Literary Agent
Literary Agent
RJE @rje0807
@UweStenderPhD Thank you for your support! If “first 10 pages” of a manuscript are requested in the query process to be pasted into an email, is that asking for 10 double-spaced Word Doc pages? Also, should a chapter always start on a new page to make for an easier read if a full is requested?Hard to answer since I never want to see the first pages in a query. My best GUESS is, yes 10 double spaced MSWORD Times New Roman pages. I think a chapter should start on a new page, but that is a formatting, not a content question, and thus is fixable.
Literary Agent
JRPyle-Carter @JrpyleC
@UweStenderPhD @Maria_Tureaud If the agent doesn't specify, should one assume that the page count of requested material means page count double spaced?Word count matters. Page count is meaningless to me.
Literary Agent
Laura Kat Young @laurakatyoung
@UweStenderPhD What genre or storyline would you love to see?YA rom com. YA, as well as adult, thrillers. Rihanna's memoir.
Literary Agent
Randi Lynn Mrvos @RandiLynnMrvos
@UweStenderPhD I've written a picture book that relies on the playful use of words within the text (for example, the word big is in all caps and in a larger font). Also, the story is written in rhyming stanzas. Would this kind of formatting annoy agents?Ha, I don't know if it would annoy others. Would it annoy me?!? It depends on the execution. But since I only rep picture books by current clients, I have no personal horse in the race.
Literary Agent
Alex Emerson @PenningEmerson
@UweStenderPhD Greetings and congrats on your successes! How important is it, in your opinion, for perspective clients to have previous publication creds? Further, does it matter if the creds are in a different genre or format, say selling a short horror story but pitching a kid's chapter book?Thank you. I personally could not care less one way or the other.
Literary Agent
Susan James Pierce is on deadline🌹 @sjpierce_author
@UweStenderPhD Hi there! Congrats on the success and thanks for doing this! If a work of YA fiction is a Me Too story, is that something worth mentioning in the query? It's not the main focus of the book.Thank you. That is your decision. I can't think of overwhelming pros or cons, but that's just me. So, it happened to you, feel free to mention it IF you are comfortable with that, but if not, don't. It's nobody's business if you don't want to share that info.
Literary Agent
Catherine Eli @TheCatherineEli
@UweStenderPhD @shellyjarvis Going along with that, what would you say the likelihood is of an agent signing a debut author if their first book is meant as a series? I’ve heard this isn’t likely . . .I don't know where you heard that from, but "novel with series potential" will sell.
Literary Agent
Sierra Pung @sierrapung
@UweStenderPhD Hi Uwe! Thanks for doing this! How long do you think it will be before agents are done with Pitch Wars requests and go back to normal queries? I know it’s going to vary, but your guess is better than mine :)Ha, I don't know since I don't participate in Pitch Wars. I used to, but it never had any impact on my openness to queries.
Literary Agent
Susan Gray Foster @susangrayfoster
@UweStenderPhD I hope this isn’t an annoying question.What do you love to see in opening pages of a manuscript?
Questions can only be annoying if they are not genuine So, yours is not at all annoying. I like to find a connection to the narrative voice, and something that drives the plot. Not endless descriptions or pretentious introspection .
Literary Agent
Loretta Chefchaouni is drafting Graveyard WIP! @Writerly_me
@UweStenderPhD Hi! If I query agents who passed on my last manuscript after requesting the full with a new MS, should I mention the previous request at all? They did not specifically invite me to query them with new projects, so is it still worth bringing up? Thanks! #askagentNo reason to mention it. Each project stands on its own, at least for me.
Literary Agent
Carol Sadan @carolchristie_
@UweStenderPhD Congratulations on your recent success. I'm UK based and about to start querying US agents. I'll follow individual agents submission formats, but are there any key differences in the US market that you'd advise I watch out for? Thanks.Thank you. I'd say, just query following respective guidelines. They'll either request or won't.
Literary Agent
Susan Auten @SusanAuten
@UweStenderPhD As far as trends go: Is MG still gaining popularity? Or do you think it’s simmering down?I don't pay attention to trends. In my 14 years as an agent, I never followed trends. So I cannot answer this question well. If I love an MG, I will fight to sign it, if I don't, I won't
Literary Agent
author whitney d. grandison @whitney_DG
@UweStenderPhD If your agent can’t sell a book due to gatekeepers could you then self publish it?The answer is more complicated depending on the specific circumstances, but theoretically the answer is yes. But I can't emphasize enough that it is a case by case career decision.
Literary Agent
Shelly Jarvis @shellyjarvis
@UweStenderPhD When someone pitches you a book “with series potential,” are you interested in knowing up front if they’ve started writing more books in the series or is that something that doesn’t matter until you decide if you like their writing?It is not essential, but if you have more info at that stage, there is no reason not to mention it.
Literary Agent
J.L. Delozier @jldelozier
@UweStenderPhD Congrats on your recent successes! My question: I've had my right reverted to my small-press pubbed trilogy. Is it generally better to rush to self pubbing or just sit on them in case I sign with a future agent/publisher?I really don't know. I would never rush to decisions (I used to, but I learned it's better to think first and then act), so think it through strategically.
Literary Agent
What does it mean when an agent says they are only looking for "select" books in a given genre? #askagent bookendsliterary.com/2020/02/11/sel…
Literary Agent
Jessica Reino @JNRlitauthor
@Anna_Wenner Thank you! Great question! This is different for every agent, but usually check submission guidelines on the agency website. If an agent has a partial or a full and didn’t specifically say when they would get back to you 1/2 #thewriterszen #AskagentI have no problem with someone checking in after 3 months. But that’s just me. For initial queries, some agencies specify on their website that a no response after x weeks means no. I hope that helps. #thewriterszen #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Anna Wenner @Anna_Wenner
@JNRlitauthor Hello! Thanks for doing this. I always find #AskAgent threads really helpful. (And happy birthday to your husband!)My question is: When, if ever, should a submitting author nudge/remind an agent about a submission? I've seen a lot of conflicting advice.
#thewriterszen
Thank you! Great question! This is different for every agent, but usually check submission guidelines on the agency website. If an agent has a partial or a full and didn’t specifically say when they would get back to you 1/2 #thewriterszen #Askagent
Literary Agent
Jason Hussong @JasonsWriting
@JNRlitauthor What's on your #mswl these days #AskAgent #thewriterszenGreat question! I’m always on the lookout for stories with MCs who have invisible illnesses. I would love a good mystery, thriller, suspense, and cozy mysteries with series potential. I would also like to see more Romcoms. #AskAgent #thewriterszen