Literary Agent
Isabel Arcane @IsabelArcane
@kaitylynne13 In my current Fantasy MS my MC is latina but I never state this in my queries. I also haven't been labeling my MS as own voices. Is this something I should start mentioning in future queries in pitches and does it matter?That is purely up to you. I love seeing the tag #ownvoices, but it's not mandatory. A great story is a great story and I will request based on that plot and wonderful voice. You shouldn't be forced to use it or feel you HAVE to in order to be requested ❤️ #askagent
Literary Agent
Rachael Bell-Irving @rbellirving
@helenahoayun @kaitylynne13 Similar question, but 3 POV. Should I focus on one character for the query and synopsis, or try and capture all three? Any suggestions? One is more like a subplot so I could cut that out if needed #askanagentIf one is more like a subplot, I'd advise focusing only on the main two. We can learn about this 3rd person in the pages themselves #askagent
Literary Agent
Helena Hoayun {on semi hiatus} @helenahoayun
@kaitylynne13 @kaitylynne13 #askagent another query question: Is it okay to focus my query on one main character, but have the actual story start with the second main character? (She’s mentioned in the query, but it doesn’t revolve around her). Thank you!!As long as she's mentioned, that can work. It's sometimes very startling to read the query and expect one thing, but then jump into another #askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Stephanie Bolla @StephanieNBolla
@kaitylynne13 Hello! First, thank you for taking the time to do this. When you are reading through queries from different writers, what is the most common mistake you see writers make?Oof. A lot is not knowing how to write a professional query (i.e. spending too much time on bio or not giving me the hook/conflict). Sometimes, they don't give me what's unique. Great details, but what makes your story different? I need that! lol #askagent
Literary Agent
Rachael is at 57,339 words💻☕ @RachaelEWrites
@kaitylynne13 How might one put that in a query? I saw some agents (I googled tis and didn't get a 100% solid answer...) and some Agents were like, "Nah. If I don't like it, then I don't like it. Trigger warnings mean nothing to me."I think it's hit or miss. Either we want it or we don't mind it being absent. So it can't hurt. I would do a disclaimer (perhaps after the pitch or maybe in the metadata paragraph) that just states this story does address blank, blank, and blank. #askagent
Literary Agent
Helena Hoayun {on semi hiatus} @helenahoayun
@kaitylynne13 @kaitylynne13 #askagent How do you feel about queries with two POVs? I have one short paragraph for MC1, second for MC2, and third for how they connect. Is that okay?That's perfect! Exactly how I tell people to do it 😉 #askagent
Literary Agent
The Self-Care Enthusiast: prepping for DEC #PitMad @carleelynnlloyd
@kaitylynne13 How many podcasts etc should you get yourself booked on before querying? Is it possible to have a lifelong career with both fiction & non-fiction works, or just stick to 1 genre? Any good agents that represent both you can suggest?Podcasts really aren't a mandatory thing. None of mine have been on any, and it feels odd (unless nonfiction) that you'd be required to before querying. I can't name any agents at the moment, but it's definitely possible to be successful in both nonfiction and fiction #askagent
Literary Agent
Aurora Thornton @Aurora_T_Books
@kaitylynne13 Guess this one might be a little on the nose, but - how to appropriately interact with agents on Twitter as an author? As far as following, liking posts, etc?You can totally follow, like posts, even comment on them! Don't expect answers all the time and don't plague the agent with messages/comments, but we welcome writers getting to know us! And deff participate when they do events like this! #askagent
Literary Agent
Rachael is at 57,339 words💻☕ @RachaelEWrites
@kaitylynne13 Hello, Question! What are your thoughts on trigger warnings? Like, should queries of books with content that deals with things such as suicide, assault, depression, the like possesses them? #askagentI think they're helpful. I do this with editors so they can immediately tell me "this isn't for me." Personally, I'm not a huge fan of cancer stories (having recently lost family members) and I don't do graphic rape. So, if that's in there, a warning is needed. #askagent
Literary Agent
Jessy Lee Shuler 🗽📚 @JessyLeeShuler
@Megan_Manzano I queried an agent whose #mswl practically begs for my WF ms. 😄 Her bio on the agency only mentions kidlit. Does the site info take precedence? If that's the case, is it possible to withdraw the query so I can query another agent within that agency? If so, how?Follow the site because while your MS may have elements they like, they may not be the best agent for the market you're writing in.
If you'd like to withdraw, I'd send a message saying your MS may not be the best fit for them after rereading their guidelines.
#askagent
Literary Agent
Lee Geiger @LeeGeiger
@leonicka Hi Leonicka. Is the romantic mystery a relevant genre anymore? It seems to me like fewer agents are interested in promoting that type of novel. Asking for a friend 😎The popularity of certain genres ebbs and flows. Rom com is booming right now but that doesn’t mean other subsets of romance won’t sell. #askagent
Literary Agent
Ren Kath @RenKath1
@leonicka @alechiawrites As a Canadian writer, would I be looking at a significantly different experience working with an agent in Canada vs the US?A US agent may be less familiar with the vagaries and idiosyncrasies of the Canadian industry. Might be less familiar with awards system and grant structures. If those things are important to you ask in the offer call. #askagent
Literary Agent
Matthias St. Richard @MatthiStRichard
@leonicka Ooh! Are genre-mashers (manuscripts that consciously belong to multiple genres or no genre at all) easier to analyse, or harder?Not sure what you mean by analyse but they can be a slightly harder sell only because publishing likes easy labels and obvious audience. But that won’t deter an experienced agent cuz when it works it works really well. #askagent
Literary Agent
Lauren Darnell @LaurenLDarnell
@leonicka @alechiawrites Don’t feel too bad they all take a long time to respond if you even get anything back at all. Lots of us, few of you.Do you ever get put off if one of the comp titles is a movie? I always feel weird referencing the Dark Crystal but it’s the most accurate.
Movies and other media but they’re technically not “comp titles”. #askagent
Literary Agent
Lane @lanewriteswords
@leonicka #askagent Do you think an MC who is the daughter of a sexual assault victim and the internal struggles that involves is too dark for YA?IMO nothing is “too dark” for YA. If teens experience it, teens can read it. All comes down to voice and execution. #askagent
Literary Agent
Lisa Brideau @LBrideau2
@leonicka (I don't think you should feel bad, you're busy!) What's one difference about agenting/publishing in Canada vs the US that you wish people knew?People really underestimate how much smaller the Canadian industry is. (But Canada is a v important market.) This leads to really wonky expectations of Canadian sales, marketing, distribution etc. More than I can explain here. #askagent
Literary Agent
Maria Hossain (she/her) @Maria__Hossain
@leonicka I hope this isn't silly to ask butWhat's the first thing an agent usually does after signing with a new client? Do they immediately jump into revision/discussion over the project that the client queried about?
Can only speak for me but my priority is getting the MS ready to sell. So yes my first big step is re-reading the manuscript to make careful edit notes. Another early step is prepping a new client announcement if the timing is right 😊 #askagent
Literary Agent
Some Objects (Not all of them. Just some.) @Someobjects
@leonicka #AskAgent if you ever give feedback on submissions, do you find you're more likely to give it for works that are ALMOST something ready by your standards OR something that seems to need a lot of work?I give way more feedback when things are ALMOST there. When there are significant issues it can sometimes be bigger problem than I can address after only reading an excerpt. #askagent
Literary Agent
Romy Natalia @RomyNGoldberg
@laurenspieller Thoughts on how self-reflective MG characters are allowed to be before they start feeling too YA for your liking?that’s a hard one to answer in this format, but if you worry a character sounds YA, then you’re probably right. #askagent