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KD FIELD @FieldKelli
@PSLiterary @maureen_moretti @ericsmithrocks @readbystephanie Sent query letter and synopsis. Was asked for a partial manuscript and then heard nothing back. Is if bad form in the industry to follow up via email or should I assume after 16 weeks its a hard no?I'd just double check what their submission guidelines say?
Some agency websites say they'll get back to you in 6 to 8 weeks, etc. If they haven't, nudge away! #askpsla
Literary Agent
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Ashley Jean @missashleyjean
#askPSLA Is it frowned upon to nudge an agent with an updated ms if they have not responded to the initial full request?I'm a big fan of nudges. I say go for it.
Although, if you're nudging with an updated manuscript like... two weeks later? That's maybe telling me the book wasn't ready to pitch in the first place.
Just dish a little bit of the why. I've signed folks who nudge. :-) #askPSLA
Literary Agent
K. Belvedere @kbelvedere
#askPSLA Hi, agents! Thank you for answering these questions. I'm wondering what immediately puts you off a query letter or sample? Are these industry standards or personal peeves?This is a tough one. I want to give every query a chance! If the word count is significantly too long or short, I am less likely to request. This one is more industry-related, as I'm looking for an author who knows their genre! #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Angie Hawkins @th_littlebirdie
#askPSLA Are all manuscript requests followed up with a reply, or is a no-response considered a “No” from the agency?If an agent has requested to see more of your work but ultimately passes (or not), you will absolutely get an email! It may just take time. 🙂 #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Vanessa @vanessaepeay
do you prefer for queries to have personalization or jump right into the pitch? #askPSLAWhen it comes to personalizing your query, don't feel like you HAVE to force it. Not all agents have a personal website, a social media presence, etc. where you can learn those fun little tidbits.
Just jumping in with "I hear you're looking for X" works just as well. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Vanessa @vanessaepeay
do you prefer for queries to have personalization or jump right into the pitch? #askPSLABoth! I'd love a line somewhere that briefly lets me know why you think I'd be a fit. Maybe you saw something on Twitter. I already know the genres I represent so the "I think we're a fit b/c you rep x genre" is less effective with me. 🙂 #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Elishia @elishia_e
#askPSLA #askagent How do you think publishing is being affected by Covid-19? Do you think acquisitions will slow down? Also... are you pumped or dreading all the post-apocalyptic/dystopian fiction that’s about to flood your inboxes? 😆Like every industry, publishing is evolving daily in response to C19. I've seen pub dates pushed back, layoffs, cancelled tours, and more but it's hard to predict what the new landscape will look like. As long as it's tasteful/original, I'm looking forward to reading! #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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Daniel M. Clark @danielmclark
#askPSLA is there room for optimism in sci-fi/fantasy? After a long stretch of grim n’ gritty, are agents looking for optimistic queries?Absolutely. I've seen people refer to it as "hopepunk" here on the Twitter dot com.
I'm lucky enough to work with @mikechenwriter, and his novels are packed full of optimism and hope. Like a sci-fi golden retriever. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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Eric Smith @ericsmithrocks
With platform, it depends.You can have a big social media following and that's great, but I need to see you're an expert in what you're writing. Platform in publication (essays, articles) help prove that.
Most of my NF authors don't have a huge social following. #askPSLA twitter.com/JulieSHasson/s…
I have a post about putting together a non-fiction proposal that digs into platform, that I think might be helpful. cc @JulieSHasson
Shout out to @slaughterwrites for being open and vulnerable with this, cause we put the whole thing up here. ericsmithrocks.com/blog/2019/5/21… #askPSLA
Literary Agent
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I'm about to go on an #AskAgent question answering spree. So if you have questions, provided they are not ridiculous, hit up the tumblr. Please for the love of god no word count questions thx love you xo
literaticat.tumblr.com/ask
Literary Agent
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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife
@Anushi_mehta @bookendslit Can I circle back to you? I am not in my office and I am terrible at titles, and my chapter books are on my rolling cart. #askagentOkay, JADA JONES: ROCK STAR, PRINCESS IN BLACK, MEET YASMIN!, CHICKEN SQUAD, are some of mine #askagent
Literary Agent
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Anushi Mehta @Anushi_mehta
#askagent @bookendslitWhat are your top chapter book reccos- particularly stories that are culturally diverse / based on POC
Can I circle back to you? I am not in my office and I am terrible at titles, and my chapter books are on my rolling cart. #askagent
Literary Agent
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Chad & Dad Richardson @ChadandDadRich
@NaomisLitPix @nicolebeawrites How many at a time? Six to eight? More? Less? #askagentEvery agent will have a different opinion on this. Make a spreadsheet of all the agents who are a good fit for it. Are there 20? 40? Choose a percentage & query them, but not all at once, because if you get feedback and want to change something, you can b4 sending more. #askagent
Literary Agent
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Karen McCrae @farmfreshkaren
@bookendslit How important is my assessment of a genre in the query letter? For example, my MS is adult, but could be considered commercial, contemporary, and possibly others all at once. How to narrow down, or do I? #askagentYou need to know where your novel would sit in the bookstores. B/c it is only going to sit in 1 place. Take Outlander for example. Originally, it was shelved in romance. Now it is shelved in fiction. But it is also historical and sci-fi. But it is mostly romance or fic #askagent
Literary Agent
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Karen McCrae @farmfreshkaren
@bookendslit How important is my assessment of a genre in the query letter? For example, my MS is adult, but could be considered commercial, contemporary, and possibly others all at once. How to narrow down, or do I? #askagentDon't have to exclude any of that. I pitch things "an adult upmarket historical mystery" or whatever. When it gets bad/weird is queries that say it's an adult romance/mystery/scifi thriller (where would it be shelved!?) #askagent
Literary Agent
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Kara Mugleston @klmugle
If an agent represents one of my books (an MG), would it be more likely for them to represent another book (a YA)? #AskAgentFor Kidlit, yes. Though have a conversation with your agent, since they may have a brand vision for you. For me, I am selfish and I want all my clients' kidlit stuff. Now if they want to do some adult thriller stuff, then we might talk them needing an adult agent. #askagent
Literary Agent
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Joanne Machin is querying! @heyjomachin
Any quick tips for assessing and improving pacing in a ms? :) #askagentRead SAVE THE CAT, and try reading it on your Kindle. Also @NaomisLitPix has a great link she shared with me once on this so I am tagging her in #askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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Chad & Dad Richardson @ChadandDadRich
How do you expect the slow down in the economy to impact the publishing industry? Do you think it will slow things down significantly? #askagentI mean we are all kind of stressed and some have admitted to having a hard time focusing, but people need books. And we need queries. So BookEnds is moving like normal. Will we see things effected, yes, but we work 2 years in the future, so we need to work for 2022. #askagent