Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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Ogenna Ojukwu @OgennaO
@julietpickering @FutureBookshelf @mushenska @katenashagent @RobbieGuillory What do agents really mean when they say "enjoyed reading it but not quite for us"? #askagentIt means the agent did see some promise in your writing but for whatever reason, possibly subjective/agent's personal tastes, they aren't going to take things forward. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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Nuala Woulfe @NWoulfeWriter
If you get an agent will they generally chase up anything you’ve written & published previously or only new stuff that they might sign you for? #askagentA tricky one. If there are rights that can be exploited (eg translation) in your previously published work, that might be something that they would do. But we only get a cut of money from work that we are on the contract for, so there is a priority-hierarchy at work. #AskAgent
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Stacey Jane @StubbsStacey
Hi. I've had read so many times that 'those pesky-ly words' should be edited out of manuscripts. What are your personal feelings towards them? I'm wondering if they would they put you off a submission completely? #askagentI agree, use lightly. You can try reading your work out loud if you are not sure, you may hear them jarring the cadence of your sentences. #AskAgent
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Thush @wonderor
#askagent What is the demand like right now for grandparent-grandchild stories? Because I've heard they are popular, but I don't see many agents asking for them.Oh I never think of them as a genre in and of themselves! I always say I never quite know what I want until I see it #askagent
Literary Agent
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Nuala Woulfe @NWoulfeWriter
I’m finishing something modern atm that is set at a specific time but concerned about it dating, recently read Dark Vanessa set against #metoo but thought doing that risks dating as things can move on if takes 18mths to publish. Advice? #AskAgentI wouldn't worry too much about something dating. The emotions and experiences of the characters will be universal, and that's what matters. A few years isn't going to hurt. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
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Mire Marke @FatmireMarke
@julietpickering @mushenska @katenashagent @RobbieGuillory #askagent I have a selfpub novella that I am NOT nor have ever tried to query. But I am proud of it and it sold well and still does. But - when I query my new WIP, should I not have that out in the world? Will it hurt my chances?It shouldn't matter. #AskAgent
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Jrussellwriter @jrussellwriter
@mushenska Ah, okay, so THAT would be the Elevator Pitch, then a little more elab further down the pitch, i.e. genre and setting (for example mine is predominantly an adventure story aimed at adults, but encompasses fairytale, gothic elements, however it's throughline is a love story...Yes for sure, I actually wrote a blog post about this if you check my website! #askagent
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Elaine Fearnley @laineyf1
#AskAgent as a newbie to the writing world (I was awarded a bursary for the RNA New Writers Scheme) - I’m totally overwhelmed by the whole Agent/Publishing thing!! How do I know which (if any) agents would be interested please? Thank you for any advice.Congratulations! Start following agents on Twitter, use @Writers_Artists for guidance and help, and scour agency websites to find out if you'd be a good fit. There are a fair few of us, but we're a nice bunch! #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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Amanda Barton @amandabook2
@julietpickering @mushenska @katenashagent @RobbieGuillory Is a book - commercial women's/reading group fiction - written in present tense more likely to get a favourable response than one written in past tense? How important is tense? #AskAgentIf the voice is strong enough it doesn't matter. However I think the present can be harder for a newer author to pull off so I recommend to try past tense first. #AskAgent
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Christa Larwood @clarwood
@julietpickering @mushenska @katenashagent @RobbieGuillory You've mentioned knowing where to place your book in the market, but what if your work involves quite a big crossover, for instance 'American Gods meets the Da Vinci Code' or something like that? I'm not sure exactly where that goes in the bookshop! #askagentCrossover novels are doing well at the moment - I wouldn't sweat it. 'American Gods meets the Da Vinci Code' tells me exactly what to expect. (sounds really interesting!) #AskAgent
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Linda @lindcai
@julietpickering @mushenska @katenashagent @RobbieGuillory How important is the elevator pitch? Would like to write character driven novel exploring racial identity centred around a bipolar Chinese woman set in the modern day, but I worry the elevator pitch will sound boring compared to, for example, Harry Potter. Many thanks. #AskAgentHa ha ha everything sounds boring compared to Harry Potter. I think your pitch there is strong (you have character and context already!) and I don’t expect conflict to always mean saving the world - can mean finding themselves, finding love, etc #askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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Leah @Leah_B_H
@mushenska I've heard a number of authors say they feel they got lost in the system in the big 5 with an emphasis on star authors/celebrity names. Indies seem to have a more inclusive and supportive community, I like the idea of smaller/personal teams rather than shiny and intimidating!I do think it depends on the publisher - absolutely agree that can be the experience at big houses, but equally there can be a very personal touch there too with a good editor and team. I‘d still hope to be able to sell your other rights as well as U.K. tho #askagent
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Asjad Nazir @asjadnazir
@julietpickering @mushenska @katenashagent @RobbieGuillory I mentor a lot of talented writers and many are completing their novels, short story collections & screenplays. What is the best way for them to find the right agent for their work? (also feel brave enough to put their work out there) #askagentThere are a lot of lists of agents out there, as well as the @Writers_Artists yearbook. But the best way to find the right agent for each author is solid research into different agents and what they like. #AskAgent
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Cassie 💖 | I love Taylor @tipsyswift13
@julietpickering @mushenska @katenashagent @RobbieGuillory What does 'I didn't connect with the voice strongly enough' actually mean? #AskAgentIt means I am not convincing in the head of your characters and being drawn wholesale into the world and the story. #AskAgent
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Intoxicatink @intoxicatink
@julietpickering @mushenska @katenashagent @RobbieGuillory Thank you all for taking the time to do this!1) Spikey, flawed heroines: yay or nay?
2) Which do you each read first: a pitch, a sample, or a synopsis?
#AskAgent
1 - Yay!
2 - I start with the sample.
#AskAgent
Literary Agent
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Christa Larwood @clarwood
@julietpickering @mushenska @katenashagent @RobbieGuillory You've mentioned knowing where to place your book in the market, but what if your work involves quite a big crossover, for instance 'American Gods meets the Da Vinci Code' or something like that? I'm not sure exactly where that goes in the bookshop! #askagentA tricky one - it can be hard to find a publisher and an audience for genre mash-ups (not impossible but challenging). I’d focus on where it most sits - fantasy with real world elements or a real world novel with a splash of genre #askagent