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A.G. Briar ☆ Writer of questionable commitment @OTownWriter
@annmrose I definitely get that. My WIP is Harry Potteresque. The problem this is creating (I think) is that I tell the fun part, but then I get to the dark part, and the dark part overshadows the fun part which is tough for MG.Sigh.
It’s hard to say without seeing the query but remember the query only needs to tell us
Who is the MC?
What do they want? Goals
What stands in their way? Obstacles
What happens if they fail? Stakes
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May Zullino @WaywardCelestia
@annmrose What would be the determiner between a pass and a R&R for you? And maybe more generally, if possible?If I really love the concept and I sooooo want it to work I will offer an R&R
Does that answer your question?
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A.G. Briar ☆ Writer of questionable commitment @OTownWriter
@annmrose What % of queries do you read the sample pages of?I'm at odds with my rejections from agents vs feedback from CP's and betas to the point that I genuinely can't understand why I've never gotten so much as a partial. I know that sounds entitled, but the disconnect is jarring. ☹
I usually always look at pages. The exception would be if the query is overtly problematic (sexist, racist, homophobic, etc)
If you aren’t getting asks it could be either the query isn’t working for you or the opening isn’t grabbing enough or a little of both.
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Donna Wilkins @WilkinsDonna9
@annmrose When you read queries, which influences you more, the pitch or the ms sample pages?A strong query will get me extra excited for pages. But if it’s what influences me more to ask for more (like the full) it’s the pages.
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Jessica L. Cozzi @JessCozziWrites
@UweStenderPhD Do you, as an agent, usually fully read the whole page of the query letter to see if they’re interested, or if they’re not grabbed from the first few seconds, they let it go?I believe that many, if not most agents, may read the entire query. I, personally, know within seconds what intrigues me.
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Sarah Adler @sarahaadler
@UweStenderPhD I have a new project I hope to query in Sept, but a few agents still have fulls of a previous project. If I don't hear back from them before then (they'll have had my ms for 6+ mo) what is the etiquette? Keep waiting? Nudge? Query new project & let them know if I get an offer?Nudge, and let them know when you have an offer.
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Caren Lissner @CarenLissner
@UweStenderPhD Which times of the year are best and worst times to submit to agents? Also, has covid affected the kinds of books & genres agents want to see and what readers want to read?Don't query (me) between December 16- January 9. I can't speak for others. For me, no <except I have 0% interest in Covid related stories.>
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Juliana Clayton @kidlit_writer
@UweStenderPhD Thanks for this! What pushes a query from a "maybe/pass" to a "must request?" I have gotten very positive feedback on my book from Betas, re-written my first pages dozens of times, polished my query until it gleams, attended workshops, and I still have a very low request rate.That is tough to answer without knowing the query. For *me*, I know if I am interested or not within 5 seconds. It has to intrigue me. But why does something intrigue me?!? I don't know in general. I *know* it when I see it.
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HM_Braverman is drafting again (17k/75k) @HMBraverman
@UweStenderPhD In your experience, have most of the manuscripts you’ve loved and offered on been immediate requests? (Ie hasn’t been sitting in the maybe pile)For me, yes, but I respond instantly to emails during work hours. My guess is that most people don't, thus if I were you, I wouldn't worry.
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Amy Harpe @harpea23
@UweStenderPhD Is historical MG a harder sell right now? I've noticed many agents don't have historical on their MSWLs.I don't know. I suspect that historical novels depend strongly on the writer being able to write atmospherically and realistically in/about that time in the past...and that is difficult, for surem
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Lynn Hooghiemstra @Nicky_Adams_Pen
@UweStenderPhD Which do you prefer, character driven or plot driven thrillers?I very much enjoyed While Justice Sleeps, but would have liked a little more character depth, which prompted my question.
I generally prefer character over plot, but not necessarily.
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Nancy Parish @nancyparish
@UweStenderPhD Thanks, what should a writer say when following up? #askagentDear <insert agent's name>,
Good morning <afternoon etc.>. I am wondering if you have had a chance to take a look at <insert title> yet.
I am looking forward to your response.
Best wishes,
<insert your name>.
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Lily Mehallick she/her @LilyMehallick
@laurenspieller Do you think Greek Mythology is dead in publishing?Not dead but it needs to be a very unique approach #askagent
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𝖍𝖎𝖏𝖆𝖇𝖎 𝖜𝖊𝖉𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖉𝖆𝖞 𝖆𝖉𝖉𝖆𝖒𝖘 @BOQ0RAD
@laurenspieller what should you do if your first ten pages end in the middle of a chapter?Finish the page at a good spot, but don’t finish the chapter just to finish it. #askagent
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Dark Southern Land @southern_dark
@laurenspieller If outside of US - should manuscript be submitted with US style/spelling conventions? Eg, my title includes the word 'harbour' - is this likely to put agents off or make them assume I can't spell?No one is going to care. Spell it the way you want to #askagent
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Dark Southern Land @southern_dark
@laurenspieller Also... for a manuscript that falls neatly into Crossover territory - should you submit it as such or is it okay to submit to both YA and adult agents, framing it as one or the other?I've heard that use of the term New Adult is somewhat polarising?
Tailor to the agent, but never use NA #askagent
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Elle Grey @ElleGrey9
@laurenspieller What is an acceptable amount of time to send the same agent a different pb ms?I’d try to wait to hear back on whatever you sent last. #askagent
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Logan Musselman @LoganMusselman
@laurenspieller If I have a manuscript out with an agent at your agency, but another manuscript ready to query which seems to be a good fit for another agent (same agency) would it be best to wait to hear back on the first manuscript before querying the second?You should probably nudge for at agent and get an update. If it’s been more than 3 months, you can send new MS to other agent, but tell them the situation. #askagent
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We just recorded next week's The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast ep and I think we really got into some hot topics!! I can't wait to hear what you think.
For now, listen to the previous episodes! We also did a bonus ep with some #askagent Qs!
buzzsprout.com/1309201