Literary Agent
Teresa Palomar (a.k.a. Helena Handbasket) @TeresaPalomar1
@literallycait Will you open to memoir again before I catch this virus?I'm not likely to reopen to memoir anytime soon, I'm afraid!
Literary Agent
β¨ Elayna Mae Darcy π @elaynamae
@literallycait Any advice for folks querying a YA novel in verse? #askagentI 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.
Literary Agent
Francesca Tacchi @jackdaw_writes
@literallycait Are agents open to represent people who don't live in America? Or is it a deterrent? (since they wouldn't be able to attend cons etc)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.
Literary Agent
S.H. Marr @SH_Marr_Writes
@literallycait Is Ya sci-fi really dead, or is it specific genres of sci-fi?"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.
Literary Agent
Joanne Machin #amquerying @heyjomachin
@literallycait Iβve been super curious lately about what a day/week in the life of an agent is like! :)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.
Literary Agent
sarah π @sarahemasek
@literallycait I know agents sometimes say they reject queries if they feel like they can't sell your book. If you have a book that isn't getting traction, but has been received well by those who've read it, is there a way to tell if the market is why and you should try again later on?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.
Literary Agent
Marcie Price Jackson @MissMarciePants
@literallycait @nearonis Thanks, Caitlin! Iβm querying a contemporary YA mystery atm, but my next WIP is YA sci-fi. Should I be focusing on one genre to build a platform? Or plan to find an agent that reps both?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.
Literary Agent
Joseph Hall/J. Aaron Hall @Jaaronhall
@literallycait Do you feel writers can write about characters in settings inspired by cultures they aren't apart of if they research and practice due diligence? Whether made-up for the story or real?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.
Literary Agent
Kristin Paula @kristinpaula11
@Megan_Manzano Among agents do you see a preference for 1st or 3rd person?I don't see an overwhelming preference - mostly just individual tastes of which an agent likes better.
#askagent
Literary Agent
Jessica Payne @jessicabluewri1
@Megan_Manzano I feel like my comps are strong, but books that are less popular/many people who read in the genre havenβt heard of. How does an agent handle comps they havenβt heard of? If they rep the genre is it likely they HAVE heard of them? Would they look them up?Agents should generally be well-versed in comps for their genre but of course we can't read everything. I tend to look up comps I don't know.
#askagent
Literary Agent
Adi Denner @Adi_Denner
@Megan_Manzano Hi and thank you for this opportunity! βΊοΈIf a book is a first in a planned trilogy should you mention that in the query or stick to- stand alone with series potential?
Always go for stand alone with series potential!
#askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Megan Manzano π΅π· πΈ @Megan_Manzano
@MadelynKnecht There are two issues I typically see:1. One POV being stronger than others.
2. The alternative POVs not adding more to the story.
(1/2) #askagent
Multi-POVs work really well when each POV gives us insight to something we didn't get before. They can also enhance really important moments.
My main tip is ask yourself what is each POV doing/how can I enhance the story by switching POVs.
#askagent
Literary Agent
Madelyn is Drafting βοΈππ @MadelynKnecht
@Megan_Manzano Hi! βΊοΈ whatβs the biggest issue you see with multi-POV stories? Do you have any tips? #askagentThere are two issues I typically see:
1. One POV being stronger than others.
2. The alternative POVs not adding more to the story.
(1/2) #askagent
Literary Agent
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
Literary Agent
Are you writing a feel good novel or non-fiction? That will entertain, let readers mentally escape the #CoronaCrisisuk & feel positive about the world?
β‘οΈβ‘οΈβ‘οΈSend it in now, with "feel good" in the email subject line #AskAgent #AmWriting
katenashlit.co.uk/submissions/
Literary Agent
Kristal McKerrington @K_McKerrington
@beth_phelan #askbeth would you want to see a dystopian ya in your inbox?Depends what it is. Iβm always open to considering all my queries
Literary Agent
Dvorah ~ #1 Yennefer fan π€βπ€ @GoldenSong012
@beth_phelan #askbeth is low word count (65-70k on an adult fantasy) problem enough for an auto-reject on a query for most agents, even if you're otherwise interested?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