Literary Agent
Zan Lowell @zanlowell
@kaitylynne13 Thank you for this! Regarding submission length. If the page count ends in the middle of a scene (or a few lines away from the scene) do we smudge for clarity, end as is (assuming it’s not mid-sentence), or reel it in to under the page count?I would just end it at the nearest sentence. Not going over. Like, we ask for 5 pages. So it should end on the final full sentence of the 5th page #askagent
Literary Agent
If I believe in dinosaurs, then they believe in me @SquirrelTheWR
@kaitylynne13 What's a reasonable full request rate to expect with a good query- like, what % query rejections is an indication the query/first pages need work? Thanks for doing this!Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for that. It varies writer to writer. I've seen people with great queries not get picked up for months and months; others who had average query, got picked up fast. There's no fast and hard number #askagent
Literary Agent
Kaitlyn Johnson @kaitylynne13
@iza_sultan I would research genres and figure out what is right for yours. A list of genres shows us you're confused on what you're writing. If it's a YA Romance, I'd be confused why you felt you needed to tag action to that #askagent (1/2)If the hook/pages are super strong, an agent could overlook the mess-up in genre and help you, but it's all dependent #askagent
Literary Agent
Iza Sultan @iza_sultan
@kaitylynne13 Hi Kaitlyn!Any tips for how to describe your genre? And how specific should you be in a query? Is it okay to write something simple like YA action romance and then after the agent reads the synopsis and if they like it they can help you figure out the specific genre?
I would research genres and figure out what is right for yours. A list of genres shows us you're confused on what you're writing. If it's a YA Romance, I'd be confused why you felt you needed to tag action to that #askagent (1/2)
Literary Agent
Donna is finally querying the damn thing @PIXY727
@kaitylynne13 What are your biggest pet peeves in the first 5 pages?Waking from a dream. Describing weather. Beginning after a big event and reflecting on it rather than starting in the moment. Starting in the midst of sex scene (it happens!) lol I could go on and on #askagent
Literary Agent
Cortney Winn @CortneyWinn11
@kaitylynne13 What are the biggest most common weaknesses you see in MS? What are the biggest strengths you look for? 😊♥️Passive voice! Where we fall into memories too soon or the character has no agency of their own. Kills me lol Biggest strengths are voice and worldbuilding that I could just slip into, it's that 3D #askagent
Literary Agent
jamespmurphywrites @jimmurphynovel1
@kaitylynne13 I have a general question. I know many agents a large number of queries. I have some agents who never respond while others may say that the project is not for them. For agents that don't respond, should the writer follow up? What is general timeframe for response?Dependent on agent. Check their profile. Some say that no answer is a pass. Others say to check in after 3 months. I think it's ok to check at 3 months, but that depends if they've publicly said no answer is a no #askagent
Literary Agent
TheBrokeCollector @BrokeCollector
@kaitylynne13 If I'm writing a multi-book story, at what point should I begin sending out query letters to agents? Is there a specific word count or is it more about completing the first book?It's deff about finishing the first book. Never query an unfinished/unedited book, and never query multiple books in 1 query. Focus on Book 1, because you never know if Book 2 will be picked up in the future. Book 1 is the important one right now #askagent
Literary Agent
JoeBianco @TheDriveToKill
@kaitylynne13 #askagent self published been told it’s a great story, query after query goes kaboom what makes an agent see the same vision that I have?If it's self published, it may be hard to get an agent to take it on, because it's already out in the world. Depends on sales numbers, really. I can't tell you how to share that vision, because it all depends on the agent who clicks with you #askagent
Literary Agent
Mackenzie Reed @mackenziemreed7
@kaitylynne13 Is it possible for a book set in college (beginning of freshman year) to be marketable as YA? Or will it always get categorized in the murky NA area just because it's set in college, even if the themes correlate with YA better? #askagentWe've noticed, depending on voice, this gets labeled as "crossover potential". Either YA with adult crossover, or A with YA crossover. But I'm still crossing my fingers for NA to come out of the shadows and be the fabulous age it is #askagent
Literary Agent
Rachael Bell-Irving @rbellirving
@kaitylynne13 Sorry more questions: my characters have LGBT+, disability, and POC identities, but that’s mostly not a part of the plot. Do I mention that representation or not? #askanagentThis, too, is up to you. You can mention this kind of cast or not. I love seeing a diverse cast with these elements (cause I so want more LGBT, POC, disability, &mental health) but again, you shouldn't feel you MUST say it to be noticed #askagent
Literary Agent
🐱Ellen Whitfield IS QUERYING🐱 @EllenWfield
@kaitylynne13 How do you feel about writers whose debuts are part of a series?That doesn't bother me at all. Depends on genre/age, but having a series isn't deal breaker. Just make sure Book 1 can feel satisfying and provide closure on its own, just in case the second isn't picked up #askagent
Literary Agent
Helena Hoayun {on semi hiatus} @helenahoayun
@kaitylynne13 One last question I’m asking for @chels_of_harper!! If an editor at a publishing house read my partial MS and said they’d like to read a full once I have an agent, should I mention this in my query to agents? If so, how do I go about it? Thank you!Yes! That's great, especially since they've already read a partial, not just heard the pitch. I would mention it either in the metadata paragraph (title, word count, etc.) or just before the bio #askagent
Literary Agent
Karina Liane Evans @AsTold_By_Ging
@kaitylynne13 Hi Kaitlyn! Thank you so much for doing this. I listened to your PitMad post mortem live stream on Thursday and regarding the desire for more MG horror - other than Goosebumps, what are some good comps I could read to get a better sense of appropriate amount of scary?Ah! I wish I could answer this! I don't represent horror, so I'm not the best voice here. I just know editors have been mentioning it a lot 😭 #askagent
Literary Agent
Kaitlyn Johnson @kaitylynne13
@carleelynnlloyd ah, for nonfiction I see it. For fiction, if you've not even started querying yet (or if you are unpublished), I wonder why a podcast would slate you to speak? Just because, podcasts usually have published authors or to-be-published for interviews #askagent (1/2)If you've self published, I could see that, though. You have more to talk about and experience #askagent
Literary Agent
The Self-Care Enthusiast: prepping for DEC #PitMad @carleelynnlloyd
@kaitylynne13 Thank you! I watched a course by the manuscript academy that suggested for fiction or non-fiction you begin building a platform abd have your work seen/talled about on podcasts before querying.ah, for nonfiction I see it. For fiction, if you've not even started querying yet (or if you are unpublished), I wonder why a podcast would slate you to speak? Just because, podcasts usually have published authors or to-be-published for interviews #askagent (1/2)
Literary Agent
Amy Lange Kawamura @AmyLangeKawmura
@kaitylynne13 Hi, thanks for doing this. My question: What do you think about protag using imperfect grammar in MG? Such as "John and me went to the mall." "I never been to no circus before." etc. Even though this is the way many Americans speak, I've seen online reviews that criticize this.If this is the actual voice of your character, then it makes sense. That's who they are. If you're doing it when it's not really the character speaking/narrating (meaning it feels more like author voice) then it may be a bit off for readers #askagent
Literary Agent
Jennifer Mandula @JennyGHall
@kaitylynne13 Hi @kaitylynne13! Thanks for doing an #askagent! I think my WIP slots in nicely with books like Broken Monsters, Night Film, and Night Circus, but not sure what genre that is. I *think* it's probably "upmarket speculative* - does that sound right to you??The Night Circus is often listed as Fantasy. Broken Monsters (is this Beukes?) was thriller, and I think Night Film was, too. You might have a fantasy with thriller elements. Depends on setting/plot #askagent
Literary Agent
Katie LaRae @The_Katie_LaRae
@kaitylynne13 How do you decide between requesting a partial or full manuscript when you get a submission you like? (Thanks for doing this!)If I'm head over heels, I might ask for full. But usually, if my list of TBR is already really long, I'll do partial because I know I need to focus on the fulls I already have #askagent
Literary Agent
Rachael Bell-Irving @rbellirving
@kaitylynne13 Are there any keywords or buzzwords that instantly turn you on or off a query? #askanagentI weirdly hate "spunky" or "feisty" lol and the whole "not your normal kid" lines. It's overused or cliche and doesn't really tell me anything #askagent