Literary Agent
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Cathy Hayward @CathyHayward7
@KimberlyBrower Thank you for opening yourself up to questions. Will agents take on authors who already have a publishing deal? I work directly with my publisher. Thanks in advance #AskAgentYes they will. But I would query them with a new project that has not been sold yet.
Literary Agent
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Mike McIlvain @mikemcilvain
@KimberlyBrower Kimberly: I've read that Tuesday through Thursday is the best time to send query letters. Is that true, and what's wrong with the rest of the week? Also, do you know of any hungry agencies or agents for fiction?I think this is a myth. Agents read their queries when they can make time for it and every agent's schedule is different.
Literary Agent
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S.D. (Sean) Campbell - Author 馃嚚馃嚘鉁嶏笍馃惡馃ェ馃拤 @whytwolf
@KimberlyBrower How firm are genre word counts for you? If a story is good enough that it needs extra length is that okay? Or does it mean the story isn鈥檛 tight enough?As long as between 70-110k I'm okay on word counts being flexible
Literary Agent
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Shay Galloway @TheGallowCat
@KimberlyBrower If you have published directly with a small/indie publisher, does it help/hinder chances of agent represenation in the future?(Apologies if this was already a question asked)
It depends. However I wouldn't pass on someone only because they were previous published by an indie publisher.
Literary Agent
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A. H. Joy @AHJoyEditing
@KimberlyBrower Would you say agents prefer repping novels with series potential or stand-alones? Particularly if it鈥檚 a debut author.Depends on genre. Check their submission guidelines and what they're looking for. Stand alones right now are what many are looking for.
Literary Agent
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Author Bailey Gee @BaileyGeePoetry
@KimberlyBrower Why do so few accept poetryIt could be that only a few know how to sell it?
Literary Agent
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MPH @MPH79432662
@KimberlyBrower Best advice for noviceBest advice for hitting a wall mid write
Finish your manuscript, edit it and then edit some more. Don't stop writing. If you hit a wall, try to write even a few lines a day. Or if you need a break allow yourself to take it
Literary Agent
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Meredith Towbin @MtProse
@KimberlyBrower On #mswl, some agents will ask for very specific things (e.g. a YA about 2 friends competing on rival ultimate frisbee teams). I've always wondered where this is coming from-editor requests? An agent's own personal likes? Trend predictions? Thank you so much for doing this!Could be a personal ask, or maybe they spoke to an editor looking for something that specific. They wouldn't be asking if they didn't have a purpose for it!
Literary Agent
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Coley @ColeySummerlin
@KimberlyBrower #askagent Is it a good thing to have a portion of the manuscript published by a literary journal? Or would that turn an agent away because it is partially published? Thank you so much for this opportunity.I think it would depend how much of it was published and how much you've added to it.
Literary Agent
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Zo毛 Sehn @StorySpinner15
@KimberlyBrower How important is social media following for an offer of representation? Is a willingness to engage online enough or does an author really need to have a solid platform before querying?I think each agent feels differently about this. I personally don't think having a huge social media following is necessary.
Literary Agent
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Maureen Hasz @o_hasz
@KimberlyBrower First, thank you for doing this.If an author completely rewrites their book, would it be okay to query an agent who said no on it before the major revisions?
I'd be honest with the agent and ask if they'd be willing to consider it again.
Literary Agent
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Adrienne Thurman-Cuff @AdrienneTCuff
@KimberlyBrower If a prospective client submits one MS you love, but their next project is in a different category or genre, would that deter you? Would you be concerned about losing the audience that connects to the first work?#askagent
I love this question. When I sign an author it is to hopefully build a long-term relationship. So I think communication is key. If it's not a genre I represent or not sure on, I'll be honest and say that. I do think though that if we sell the book you were signed (cont)
Literary Agent
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Lindsay Hameroff @LindsayHameroff
@KimberlyBrower I have another question! I鈥檓 sure this varies by agent, but on average, what percentage of the queries you receive result in offers for representation? #askagentMine is low. In 2020 & 2021 I have only signed 1 new client from a query but last year I was closed to queries for 6 months and this year I've been closed to queries since Jan. I also have a high number of clients that have active contracts and projects.
Literary Agent
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Stephen Pidgeon @sjpidgeon
@KimberlyBrower Do you want the query letter to contain information about the writer, or is it just really about the book?Yes I do think a short bio on the author is needed.
Literary Agent
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Joshua Danger Dobbs @J_Danger_Dobbs
@KimberlyBrower Hey, Kimberly, what should I do about comps if there aren鈥檛 any books from the last three years that fit into my category? #askagentTry for TV shows/Films? Or worst case use the older books.
Literary Agent
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Sophie Braker @brakerbreaker
@KimberlyBrower If I鈥檓 researching an agent to query should I be putting more emphasis and time on their manuscript wishlist or what they are selling on publishers marketplace?Look at both, but I'd put more emphasis on MSWL. You don't know when the books that are posted on PM were sold.
Literary Agent
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馃唵馃唩馃叴馃吅馃叴馃叿馃叞馃唴馃吘馃叢 says HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! @wrekehavoc
@KimberlyBrower Hi! I've noticed a lot of agents are currently closed to queries for quite a lot of 2021. Did agencies get overwhelmed by subs in 2020? Thanks! #askagentI can only speak for myself but in addition to being a literary agent, I run my agency where I mentor other agents, handle subrights, etc. so for me my time is limited and I want to be sure I can devote the necessary time to new projects and current clients.
Literary Agent
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S.E. Sasaki @se_sasaki
@KimberlyBrower What are you specifically looking for at the moment (or in the fall)? When agents say they want something right now, do they expect an author to just bang out a manuscript that fits that wish in a couple of months? Most manuscripts are worked on for years.When they say "right now" it could be because that is what the market trend is. If in 2010 and agent said I want vampires but the manuscript wasn't ready until say 2015 that ship probably sailed. We say "now" in event someone has a manuscript written already
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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Donna Wilkins @WilkinsDonna9
@KimberlyBrower @CSmallsWright For an adult novel, how many main characters are too many?I don't think there is a magic number so long as the reader doesn't get lost when reading