"Crossover appeal." There's definitely an audience for it, and publishers have managed to market into that space quiet well with certain covers, blurbs, & campaigns. So it's a known phenomenon, just not crystallized into a specific category.

Space opera, primarily. And dystopian has been for a while--though we'll see if this crisis reinforces that or causes a resurgence...

Sure, those tend to do well. Personally I'm tired of seeing Hamlet and R&J retellings and would love some of the comedies instead, but that's just me!

As much as I wish I could be faster, I've definitely taken longer than 8 months on fulls before, many times. I would say if it's been 12mo & there's been no response on nudges, sure: mark it CNR for your own sanity. But you might still receive a response somewhere down the line!

I'm not likely to reopen to memoir anytime soon, I'm afraid!

I would suggest mentioning why you chose to write in verse/what it contributes to the story. I would also be sure to cite a successful novel-in-verse as a comp.

I'm not aware of any agencies that aren't! Our agency has plenty of clients who are not based in the US. It's never been a problem that I've heard of.

"YA sci-fi" is way too broad to ever be dead. I'd say specific subgenres, maybe, and I'd call it "in hibernation"--these things always come back around.

It varies. Some days it is heavy reading & editorial, other days I'm negotiating contracts or on phone calls all day. Every day I'm fielding emails, boosting authors on social media, & tracking basic admin stuff.

Try to get feedback on your query, such as at a conference--if market is a concern, that usually pings for agents at the query level & they should be able to express what in particular is the problem.

Since I assume you'll eventually want to publish both, you should look for an agent who reps both! They'll help advise you on where to focus first and how to build that career, but ultimately you'll want the same agent to be able to work with you across the board.

It depends... but I would lean on the side of "no" if it is an underrepresented culture. The right to tell those stories should go first to the people live them.

I answered some #AskAgent questions on le Tumblr just now -- mostly Coronavirus related. TL;DR: Publishing is NOT stopping -- but we are all navigating a strange new landscape. Agents are taking this day by day, just as everyone else is.

literaticat.tumblr.com

Are you writing a feel good novel or non-fiction? That will entertain, let readers mentally escape the #CoronaCrisisuk & feel positive about the world?

➡️➡️➡️Send it in now, with "feel good" in the email subject line #AskAgent #AmWriting
katenashlit.co.uk/submissions/

Depends what it is. I’m always open to considering all my queries

I think it can be tough because publishers and readers expect longer fantasies with big worlds but i am a firm believer that it always depends on the book

Yes i do!

i'm still as behind on queries as always LOL

but really also, still peeking in looking for that spark :)

trends are so impossible (at least for the skeptic in me who always thinks "you never know") but i do wonder if we as a society will want even more happy things or perhaps even virtual-centered stories... but i think it always depends on the book itself. we break trends

i say website if you consider it an either/or situation