Keep up to date with the books being published in the categories/genres you'd like to represent. Subscribe to industry newsletters (like Publishers Weekly). Attend local bookstore or library events. #askPSLA

Yes, absolutely! There are plenty of MG books written in 1st person. It helps readers put themselves in the character's frame of mind—which often helps win over young readers. #askPSLA

I'm always looking for a fantastic voice at the beginning of a submission. It's much easier to fix plot than writing style. #askPSLA

I don't work on adult lit much, so @maureen_moretti might have a better response, but just throwing it out there that "dark rom-com" sounds exactly like a book I would read in my downtime haha. #askPSLA

I think it's safe to assume memoir is included. Worst case scenario is that the book isn't for them! #askPSLA

Books filled with joy (instead of trauma/"issues") by marginalized creators.

I'd also like to see more books that play around with form and structure. I like my lit weird.

#askPSLA

For me, it feels like for every YA book I read with romance, I read one that doesn't have it! It's definitely not going to disappear—romantic relationships can be a very important part of YA readers' lives—but by no means does every YA book need a romance subplot. #askPSLA

I think it's a topic that affects such a large group of MG readers that we should have MORE books that focus on it. #askPSLA

Romantic relationships can be in both lower and upper YA. It has more to do with the age of the characters, the context of the story (are they starting college, for example), etc. Upper YA targets the older readers of the category. #askPSLA

Ta da! laurenspieller.com/2012/10/11/how… #askagent

Any time they’re open! But personally I’d avoid the weeks surrounding the winter holidays #askagent

When to Bring in Beta Readers #askagent bookendsliterary.com/2020/01/21/hir…

I started a (free!) (awesome???) newsletter. This will be one weekly update containing a Best Of #AskAgent question, plus bookish news and whatnot. Subscribe to get it directly.

First up on the Best of Ask the Agent: WTF is an ARC?

literaticat.substack.com/p/best-of-ask-…

My #AskAgent Tumblr -- it's SO FULL of questions from people who are tying themselves up in knots. Here's the answer for all of you:

YOU ARE SERIOUSLY OVERTHINKING THIS. Please go outside and take some deep breaths of fresh air. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, PLEASE BE GOOD TO YOURSELF.

Is there a time of year when it's considered a bad time to query? #askagent bookendsliterary.com/2020/01/16/bad…

Hmmm, I am not sure it is necessary or helpful unless the editor was incredibly excited.

Just state what the book is about and what it compares to.

My answer is not helpful, but "I know it when I see it" is my answer.

Query as normal.

I don't know, I would have to read the book. But when I was a teenager, I would not have cared one millisecond about what my mother would have had to say. So, I guess my answer is: adult.