Literary Agent
Madelyn is Revising 🦾❤️🛠✨ @MadelynKnecht
@Megan_Manzano Hi! Question, if an agent passes on a project but then offers representation to the same author for a different project, is there still hope for the first? Or will it be shelved entirely? Thanks!I think it would depend the agent's reason for passing, but personally speaking, I'd work with the author on that book after preparing the book I offered on for submission.
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Literary Agent
Literary Agent
MelisaRHightower @melisawritesTSP
@Megan_Manzano Good Morning, thank you for doing this #askagent Q&A. I have a novel that has a pandemic as part of the story. With the current Covid-19 situation, are stories like this marketable?Honestly, these stories may be tough right now as a lot of agents and editors are looking for escapist stories.
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Literary Agent
Ann Dayleview @AnnDayleview
@Megan_Manzano How do you feel about query letters that don't follow the traditional format. Still have the whole hook, cook, and book but have bullets in the book section?I'm generally okay with them as I've seen some queries told in the POV of the character which can be cool.
I think the bottom line is as long as you have all of the information I'm looking for, that works for me.
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Literary Agent
K.R. Garcia (check out #CeruleanProse!) @katerpillar43
@Megan_Manzano Hi Megan! How many words do you think it should take to reach the inciting incident of the story? And how do you feel about agenting authors who are college students?This varies so much by story so I can't give a specific word count, unfortunately. I would try to get to the inciting incident within the first few chapters.
And you mean authors who are also college students? There's nothing wrong with that!
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Literary Agent
Alexandra Z. Lazar @alexandrazlazar
@Megan_Manzano I can’t remember if I’ve asked you this before; I’m trying to get insight from as many agents as possible because everyone has a different answer. What’s the maximum word count for a debut YA fantasy novel before you feel skeptical about considering it?I get skeptical if it's over 110,000 words partly because YA Fantasy is a harder sell right now and partly because I'll be wondering what I'll need to trim from the editorial side.
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Literary Agent
Briana Morgan ✨ BUY LIVINGSTON GIRLS! @brimorganbooks
@Megan_Manzano If a premise grabs you but the query letter itself needs polishing, would you still want to read? I have a lot of editing clients who worry about their query letters even if the MS is good!I would still request. I also check pages even if the query isn't strong - that can always be worked on later!
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Literary Agent
You Can't Hide a Self-Published Book, but should you mention it in a query? #askagent bookendsliterary.com/2020/03/31/you…
Literary Agent
Marcie Price Jackson @MissMarciePants
#askPSLA thanks for answering Qs today! I’m wondering, at what point do you shelve your MS? I’ve read various numbers- 10 queries, 50, etc.? I’ve had several full and partial requests, but haven’t found “the one” yet.Keep going!
There are lots of stories about authors who queried 100+ agents. Just make sure you're sticking to agents who feel right for you.
It can be tempting to pitch EVERYONE, but remember. An agent who isn't a good fit for you, is worse than having no agent. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Daniel M. Clark @danielmclark
#askPSLA and my last question is… how important is it, really, for authors to be on twitter? I tend to leave the platform for years at a time because I really don’t like it. If I have to keep it up for the sake of a career, I’ll do it, but I’d rather not lolFor NF, that following can help. For fiction, having a twitter community to support you and your work can be rewarding, but it's not crucial to selling your work. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Daniel M. Clark @danielmclark
#askPSLA how important is it for an author to have a life story. I mean, does it matter that I haven’t held any excited jobs, or that I’ve never, you know, killed a guy? Is a rather dull or average life a roadblock in publishing or author marketing?ROFL. It's not important. So many of the debut authors I've signed had bios in their query letters like "worked as a lawyer for fishermen" and "I have a corgi and like hockey."
And honestly, that stuff IS exciting and interesting to me. Life exists outside books! #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Marcie Price Jackson @MissMarciePants
#askPSLA thanks for answering Qs today! I’m wondering, at what point do you shelve your MS? I’ve read various numbers- 10 queries, 50, etc.? I’ve had several full and partial requests, but haven’t found “the one” yet.If you're getting those requests, that means you're on to something. It might be time to do another edit or lean into a writer critique group. It sounds like your query is doing its job. If you've lost your passion for the MS, that's when I'd shelve the MS for now. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Maureen Moretti @maureen_moretti
@snlefebvre Publisher's Marketplace's free website lists internships, as well as bookjobs.com. There are a number of programs, including Columbia, NYU and Pace that offer publishing certificates to learn more. #askPSLAAlso try twitter and social media searches. Some companies/agencies will share postings there too. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Francesca Donlan @fdonlanVCB
@PSLiterary @maureen_moretti @ericsmithrocks @readbystephanie Thank you for sharing your time. Are memoirs still viable in the industry - when you are not famous and don’t have a big following but a good story. #askagent #askpslaI think so. I've sold a few.
If you're worried about establishing that platform, it is never ever too late. Publishing articles and essays on whatever you're writing about, should be a very welcome challenge.
After-all, you wrote a memoir about this! :-) #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Brandy meinhardt @MeinhardtBrandy
In terms of sensitivity readers, is it important if any characters are of a marginalized community? My MC witnesses members of her family commit a hate crime towards a married gay couple. Wondering if I should get SR? #askPSLAIf you're already thinking about it, it couldn't hurt to do so! IMO sensitivity readers are a great tool. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Noreen @naziaso
@maureen_moretti @PSLiterary @AEAndersen_ @readbystephanie #AskPSLA follow up to this. What are you looking for (more editorial or a polished MS)? Thx!!I'm always looking for your most polished MS! After I sign a client, we work on subsequent edits but we've discussed our mutual editorial vision beforehand. #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Ayesha Farhat @farhatayesha
#askPSLA would a wordcount of 75k for literary fiction put an agent off? I'm writing around a South Asian/ Muslim theme. Is that interesting for your agency?I think all of my literary fic authors' books (see @boycebabbles' novels) come in at around that.
That's a perfectly fine word count! #askPSLA
Literary Agent
Jenn Mecks @jomecki
Would you rather have a query with no comps or a query with weak comps?Also, is it ok to offer writers (as long as they’re not brands to themselves like Neil Gaiman and JK Rowling) instead of title comps (ie, for fans of x and y)?
#askagent #askPSLA
I like creative comps! Going the author route works for me, but I want to see what part of their style you are comping (e.g the humor of x). Weak comps are a waste of your word count IMO. Again, specifying what part of the comp is similar (in the style of x) is🔑. #askPSLA