represent. Is this true? And how much does this effect your decision making process?Platform matters for nonfiction, because you should be involved/have experience in topic. For fiction, social media doesn't bother me. I will work with you on bulking that, but it's not necessary to have a big platform #askagent

Literary Agent
Randi Muilenburg @RandiLeaWriting
@kaitylynne13 If a querying author completely revamps a query letter and opening pages that you'd previously rejected, are you open to seeing them again? Would it be off-putting to see the same title back in your inbox, or should the author change it too?If it's a complete rewrite, I'd be okay with it. Others may not, so be sure to take a close look at their preferences #askagent

Literary Agent
Shay Emms @ShayEmms
@kaitylynne13 I have a longish list of publication credits but half of them are small press and the others are for VERY old graphic novels from bigger name companies. One friend told me agents won't be interested in small press books from publishers they've never heard of- is this true?