Literary Agent
Katie Hurse @ECbookblog
@mushenska @julietpickering @mollykh Iโm writing an MA essay on Ghostwriting. Just wondering how often you might pick up a ghostwriter themselves? Whether thatโs based on a submission or the quality of their work. Do you think ghostwriting first helps or hinders when considering a debut? Thank you! #AskAgentI rep 2 ghost writers but that is their specific job ie they ghost write manuscripts for celebs/brands etc - it doesnโt necessarily translate to writing original work and some have no desire to write original work! #askagent
Literary Agent
Simon Granville @SimonGranville
@jounwin Hello All. I was too late last time so apols for the repost. If you get an offer from a publisher before you get an agent, then you get one, can it overly antagonise said publisher?Not a good publisher. I have stepped in to negotiate a couple of times - sometimes makes process easier on the publisher too having a middle man to deal with #askagent
Literary Agent
Danelle We @WeDanelle
@jounwin ...(Good thank-you and yourself?) My #ASKAGENT question is...I am at the submission stage of a completed work (whistles) and feedback on my writing style has been mixed (though enough encouragement on the same). Do I change it? (I really don't want to as this is my voice).Fundamentally has to be your decision as to whether you change your voice or not - but be prepared for some agents to have response your early readers have had #askagent
Literary Agent
Christopher Buecheler @cwbuecheler
@mushenska @dreamoforgonon Thanks for doing this! Q: If you have two unrepresented, unpublished manuscripts that you think would both be good for an agent, and they've passed on the first, how long is polite to wait before querying for the second? Or does that really matter?#askagent
I would say it doesnโt really matter as long as you feel the submission is as strong and polished as you can get it #askagent
Literary Agent
๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐ . ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ @amanda_m_pierce
@mushenska @julietpickering @mollykh Hello thank you for doing this! Iโve written a YA novel that Iโm calling โScience Fantasyโ because it does veer in the science fiction direction sometimes. Given the current feelings about science fiction not selling, should I call it just Fantasy in my query letter?You saying it veers in an SF direction sometimes makes me think it is mostly fantasy so I would describe it as that #askagent
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@stephlystein What have you read lately that you absolutely loved/wanted to share with others? #okscbwichatI recently got around to @kellyyanghk's FRONT DESK and it absolutely deserved the hype and the accolades. I loved it! Check it out if you haven't. #okscbwichat
Editor
Stephanie Stein @stephlystein
It's a big category, but recent best in class: Laini Taylor's STRANGE THE DREAMER, Heidi Heilig's THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE, Holly Black's CRUEL PRINCE, Melissa Albert's THE HAZEL WOOD, Rin Chupeco's THE BONE WITCH, and Tomi Adeyemi's CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE! #okscbwichat twitter.com/litbeing/statuโฆIf I'm allowed to rec my own titles, too, check out @renathedreamer's KINGDOM OF SOULS, @RinChupeco's THE NEVER TILTING WORLD, and upcoming, @rosswriting's DON'T CALL THE WOLF and @ShvetaThakrar's STAR DAUGHTER! ๐ #okscbwichat
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@stephlystein Ahhh! I DEVOURED @hollyblack's CRUEL PRINCE series. Fabulous recommendations! Thank you!#okscbwichat
Of course! I could literally rec YA fantasy all day. :) #okscbwichat
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@stephlystein You say YA Fantasy is your first love, what are some great books in this genre you could recommend to those unfamiliar or wanting recs? #okscbwichatIt's a big category, but recent best in class: Laini Taylor's STRANGE THE DREAMER, Heidi Heilig's THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE, Holly Black's CRUEL PRINCE, Melissa Albert's THE HAZEL WOOD, Rin Chupeco's THE BONE WITCH, and Tomi Adeyemi's CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE! #okscbwichat
Editor
Karina Liane Evans @karinalianee
Hi @stephlystein ! On average, how many subs do you have in your TBR pile? #okscbwichatI'd have to look up exact numbers, but usually somewhere between 25 and 50. I try to stay on top of it, but some times of year are much much busier! #okscbwichat
Editor
Jerry Bennett @comicbookjer
@stephlystein Are you hoping for a graphic novel in any of these categories, too? #okscbwichatYes! My graphic novel tastes tend to branch out in two lanes: whimsical fantasy (like HILDA or @AngrygirLcomics's MOONCAKES) or contemporary realistic/memoir. Looking for more of both for MG and YA! #okscbwichat
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@stephlystein You have an excellent #mswl that clearly spells out what you're looking for(Which can be found here:
manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/stepโฆ)
What are you NOT looking for?
#okscbwichat
Yes, still looking for all of those things! I hate to rule out entire categories wholesale, because something always surprises me. But I'm not looking for YA sci-fi right now, and I'm not usually a great match for YA thriller UNLESS there's a fantasy element. #okscbwichat
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@stephlystein Conversely, what makes you stop reading a manuscript? Any read flags that can lead to an automatic pass from you? #okscbwichatIt's rare for me to see a single red flag that turns me off altogether. In general, though, if I see that my sense of humor isn't a match for the manuscript's, or feel that the story doesn't have a clear sense of where it's going. #okscbwichat
Editor
Kenda Henthorn @kendahenthorn
...or would happy and funny be a more welcomed offset? #okscbwichat twitter.com/kendahenthorn/โฆHa, I think you've got it in one there! Speaking personally (and for a few agents I've heard from lately), I'm not looking for a pandemic or dystopian novel right now. But art is also an important way to process difficult times, so I expect they'll be back one day. #okscbwichat
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@stephlystein Share some insights on your working process with us - what are some of the steps a manuscript goes through once you receive it from the author you're working with? #okscbwichatI think I got to some of this in my earlier answer about editorial style, but beyond that: once we're done with developmental and line edits, it goes off to copy editing. Authors review those queries and then get one more review in the designed "first pass pages." #okscbwichat
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@stephlystein What really grabs your attention when reading a manuscript? What keeps you turning the page and wanting more? #okscbwichatThe eternal question! It always comes down to voice. Is this narrator one I want to get to know better over the next 200+ pages? How much personality shines through? Other factors like smart plot choices and a great opening scene can also hook me, but that's the key! #okscbwichat
Editor
Jerry Bennett @comicbookjer
@stephlystein I suppose you have to work closely with the art direction in GNs. Was that a difficult challenge, or did it come naturally? #okscbwichatOur art style is pretty well established for Warriors, which is most of the graphic novel work I've done so far. But yes, we work closely with our ADs and designers on original GNs! We also work w/ the fantastic Andrew Arnold, who's directing our HarperAlley imprint. #okscbwichat
Editor
Stephanie Stein @stephlystein
This is a great question and obviously something we're thinking about. Acquisitions we make now pub in 1-2 years, so we're still going ahead via email and video conference! A few pub dates have moved, but many are staying. (1/2) #okscbwichat twitter.com/kendahenthorn/โฆPersonally, I'm most worried about our indie bookstore ecosystem! Many are still operating via online ordering and curbside pickup, so please be sure to support them! Big retailers have other revenue streams, but indies need our support to weather this. #okscbwichat
Editor
Kenda Henthorn @kendahenthorn
Hi @stephlystein! I'm wondering what immediate impacts COVID-19 may be having on the publishing industry...are acquisitions and publications proceeding or are you seeing shockwaves and delays in light of our current uncertainties?This is a great question and obviously something we're thinking about. Acquisitions we make now pub in 1-2 years, so we're still going ahead via email and video conference! A few pub dates have moved, but many are staying. (1/2) #okscbwichat
Editor
Stephanie Stein @stephlystein
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 twitter.com/litbeing/statuโฆMy usual process is to write 1-2 rounds of big-picture notes (edit letters), then dive into line edits. But I'm also happy to jump on the phone for a brainstorming call or work from an outline, especially for Book 2 with the same author. Depends on them! (2/2) #okscbwichat