Literary Agent
Lis J @todayiseena
If you request a full manuscript, does that mean you will definitely respond with a yes or no at some point? And does a long wait for a response = a good or a bad thing? #AskAgentYes it does mean I will respond - time taken normally means I am busy and haven’t had a chance to read it yet #askagent
Literary Agent
John Allen @TheOnlyJohnnyA
@julietpickering Hi #AskAgent. Do you think some publishers are pricing effectively online? I often see ebooks for a new release at around £9.99 - £15 and the print counterparts at lower prices. Increased author/publisher earnings? Trying to encourage higher print sales?I could write an essay on this subject. Some publishers are very proactive and experimental with pricing whereas others tend to be much more sluggish - but eg selling 100 books at 99p might not be as effective as 10 at £12.99 so depends on author and genre #askagent
Literary Agent
Ms. Young Professional @MsYoungProfess
@mushenska Thank you! Following on that — do authors normally have one agent and one publisher? Or multiple if you have 2 or 3 key markets?Normally one primary agent but for example I then work with an agent in America who sells books there on my behalf #askagent
Literary Agent
Grace Walker @GraceRoseWalker
@julietpickering @jounwin I have had a handful of full manuscript requests, with each one, agents have enjoyed the writing but criticised the pace of the book. I'd love to know what you look for in terms of pace/structure. It seems to be my downfall! #askagentWell done for getting this far! I always think of it in terms of what questions will the reader have and how and when will you answer them? #askagent
Literary Agent
Mr Craptramp @craptramp
@mushenska If you don't have any publication history, what, if anything, should you write in the personal section of the cover letter? Thanks! #AskAgentLiterally just ‘I live in Middlesex and work as a beekeeper. This is my first novel’ is fine #askagent
Literary Agent
Case&Firefly @CaseFirefly
@Literary_Tara #askagent It seems that 10 years ago "speculative fiction" was an umbrella term for SF and F. MSWL's now seem to treat it as a third thing. Maybe more real world? Do you have thoughts on what speculative fic is in the current markets?I'll try my best to answer this, but I think it's very subjective. For me, it's a broad umbrella of fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and anything that isn't decidedly one genre. Like with anything, it's evolving right now. #askagent
Literary Agent
Tara Gilbert 🔮✨ @Literary_Tara
This is going to be different for every agent. For me, if it's not something I rep or if the hook isn't there, I'll pass right away. If it is, I'll read the sample, and if they are good, I'll request. But I need to connect with the writing. 1/2 #askagent twitter.com/casachess/stat…Grammar is not the end-all (unless there is a ton!), but if there is too much telling, not enough worldbuilding, passive voice, repetitive use of words, or bad sentence structure, I'll pass. 2/2 #askagent
Literary Agent
Casandra Chesser @casachess
@Literary_Tara What typically makes an agent not want to read more from a query package? Besides the obvious -- didn't check the #MSWL, not familiar with what an agent reps, typos and grammatical errors, etc. #askagentThis is going to be different for every agent. For me, if it's not something I rep or if the hook isn't there, I'll pass right away. If it is, I'll read the sample, and if they are good, I'll request. But I need to connect with the writing. 1/2 #askagent
Literary Agent
J Calamy @CalamyJ
@Literary_Tara #askagent there seem to be a block of publishers who are open to #RomanceWriters that submit directly, sans agent. Is that really a thing? I see miles of #indieauthors and not a lot of agents in my genre. This third avenue is confusing!There are a lot of ways to be published and you need to ask yourself "why do I want to be published" and then decide the best avenue for yourself. There is nothing wrong with self-publishing, or submitting to an indie publishing house, or going through an agent. #askagent
Literary Agent
C L Cawley @C_L_Cawley
@Literary_Tara Are there any books published before you became an agent that you think ‘wow, I wish I’d repped that one?’ If so, why? And what aspects of that work are you desperate to see from anyone querying you? #askagentI love this question! I wish I was the one who found V.E. Schwab, or Rick Riordan, or Maggie Stiefvater. All for various reasons, but mostly because they are all super inclusive and have great characters in their books. I can break it down more in the thread. #askagent
Literary Agent
Laura Genn 🐉 @LauraGenn
@Literary_Tara How is coronavirus affecting agents’ and editors’ jobs right now? Is it still an appropriate time to query? #askagent I hope y’all are staying safe!I don't think anything has changed much. Everyone is saying "business as usual" and I know most of us are still working our butts off. 😂 #askagent
Literary Agent
Case&Firefly @CaseFirefly
@Literary_Tara TY. How do you conceive the difference between upper MG and lower YA? It's some combination of theme, age, and length, and it's murky waters for us.... #askagentIf I want to be black and white, I'd say MG is 11 to 13, and lower YA is 13-15, but it really depends on voice, topics, who your target audience is. Where do you see your book on the shelf? Sometimes it's best to say "MG with crossover potential into YA" or visa versa. #askagent
Literary Agent
Thereza Dos Santos @TherezaDSWrites
@Literary_Tara #askagent Hey, Tara. I’ve got a retelling of Romeo & Juliet - contemp YA with magical elements. No high school drama club here. Is the publishing industry tired of R&J even though it is likely still on many high school curricula? 🤷🏻♀️ Thanks for this!It depends on if it has a unique twist or perspective! Editors and agents want #ownvoices in pretty much everything. Or taking R&J and putting in a time or place that it's never been portrayed would work too! #askagent
Literary Agent
Leigh Haddington @leighhaddington
@Literary_Tara Not even for new unreleased work if the previous work was successful?As long as the work hasn't been published previously, I'm happy to look at it, but the author would have to query me. I don't seek out self-published authors. #askagent
Literary Agent
Casandra Chesser @casachess
@Literary_Tara Hi! I've been curious about this. Are writers penned in to one genre, pretty much, or can they hop around -- i.e., write a sci-fi novel, then a mystery, then romance, whatever the case may be? Or does that damage their career? #askagentHi! I personally don't mind if authors write in several genres. Sometimes the author will use different pennames for each genre to not confuse their fans. I would say if you have a general brand or writing style that fits several genres, that's great! I've seen it done! #askagent
Literary Agent
Tara Gilbert 🔮✨ @Literary_Tara
I do not. I haven't heard of any other agents doing this either. I'm sure someone might have though. Most agents won't take on self-published work since it's tough to get a publisher to agree to publish it. #askagent twitter.com/leighhaddingto…Although, agents are happy to look at other work by self-published authors!! #askagent
Literary Agent
Leigh Haddington @leighhaddington
@Literary_Tara @LombardEmma Missed it? if not, do you ever look through self published authors looking for any gems that didn’t go through the trenches?I do not. I haven't heard of any other agents doing this either. I'm sure someone might have though. Most agents won't take on self-published work since it's tough to get a publisher to agree to publish it. #askagent
Literary Agent
Case&Firefly @CaseFirefly
@Literary_Tara Hi, Tara. So, I'll start a biggie. Do you see yet any changes with publisher plans or the submission process with the current economic changes? #AskAgent (and did I do this right?)Hi! Everyone I have spoken to, and even with the tweets I have seen, everything is business as usual with adjustments of working from home! I think there should be expected slow-down as people adjust, though. #askagent
Literary Agent
sedmondsbrown @sedmondsbrown
@Megan_Manzano If the author is only 13, should this be included in the query letter or is it likely to put the agent off?Include the age since parents would have to be involved via legal documents like contracts.
#askagent
Literary Agent
Maleficent History @thewritelove29
@Megan_Manzano Hi Megan! Thanks for what you do! I was wondering how one goes about trying to query or get a children’s book agented/published in general/without illustrations? I’ve seen a lot on other genres, but not really this. Thank you so much!I have a page of resources with how to get querying/what to expect here:
meganmanzano129.wordpress.com/agent-tips/
#askagent