i say an evocative title can add to the intrigue!!! #askdvpit

i think it's best to go by what feedback resonates with you. getting more eyes on your work is good and you should keep an open mind, but everything is subjective and ultimately we want YOU to be happy with your book #askdvpit

Yes to both! But if your comps are wildly different from each other take a second look--in general, they should be on the same wavelength. Also, love a good film or tv comp ;) #askDVpit

I should also note here that 13, especially if the themes tread upward, is an in-between age that sometimes gets stuck between middle-grade and YA. Do write the book + character you wanted to write, but this can affect where you'll have most success selling it! #askDVpit

i like a good, compelling title, so if it's a strength, include it! and no you can save that for the query #askdvpit

The key to "what makes a book YA" is voice. Does the narrative mood of your book inhabit the immediacy and spirit of BEING a teen, or is it more mature or even nostalgic? If you don't feel ready to make this call, you might want to do more reading in recent YA fiction. #askDVpit

yeah this and also consider bandwidth. i have authors that write in several categories and others that are staying put, at least for now. you want to be able to build somewhat consistently but depends on which categories and series and other unique factors #askdvpit

if it's own voices then it's own voices and i think that's fine to include but it's definitely up to you how much you feel comfortable disclosing. #askDVpit

Chronic illnesses are absolutely a valid experience. While you should never feel pressured to disclose this, please know that your experience is always valid #askDVpit

i know this is a common concern and it's totally a personal choice #askDVpit

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This can wait, IMO. Long-term career goals are something you should discuss w/ your eventual agent, but many factors influence this; if you do well in one genre starting out, you might want to build that audience; in other situations you might want to gear shift, etc. #askDVpit

we rec 3 weeks bc the of-the-moment excitement but we hope that agents/editors will still be interested even if it doesn't come in immediately. that said, if it makes more sense to just wait for the next dvpit then that might be the better option, depending #askDVpit

You do want to be close, but it's never going to be perfect--your book is your own after all! Try to think of books that match the tone and themes of your project. You do want to pick a book with good numbers to comp to, but don't limit yourself to the latest bestseller #askDVpit

listen to @KatCho! #askdvpit

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Start with something broad like genre (what's a recent bestseller in your area?) or tone (funny/angsty/cozy/tense?), and see what jumps out to you. It can help to clarify WHAT you are comping, too--"the ensemble cast of X" or "the breakneck pacing of Y" #askDVpit

You want your comps to be both relevant and recent. If you can’t find any, you either need to keep looking or think about why that might be. #askDVpit

paranormal romance is its own subgenre so i think you can just say that! #askDVpit

I would still say it's paranormal romance or romantic suspense...it's not necessarily cross-genre, more sub-genre. Hope that helps! #askDVpit

i've ignored word counts before but really depends on the book and whether i have a good feeling in my bones about it #askDVpit

I'm pro-cross-genre myself! It helps me understand the overall tone of the project a little better. #askDVpit