I am a pretty hands-on editor and I ask a lot of questions. One of my favorite things about the job is figuring out what each of my authors needs from me in order to do their best work. (1/2) #okscbwichat

I have to tip my hat to the amazing @_DanJolley and @JamesLBarry, who work on the graphic novels set in Erin Hunter's Warriors universe. They keep everything feeling like a well-oiled machine! Our latest is A SHADOW IN RIVERCLAN, coming this summer. #okscbwichat

Actually, TODAY is the #bookbirthday for the fantastic and heartwarming MG fantasy THE TRIUMPHANT TALE OF PIPPA NORTH by @TemreBeltz! And in April, I've got an atmospheric and dark YA debut, @rosswriting's DON'T CALL THE WOLF. #okscbwichat

Things I love: smart comp (competitive) titles that would be realistic neighbors for your book on the shelf. A fresh premise. A hint of the MC's voice (sense of humor, etc). Things I wish I didn't see: Don't disparage your own work OR others in your genre! #okscbwichat

I loved it! I think editors who start in another department, be it marketing or sales or whatever, take such a valuable perspective with them. And it helped to already know a bit about how the rest of the business worked while I was learning the ropes in editorial! #okscbwichat

It's true, it's important to know how to deliver a good hook for your pitch! :) #okscbwichat

I love translating my editorial POV to a more visual storytelling language--thinking about things like layout and page turns. And the amazing art! What I might not love are the loooong schedules. Novels can take 2 years to pub, but GNs often take longer! #okscbwichat

I came to the children's book world 8 years ago and have worked at Harper ever since. After internships at smaller pubs, I started out in marketing, where I learned how to write catchy copy and position a book to its audience. ~2 years later I switched to editing! #okscbwichat

No, it's often the opposite, while the market runs on this form of internal melding; in my experience, publishers like to rely on internal modules in books that are re-created, even as they feel familiar, which is how trends develop and persist over time. (3/3) #askagent

...have a sort of "internal typography," the way in which writers imagine their own narrative from the inside out; the way in which they arrange the logical pieces, for external effect, a sort of "internal design." Hard to articulate. As for the "playing it safe": (2/3) #askagent

Just thinking out loud: I'm not sure that "typography" is the best word—I'm thinking sort of types of plots (plot structures can be broken into different theoretical categories; different book structures can be categorized in different ways). Novels, thus... (1/3) #askagent

Either, and both. It, honestly, depends entirely on the voice with which the novel is executed, but I do, generally, have a sort of existential preference for the psychological thriller. #askagent

I won't be considering graphic novels, for the moment; I generally find them less stimulating + interesting than full-length novels, with some exceptions. #askagent

Technically yes, but they are a more limited market at the moment. I'm seeing that market expand more every month, though, so it is looking better than ever before!

YA will always have a market so unless you have a trend-driven book I wouldn't worry too much. But if you do have another project on the backburner you feel you could switch to, by all means!

One, unless there's something I'm missing about picture books! I don't rep them. But as with querying in all genres, it should be about quality over quantity. Just be prepared to talk about your next ideas as well!

"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!