Literary Agent
🌔Vanessa 🌖 #BLM 🍁 (Latinx RomCom WC 9k) @vanessaepeay
@NaomisLitPix @bookendslit for adult contemporary romance what is the best word count range to be in for querying? #askagent80-100k, unless you’re writing category romance, and then you’re looking at somewhere in the 50-75k range, depending on target line. #askagent
Literary Agent
Melanie Cole @MelanieKCole
#AskECLAI have a YA I've been querying that I'm tentatively calling scifi, bc there's a DNA component, but it reads more paranormal than scifi. There's no tech, it's not near future or post-apocalyptic. It's a contemporary setting with strange happenings. Thoughts on genre?
Call it a YA novel, haha. An agent can decide which way to spin it when they pitch, based on what the market wants. (That's my opinion, anyway). My debut was a YA time travel, but I didn't have to mention that- the query made it clear. #AskECLA
Literary Agent
Linda -pro witch, anti pumpkin spice- Epstein @LindaEpstein
@MandyHubbard Absolutely agree with this. But know who you're querying, because not all agents like everything. For example, I'm the wrong agent for violence or anything remotely murdery. Just do your research.Linda and I constantly joke about how I want the dark/murdery books (I spend my free time listening to Dateline podcasts and watching True Crime docs!) It really is often taste and not reflective of your writing if we pass. #AskECLA
Literary Agent
Mandy Hubbard @MandyHubbard
This is SUCH a good question-- and it varies tremendously from one agent to another as lists take shape. Some clients write a few books a year, others a book every few years. Some clients take more time to assist, since so much of agenting happens BEYOND the sale. #AskECLA twitter.com/JanSuhr/status…I am on the slower path than some but am looking forward to adding to my list significantly in the next year. #askECLA
Literary Agent
Jeannette Suhr @JanSuhr
@LindaEpstein How many writers are you currently representing? What’s the maximum you would handle?This is SUCH a good question-- and it varies tremendously from one agent to another as lists take shape. Some clients write a few books a year, others a book every few years. Some clients take more time to assist, since so much of agenting happens BEYOND the sale. #AskECLA
Literary Agent
Stephanie L. Ward 🎃👻🕷🕸🎃 @StephaineWard
@LindaEpstein What about #MG #Scifi? Are any of the #askECLA agents looking for this type of story?I think we would all look at it! #AskECLA Check out what we've sold/general wish list and query the one you think best fits what you've got. You can always query another if there is a pass.
Literary Agent
Doris @doreesespieces
Would love to know your general guidelines in terms of content restrictions for YA. I just feel like I’ve read such different things on the internet...Thank you so much for doing this #askECLA !
As long as the character reads like a teenager, reacting to things as a teen, I don't think there ARE restrictions. With some topics (like sex), it is generally handled in a more emotional/grounded way, rather than scintillating. #AskECLA
Literary Agent
August Zehn @AugustZehn
Is there a reason agents usually ask for the *first* X pages of a manuscript? #askECLAWe just like to get a flavor for the writing. Sometimes people can pitch a project well, but the writing is really flat. And if I'm on the fence from the query I ALWAYS read the pages! #AskECLA
Literary Agent
Mandy Hubbard @MandyHubbard
.... New agents at established agencies often kick ass, and they're building a list, so they are taking on more new clients than established agents. As long as they have a good company to back them, 100% query them!You should also consider a brief, paid membership to Publisher's Marketplace! It allows you to search an agent by name and see what kind of sales they have reported. #AskECLA
Literary Agent
DawnRKS @shootandscrawl
@UweStenderPhD Should authors hold off querying all next week? I’m thinking everyone is going to be distracted. ThxI'd query. Some people may like to have some distractions.
Literary Agent
Lauren Liem @solanaceae555
@UweStenderPhD @NatashaHanova Is it a common thing to write a book where the characters are aged as adult fantasy, but it reads more like YA? Would that be popular, or is that too muddled to be marketed correctly?Personally, I think it is too muddled, but I am not an expert in this arena.
Literary Agent
Chad Harper 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈 @chadharper91
@LindaEpstein Curiosity. Trying to figure out how to pitch it when the time comes and didn’t think I could call it contemporaryMy favorite thing about writing in YA/MG is you don't REALLY have to call it anything but YA/MG. Just pitch the book and call it a YA novel. #AskECLA
Literary Agent
Laura Moe @LauraMoewriter
@UweStenderPhD I’m currently writing a cozy romance, partly because I need to read lighter fare. Do you think the market for romance will be hot?I don't rep romance per se, so take my opinion with several grains of salt, but I don't see romance disappearing.
Literary Agent
Elizabeth Anne @EAMeitzler
@UweStenderPhD I use QueryTracker. What happens if I query my list of agents and everyone rejects? Should I try self-publishing? I don’t want to give up my manuscript because I’m in love with it!If everyone legit rejects, then self publish.
Literary Agent
Mandy Hubbard @MandyHubbard
The most important thing to understand is that, unlike real estate agents, there is no licensing or required education to become a literary agent. Which means anyone can be an agent, and you as a writer have to research agencies and decide who to trust with your work. #AskECLAYou want an agency founded by someone who spent years at an established agency, learning the ins and outs of industry standards. What're the going royalty rates? What are fair rights splits? What language do you need in a reversion clause? #AskECLA
Literary Agent
Blake Reichenbach @mbreichenbach
@UweStenderPhD Do you have any thoughts on the baseline platform one needs to successfully pitch nonfiction? I have 20k monthly readers and speak at a handful of conferences each year, but still feel like I need to focus on expanding my platform before pitching the nf projects I'm sitting on.It depends on the project, but, without context, I'd say: keep on building.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
🕸R.B. Thorne🌙 Witch of the Woods🌿 @ThornsAbound
@UweStenderPhD I've heard conflicting advice on this from fellow writers, but from an agent perspective...When querying my debut under this pen name, is it helpful to mention that I've been published by a small press under another name, to demonstrate understanding/experience?
It does not matter.
Literary Agent
Mandy Hubbard @MandyHubbard
While we're doing an #askECLA session, can I give you a few check boxes for the #amwriting #NaNoWriMo community when you're looking at agents to query?The most important thing to understand is that, unlike real estate agents, there is no licensing or required education to become a literary agent. Which means anyone can be an agent, and you as a writer have to research agencies and decide who to trust with your work. #AskECLA
Literary Agent
Susana @susanakuehne
@UweStenderPhD Thanks for doing this! Do authors have the option to review publishing contracts or does the agent have final say after it goes to submission? Also, do you have a preferred POV for thrillers?YOU are the agent's boss. NEVER forget that. YOU decide if you want to sign or not.
No, not really.