Literary Agent
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MJ, The Struggling Writer @StrugglingMJ
Is there a cliche you see over and over again in the initial pages that turns you off a submission? I.e. exposition#askagent
Characters talking to themselves in a mirror. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
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Madhurima_Sappatti @MSappatti
In our first introductions when we send a query letter, would you always prefer the first few chapters of the book or any sample chapters from the book (like the moment when you are reaching the conflict point in the book?) #askagentWe ask for the first chapters - check each agency's website for what they would prefer. #askagent
Literary Agent
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Hilary Taylor @hilarytaylor00
Age of debut author. Lots on twitter saying it doesn't matter. But does it matter to publicists? How important is author age, image, etc? #askagentAbsolutely doesn't matter! Many of our authors came to writing later on in life, and it hasn't hurt their prospects at all. #askagent
Literary Agent
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†hε ωεψmαη @WeymanWrites
#askagentWhat makes you request a full manuscript and what stops you from finishing reading an initial query?
I understand there must be a hook you identify with and this is very personal.
The quickest halt to my reading a sample is when I start going back up the page to reread and still haven't the foggiest what is going on. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
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Jon Barton @jnbarton
#askagent Regarding section breaks for new chapters. Besides starting a new page, should the chapter begin halfway down the new page, or this is discretionary? Most formatting blogs are vague on this.This is completely up to you. Unless there is a specific layout that you are using, then a publisher would typeset the book and choose this themselves. #askagent
Literary Agent
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Ben Edge @bnedge
#AskAgent Do you think authors can genre-hop with different books nowadays, or is there is an expectation to stay rooted in one genre?I would tell you to be prepared to write 3 to 4 books in a genre. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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Ellen C Scott @EllenCScott
@mushenska #askagent do you need to have written a full novel to approach an agent? Or can you go ahead with a sample of your writing? Thank you!We would usually expect full novels, but our #bookcamp mentorship scheme is currently on the go for writers with unfinished novels. #askagent
katenashlit.co.uk/2020/05/28/boo…
Literary Agent
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Hilary Taylor @hilarytaylor00
Age of debut author. Lots on twitter saying it doesn't matter. But does it matter to publicists? How important is author age, image, etc? #askagentI think average age of my clients is 50s - oldest debut novelist I have sold so far was 70. #askagent
Literary Agent
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Devon Kramer @devwritesbooks
@julietpickering Do agents factor in a writer's social media presence when deciding to accept a manuscript? I've heard that agents will pass on a manuscript if the writer doesn't have a strong social media presence. Is that true? #askagentfor fiction it literally does not matter at all. I have major bestselling authors without a twitter account, it's not something I care about! #askagent
Literary Agent
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Sandy Butchers 🏳️🌈 @SandyButchers
#askagentWhat would you consider more likely to get a request:
A strong query letter + first pages that might need some tuning?
Or a query letter that screams forth the struggle of the author + strong first pages?
It is all about the writing. I don't read the letter until I have read and liked the sample. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
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Madhurima_Sappatti @MSappatti
In our first introductions when we send a query letter, would you always prefer the first few chapters of the book or any sample chapters from the book (like the moment when you are reaching the conflict point in the book?) #askagentdefinitely first 3 chapters - I'd never read a published novel from the middle! #askagent
Literary Agent
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Alexandra Wilson @amwilson_opera
What would you expect to see as the "normal" wordcount for a novel (literary fiction)? 80,000-90,000 words? #askagentSounds about right to me, though could be a bit longer (cf. The Luminaries) #askagent
Literary Agent
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Hilary Taylor @hilarytaylor00
Percentage questions: If you've read the full, and you ask for a meeting, how likely are you to be thinking that you'll offer representation? What % of your submissions result in full requests? And what % of those are then declined? Thanks. #askagentI'd only ask for a meeting if I wanted to offer rep. I don't have exact percentages but of the 4000-5000 subs a year I probably call in a few hundred MSS and offer rep 5-15 times but some years more some years less! #askagent
Literary Agent
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Hilary Taylor @hilarytaylor00
Percentage questions: If you've read the full, and you ask for a meeting, how likely are you to be thinking that you'll offer representation? What % of your submissions result in full requests? And what % of those are then declined? Thanks. #askagentIf I'm asking to have a meeting, it is 99% because I want to offer representation. I don't think I could hazard a guess for the percentages, things often come in fits and starts. #askagent
Literary Agent
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Alexandra Wilson @amwilson_opera
@julietpickering @LovelessAge @emilyinkpen Do you mean that it's OK to approach more than one agent at a time? I presumed you'd need to try one, wait, then try another. #askagentAbsolutely! It would make me feel terrible if I thought an author's writing career was on a literal pause until I found the time to read their manuscript. And I think it would make for a very long process for most writers. Better to let agents fight over you!
#askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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Ellen C Scott @EllenCScott
@mushenska #askagent do you need to have written a full novel to approach an agent? Or can you go ahead with a sample of your writing? Thank you!For fiction, you need a full and polished manuscript #askagent
Literary Agent
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suzan collins @suzancollins
What are your thoughts on including some or all of the pandemic in a novel? #askagentI think that it will be hard not to mention it in some way - we've been on lockdown for such a long time, and it has (and may continue to) had such a massive impact on society. I'd like to see it done in a gentle way, rather than sensationalised, if that makes sense. #askagent