Literary Agent
Debra Anton @debraanton3
@Megan_Manzano Hello and thank you. As you know, there are services that will review query letters, manuscripts, etc. How do I know whether a service is "legit"? After all, a lot of people can build a nice-looking website.Check testimonials, how upfront they are about fees/the services provided, if they guarantee you publication (which no one can), if they'd be willing to provide you a sample of their work/answer questions.
If there's hesitance or weird price haggling, red flag.
#askagent
Literary Agent
Alice Arley 🐇🌹🍵 @AliceArley
@Megan_Manzano A lot of people are asking if they should hold off querying for now given the state of affairs. What is your advice?Keep querying. Publishers are still acquiring titles. Agents are still reading what's in their query boxes.
Things may be a bit more difficult for books publishing now, but the time from getting an agent to getting a deal could be years.
#askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
TanisiaTeeMoore @TanisiaTeeMoore
@UweStenderPhD If an agent says your MS isn’t a perfect fit should you revise or keep querying?Keep querying until a legit agent offers
Literary Agent
Scott Rhoades @scorho
@UweStenderPhD What catches your attention in the bio paragraph of a query? #askagent"I am an international pop star and my name is Rihanna."
Literary Agent
Trish @TrishWrites1
@UweStenderPhD @Claribel_Ortega When you ask for a full do you read the entire MS or stop reading if you think it’s not for you after all. And if you stop reading why?I will stop reading the second I decide that I am no longer interested.
Literary Agent
L. Dean @designerldean
@UweStenderPhD If an agent requests a full manuscript, how long should I expect to hear back? Thank you!Give them 3 months before you follow up.
Literary Agent
Elana A. Mugdan 🐉 @dragonspleen
@UweStenderPhD I hear varying opinions of how long one's summary within one's query letter should be. (I also hear varying opinions of how to structure a query letter.) In your opinion, what's the ideal length of the short summary and the full query itself?If I have to start scrolling too much, my eyes glaze ove, and I will reject. I can't speak for others.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Aneta Cruz @AnetaCruz
@UweStenderPhD If I'm Czech and am writing about a Czech MC, w/Czech settings, culture, cuisine, etc., I am allowed to use the hashtag #ownvoices (though I'm not sure how it would benefit me)?I wouldn't use the hashtag, but you should mention in your query you are Czech & thus are informed about what you write. I dislike nothing more than someone querying me a Germany based thriller etc, but they can't even get a simple German sentence correct. Googletranslate sucks.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
K. Alice Sandry @katealicesandry
@UweStenderPhD When you send an author and R&R, how long do you reasonably expect it will take (short end-long end)? #askagentNo rush at all. I want perfection, not speed.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
J.C. Cooksey @After_Dark_Arts
@UweStenderPhD @Claribel_Ortega Is connecting to voice really subjective or is indicative of a lack of technical skill?For me it is subjective, like which song I like, or which movie, or which TV show, etc.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan, Author @ElizPagelHogan
@UweStenderPhD Do you think most conferences are organized the best way to help writers and illustrators?I don't know, I only attend 3 or 4 a year, so I can't judge "most." But at the ones I have attended, writers for sure. I have not met an illustrator at a conference.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan, Author @ElizPagelHogan
@UweStenderPhD @RedPenKaitlyn What's your favorite and least favorite part of conferences?Meeting the writers face to face. Telling them that I am not interested in their pitched project.
Literary Agent
Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan, Author @ElizPagelHogan
@UweStenderPhD @RedPenKaitlyn Have you ever accepted a story full of typos (but loved the story)?No, because I will have stopped reading after page 1 or 2. Likely 1.
Literary Agent
LC Milburn @LCMilburn
@UweStenderPhD I received several editor likes in a recent pitch contest (hooray!). But my full MS is also out w/ agents right now. I haven’t sent to the editors b/c I’ve heard this could be a prob w/ agents if the publisher rejects. What should I do?Well done, but I wouldn't overreact to a like. Once you have an agent offer and signed on with an agent, you can tell them which editors gave it a like, then they can pursue the lead.