Ask Agent | MsWishList

· 23 Mar 2021

Mark McQuillen @mmcquillen44

@UweStenderPhD Why do agents reject self-published works? I have a series that 8 books are already self-published that are in the middle of the series with another 12 in the first draft phase.

Replying to @mmcquillen44

I reject them because I would prefer to start with a clean slate, but I cannot speak for other agents.

· 23 Mar 2021

Brock Shelley @B_as_in_Brock

@UweStenderPhD For a story targeted at pre-teens (age range 11-14) what would be deciding factors for you as to whether it should be pitched as an upper MG or lower end of YA?

Replying to @B_as_in_Brock

Age..for me 11-14 would be MG, but other agents may disagree. I used to teach in a middle school defined as grades 6-8.

· 23 Mar 2021

Amber A. Logan @AmberAnnLogan

@UweStenderPhD What criteria do you use for deciding which small publishers are worth submitting to? Thanks for doing this.

Replying to @AmberAnnLogan

If they are legitimate in terms of contracts.

· 23 Mar 2021

Ari Augustine @SouffleLumiere

@UweStenderPhD How would you (based on your experience) define “quiet” stories, and do you enjoy them?

Replying to @SouffleLumiere

I guess it means not a lot of action...and yes. I love narrative voice over drama.

· 23 Mar 2021

A.A.ALEJO @aaalejo1

@UweStenderPhD Would you rep a latinx writer?

Replying to @aaalejo1

Of course, why wouldn't I?

· 23 Mar 2021

Angelia N. Bailey 🏳️‍🌈 @AWritersLifeTBC

@UweStenderPhD Would you reconsider a manuscript you previously rejected if it went through a contest like Revpit and received a developmental edit?

Replying to @AWritersLifeTBC

Possibly, yes.

· 23 Mar 2021

Chelsea Covington Maass @chelseasfiction

@UweStenderPhD Thanks for doing these #askagent sessions! They are helpful.

In your experience, is a more literary voice harder to sell in YA?

Replying to @chelseasfiction

Not necessarily. There are imprints who cater to more commercial content, and others who do to more literary content.

· 9 Mar 2021

Danica Redfern (They/She) @Philosapphica

@UweStenderPhD Do you like it when a query has a “hook” sentence or two before the meat of the query?

Replying to @Philosapphica

Yes, definitely.

· 9 Mar 2021

Danica Redfern (They/She) @Philosapphica

@UweStenderPhD Do you prefer a query to cover only first act, or the entire scope? And if you prefer the former, any tips for getting it across that there is much more to come after the initial conflict of a first act?

Replying to @Philosapphica

Entire scope, please. But more in short form.

· 9 Mar 2021

Tesse Struve @StruveTesse

@UweStenderPhD Happy birthday to your nephew! If an agent wants to make an offer of rep on a full, do they need to run it by the head of the agency or are they able to offer rep on their own? Thank you! 😄

Replying to @StruveTesse

I will tell him. I can only speak for Triada US. They can offer to anyone.

· 9 Mar 2021

Nenia | Author & Speaker @NeniaCorcoran

@UweStenderPhD Happy birthday to your nephew! 🥳
Will you still look at first chapters if the query is just okay? Or does the query completely determine whether you’re going to read further?

Replying to @NeniaCorcoran

Thank you, I will tell him. I am only judging by the query. BUT all the other 5 agents at Triada US will judge after 10 pages, so ignore me.

· 9 Mar 2021

Dr. Sara Kapadia @sarakapadia

@UweStenderPhD If an agent already has a client from the same culture as the querying author does that affect the agent's decision? #askagent

Replying to @sarakapadia

I can't speak for others, but for me it makes zero difference. I have to deal with so many Americans, and I still sign them.

· 9 Mar 2021

Crystal J. Bell @WritingLEOW

@UweStenderPhD For querying writers/debut submissions do you believe that MS's with a slower build/beginning pace is acceptable (dependent on the story) or is quick-paced and grabby a requirement now?

Replying to @WritingLEOW

I like slower build, but sadly much of the deciding industry does not. HOWEVER, the slower build has to have EXCEPTIONAL voice, even for me.

· 9 Mar 2021

Sharon Black @TheSharonBlack

@UweStenderPhD If you really loved the idea from a query but rejected the full...then it spent a year being revised and was a much better book with the same idea, would you consider looking at it again? I see this Q a lot and am curious. Thank you for your time!

Replying to @TheSharonBlack

*I* would, yes.

· 9 Mar 2021

FayeC @Siennafrst

@FlanneryLitera1 For full requests, is it a guarantee that we would eventually get a response at some point? I don’t want to bug agents unnecessarily, or should I? How far do you read on average before you reject a full? What’s the percentage of a full rejection?

Replying to @Siennafrst

I can only speak for myself here. I will respond to every full MS request, typically in 3-6 months. It's dependent on how much other work I get. I do have to pass on far more than I request. We're a small agency so there is only so much I can take on.

· 9 Mar 2021

D.S. Allen @keepersoftalamh

@FlanneryLitera1 I've heard opposite advice on this--should I specify "upper" MG in my query if that's the intended audience? I've gotten feedback that the narrative voice might not be MG, but there's a broad range and my ms is definitely not intended for the lower range

Replying to @keepersoftalamh

I use upper and lower when I pitch my clients' books for pb, mg, and ya. Kids reading level isn't dependent on age.

· 9 Mar 2021

Nicole Boik @nikkiboik

@FlanneryLitera1 Thank you for offering to answer questions!

I have 2 manuscripts for PBs that are specifically for children with relapsed cancer. I have years of experience working with this population, but no writing experience. Is this likely too narrow for an agent or publisher to accept?

Replying to @nikkiboik

Children who are experiencing a relapse in cancer won't be the only kids reading. We read to learn, develop empathy, and understand the world outside our own experiences. Focus more on the quality of your writing.

· 9 Mar 2021

Deborah Williams @Chamamama2000

@FlanneryLitera1 Are PB biographies on hold til the school and library market gets back to normal?

Replying to @Chamamama2000

The market was saturated with PB bio - however markets change and I'm seeing PB bios on editor MSWL. If you have a polished MS ready, query.

· 9 Mar 2021

Jeannette Lee @jnetalee

@FlanneryLitera1 Will an agent be interested in representing an author who has only one completed/polished PB ms? Or are agents only looking for PB authors who have a handful of polished manuscripts?

Replying to @jnetalee

For me it's not about quantity of MS, but the quality of the MS.

· 9 Mar 2021

Malia Maunakea Writes @MaliaMaunakea

@FlanneryLitera1 Thanks for this! If you pay for a critique from an editor at a publisher your (future) agent is still able to sub to them, right? Paying them for a critique that they offer at conference doesn't ruin your chances of subbing to them in the future when your MS is polished, correct?

Replying to @MaliaMaunakea

Correct. Let your agent know this info. Could be helpful in the pitch letter.