Literary Agent
🎨 Amanda Davis @amandadavisart
@taralazar @marchsoloway #askagent #askauthor what good book/s are you escaping into right now (if any)? 📚🤓💕I just read a fascinating New Yorker story about a missionary in Uganda this week, and I'm reading a fun, spooky MG and a YA full of intrigue, both submissions, which have been wonderful escapes. I hope to finish both soon and respond to those authors. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Kelly Swemba @KSwemba
@taralazar @marchsoloway #askauthor #askagentHi and thank you for this. Given how the world is sideways, how much will that impact what agents and publishers accept? Is it a good time to query?
If only I had an answer. I have no idea what's going to happen. Sorry not to have more insight. My box is still open, and I read queries everyday. I am also strongly considering some submissions. But everything feels more uncertain than usual. Hope this helps! #askagent
Literary Agent
Gaby @thegreatgabsie
@taralazar @marchsoloway Is it better to not have any comps or to use one that is an amazing, award winning title that is the only comp you can find that comes close to your ms?#askagent #askauthor
I think it's important to find recent comps for your book to show where your book will fit on the shelf and appeal to what readers. Even if it's not perfect, I suggest something like "my book is X meets Y with a dash of Z" or "in the vein of X with a dash of Z" #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Juli 💖💜💙 @juli_writes
@taralazar @marchsoloway What are you reading right now? #AskAgent #AskAuthorI am currently reading three different full manuscripts I requested this year. I also just finished an ARC of a Victorian gothic, THE HOUSE OF WHISPERS, by Laura Purcell, which releases this summer. It's fantastic! #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Catherine Flynn @flynn_catherine
@marchsoloway #askagent @taralazar #askauthor I submitted an unsolicited manuscript to an agent at the beginning of November (she does accept them) and haven't had any response. Should I send an email or assume she's not interested?It's hard for me to speak for other agents. Have you checked her agency's submission guidelines? Many agencies simply cannot respond to every query, because they receive so many. We want to, but it's impossible to write custom letters to all. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
AdeltheAuthor @AdeltheAuthor
If the MC is a college student, is the story considered YA, Adult, or something in the middle like New Adult? #AskAgentIt depends on how old the MC is. Early college might make it YA (like AMERICAN PANDA), and later college might make it adult (like THE SECRET HISTORY--an old example. Can't think of a current example off the top of my head.) #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez @KaitlynLeann17
@taralazar @marchsoloway #AskAuthor what's your favorite trait in the editors you work with, if you had to pick one?#AskAgent how is your agency team working together in this time?
Our agency is constantly in touch through email and Slack, and like the rest of the world, we are meeting via video conference call. I miss seeing everyone in person, but we're making it work. #askagent
Literary Agent
Manju B. Howard @ManjuBeth
@taralazar @marchsoloway #AskAuthor Has the pandemic affected what you write?#askagent Has the pandemic affected what you sub to editors? Or what editors are requesting?Good question. I'm still trying to figure out the best approach. Right now doesn't seem like the best time for super dark contemporary stories, even though I love them. Personally, I'm looking to escape via reading, and I think others are, too. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Stephanie Gibeault @GibeaultWrites
@marchsoloway I don't think you rep nonfiction, but do you have any tips for writing a nonfiction query, either MG or PB? The pitch paragraph feels different if it's not a narrative book. #askagentI am open to nonfiction. I was a journalism undergrad, and I love narrative nonfiction that reads like fiction. For the pitch, I think you still want to hook your reader with a compelling question but also share why the story is relevant to readers, why it matters. #askagent
Literary Agent
Jennifer Linville @jen_linville
A few Qs: 1.Who would be the best for critiquing a CB length GN? 2. I have this ms in both traditional and GN format, how do you suggest submitting this to an agent? (I’d prefer to see it as a GN). 3. Is comping to a more intellectual Yogi Bear a death sentence for it? #AskAgentFor GN text, a screenplay format is one option. Personally, I like Yogi Bear, and I'm having trouble envisioning an intellectual version of him, but I'm intrigued. Not sure if that answers your question? 😉 #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Rachell Abalos 🇵🇭🇺🇸🤓 @RachellAbalos
@taralazar @marchsoloway #askauthor How many edits till you’re satisfied? #askagent Do you still read an MS even if the query letter was not so great?I can only speak for me personally, but I usually read the pages before I read the pitch. I like to read fresh without preconceived ideas about the story. #askagent
Literary Agent
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Carolynn Howard @carolynn_howard
#AskCLA Are there any title comps that make you go "yikes" when you see them in a query letter? If so, what are they? (obviously not looking to start an agent war, just curious if there are automatic NOs)😁 #askagentNot really. I think if you’re only using much older books though, I wonder what you’ve read that is new☺️ #AskCLA
Shondra @shondra_writes
If other agents have requested fulls and your agency requested a partial, is that something we should notify you of, or wait for an offer of rep? *fingerscrossed #AskCLA pic.twitter.com/QdVncawl4iWait for offer of rep to let us know. Hopefully there will be good news for you soon! #AskCLA
CaileyWrites @cailey_writes
@hannahvanvels I have a high fantasy novel that has multiple POV and has subplots. Writing the synopsis is a little tricky. What’s your tip on going about it? Thanks 😊Don’t tell the entire story. Stick to the events of the main plot and skip subplots if needed. Don’t obsess over every detail. If it furthers the plot between crucial moments, include it. Otherwise, save the excess for the book itself. #askagent #askCLA
Andrew W. Wright @Andrew_W_Wright
@hannahvanvels #AskCLA Is adult/college-aged portal/multiverse fantasy a dead zone nowadays? My tentative comps are The Magicians and Every Heart a Doorway.Nah, I don't think it's a dead zone. It's better pitched as adult instead of new adult, and the Magicians is a great comp. The key will be to make sure that your multiverse doesn't come off as overly complicated! Keep it accessible! #askagent #askCLA
Amanda Pavlov @PavlovsDogParty
@hannahvanvels If an agent responds with a personalized rejection and an invite to submit future work should you reply BEFORE you have something else to thank them for their interest or is it better to wait until you have another novel finished?Either is fine! Nothing is ever wrong with a thank you. :) #askagent #askCLA
Kelly A. Reilly @scorched_45
@hannahvanvels Sadly not. I also live in Ireland so I wouldn't know where to start in terms of official writing groups etcI would say that living in Ireland is a fun fact about you! What do you do in your free time besides writing? #askagent #askCLA