Literary Agent
EJ Kingsley @ericajok
@mushenska #askagent Last week I read somewhere when rejections say "we don't think we are right to represent you" or "another agency may soon be keen..." then it has potential, But does it matter if no one asks for a full? Is it just a better-worded rejection?Hmm I would say that sounds like a standard rejection to me - normally even a line of personalised feedback is encouraging though #askagent
Literary Agent
Christopher Byford @Morningstaruk
Being that videogames is a massive industry, have you considered selling rights for your clients in that arena? For example, Sapkowski/Witcher and Glukhovsky/Metro 2033 did well. I was wondering if it's seen as more of a niche thing. #askagentIt is something that I am looking into, but at the moment only as a long shot. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Ben Edge @bnedge
#AskAgent What genres don’t you get a lot of submissions for that you feel you’d love to get more of?Romcoms!
Detectives (amateur or pro)!
Historical adventure (lots of battle scenes please)! #AskAgent
Literary Agent
E.S. Alexander @ESAlexander4
#askagent Oooh, knew there's something else I wanted to ask: Titles. I have one (obviously) but wasn't thinking too hard about it when submitting. I've now hit upon a much better title that is much more compelling. Do agents judge a manuscript's title...or is that not an issue?I generally expect that the title will change, if not by my hand, then by the eventual publisher, so amn't very fussed. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
E.S. Alexander @ESAlexander4
#askagent Maybe others have had different experiences, but I don't think I'm alone in wondering why mainstream publishers are so poor at promoting authors' books, unless they're already BIG names! This is something many of us can't fathom -- why pub a book & not get behind it?I certainly try very hard to match books to the right publishers who will deliver the marketing & publicity needed for the particular book. I encourage authors to discuss this with their agents and ask see marketing plans from publishers before contracts are signed. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
E.S. Alexander @ESAlexander4
#askagent Oooh, knew there's something else I wanted to ask: Titles. I have one (obviously) but wasn't thinking too hard about it when submitting. I've now hit upon a much better title that is much more compelling. Do agents judge a manuscript's title...or is that not an issue?I wouldn’t sweat it, titles often change #askagent
Literary Agent
Lilith Antoinette (not related to Mary) @justlilytbh
#askagent should you hire an editor before submitting or is that somethin an agent can help with? Im on a third draft with some great constructive beta reader responses.You don’t need to hire an editor but should get it as polished as YOU can #askagent
Literary Agent
Clifford Thompson @Cliff_Thompson1
I see a lot of references on social media to MG or middle grade as a genre/sub-genre. Is it a US thing or is it recognised in the UK? What exactly is it? #askagentIt is used here and means fiction for children around the 8 to 12 age group. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Sammy Walks @_SammyWalks
When submitting work, at what point would you like the author to relay their desire to have the writing published under a pseudonym? Thanks #askagentBefore we submit the book to publishers! Before that, it isn't going to make a huge impact (though we might want to put you on the website, so that would be a good moment also). #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
†hε ωεψmαη @WeymanWrites
@RobbieGuillory Hmmm, yeah. I know that Romance is one of the most lucrative genres, so it would make sense that agents are keener to pick up romance writers than others 🤷♂️It certainly is a huge market, but I think there might be more literary fiction agents than romance... haven't counted, mind! #AskAgent
Literary Agent
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.Make the most of your RNA membership by joining the Facebook group and also any local chapters to you (likely they are meeting online right now) where you can learn from other authors. Congratulations! #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Valerie Griffin @griffin399
#AskAgent is it too pushy to follow up on a query letter to an agent? I understand they might not be interested but could there be a chance they never received it? Thank you.Not at all! Most agents will have an estimate of how long it would take to get back to you on their websites, to give you an idea when to chase. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Lilith Antoinette (not related to Mary) @justlilytbh
#askagent could an author use the sales and statistics of a previous self published work to display their ability to attract sales and an audience? Are self published authors given a fair chance compared to traditionally published author?They absolutely could, yes, and should! I don't think that a self-published author moving into trad would be treated any differently. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Josephine Rose @jrosephine
@julietpickering @mushenska @katenashagent @RobbieGuillory Do other writing 'credits' (ie publication in magazines, newspapers, etc...) positively influence agents reading a submission letter? Are agents interested in a book's deeper 'themes'/process in a query letter (in addition to the usual info required (hook/blurb etc...)? #askagentI would say include them but you don't have to. Some agents will give the submissions letter a lot of attention whereas I don't, I skip straight off to the writing sample happily not knowing anything about the writer. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
William C Powell @WillCamPowell
@mushenska #askagent when researching agents I look at their requirements and think, yes, great match for newest finished MS, but not for WIP (or other un-trunked MSs). Should I just move on in search of the perfect agent, or query and hope we can reach an accommodation on other works?I’d query the current MS to the best fit for it and worry about the rest later #askagent
Literary Agent
Clar Ni Chonghaile @clarnic
#AskAgent If you're a published author without an agent, how important are your previous sales when pitching a new project to an agent? If you've never sold very well, can that be a dealbreaker or can the new project stand on its own merits?The new project can stand on its own merits, but sales do help! #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Lilith Antoinette (not related to Mary) @justlilytbh
#askagent could an author use the sales and statistics of a previous self published work to display their ability to attract sales and an audience? Are self published authors given a fair chance compared to traditionally published author?Yes for sure - some of my clients started out self pub or still self pub #askagent