Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Tash -wannabe author- Broom @writtenonthepag
@UweStenderPhD Is there such a thing as "too unique" of a plot?Hmmm...it sounds a bit pretentious, as pretty much everything and anything has been done before, but maybe, unlikely, not.
Literary Agent
Brekke El 👩🏻🎤🌈🧘🏼♀️ @BrekkeWrites
@UweStenderPhD Yiiikes! I am glad that you’re okay!As a PhD yourself, what advice would you give an academic who’s interested in writing commercially (both nonfiction and fiction)?
This is for my professor spouse! I didn’t have the attention span for anything last my masters! #askanagent
This is not going to sound helpful, but: write a strong commercial book. Don't fall victim to the pretension of academia, ie Derrida and Foucault blabla.
Literary Agent
Loretta Chefchaouni is a hopeful ball of anxiety! @Writerly_me
@UweStenderPhD What do you new trends do you see becoming popular in YA, currently or near future?I am the wrong person to ask, as I don't, and never have, followed trends. Write the book of your heart, and you will be fine.
Literary Agent
Ming @Mingshuwrites
@UweStenderPhD 1. Hope you’re okay! But glad you were able to shovel it out!2. Accidentally wrote a YA high fantasy which I know is a hard sell right now. Keep querying? Trying writing something new? (And shelf book for when YA high fantasy opens up a little more?) Do both? 😂
1. Thank you.
2. Keep querying, & also write more. Don't listen to detractors,write what you feel compelled to write. In 2009 publishing "experts" claimed "print books are dead." Gutenberg won. Those who claim to KNOW the market are fools. They don't. There're always exceptions.
Literary Agent
Madeleine Richey @Madeleine_jo
@UweStenderPhD Do you like trigger warnings in queries? If so, where in the query do you recommend including them?It makes me no nevermind, as my grandma used to say, but in German.
Literary Agent
Susan Burdorf @sburdorf
@UweStenderPhD #askagent How much research (if any) do you do on authors before signing them once you have decided you like their work?I used to do none, but after some bad experiences, the necessary ones.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
E R Hoffer (@🏠) @erhoffer
@UweStenderPhD Oh no! Was this because of snow and ice? But my real question is — does mentioning a writer’s short story publications make a query more interesting. Or is it all about the novel description and the pages?Yes, ice under snow. As long as you don't go on and on and on, it makes it interesting to me.
Literary Agent
Mark Freeman @FreemanMD
@UweStenderPhD Is there anything you’re really wanting and looking for right now (Other than better snow tires. Sorry, too soon?)? #askagent Driving on snow can be tricky, especially if you don’t have to often.I drive in it a lot, but I overestimated my ability to drive over ice covered by snow..lesson learned. I really want YA graphic novels, and YA Contemporary friendship stories. And a celebrity memoir, preferably Rihanna's.
Literary Agent
Briannica Lynn @briannicalynn
@UweStenderPhD What do you think is missing on shelves right now for YA readers?A lot of things, primarily more diverse books by diverse writers, plus foreign translations.
Literary Agent
JRPyle-Carter is querying @JrpyleC
@UweStenderPhD @kianangu Nice save! What is the weirdest genre mash-up you have ever seen?I don't know. I don't make it through the query of too many mashups.
Literary Agent
Dannie M Olguin @DannieMOlguin
@UweStenderPhD I'm so glad you're okay!I've seen a lot of author platform talk recently. Do you ever reject queries because the author has a small platform? I know you can't speak for all agents, and I'd never ask for names, but do you know agents who reject based on platform size?
If an agent rejects a novel for lack of platform, they should not be submitted to. In regards to nonfiction, I reject *primarily* due to lack of platform. I need huge platforms in nonfiction.
Literary Agent
Matt thinks adverbs are cockroachy @next_happened
@UweStenderPhD Here’s one - if get get an agent rejection saying you are a strong writer, what are the chances it is a form rejection that is sent out, or do such little changes generally indicate there agent went to the effort to note it? Thx!Oh my. I don't know, I guess it could be either. However, if I were to call someone a strong writer, it would not be a form rejection, so likely it wasn't for them either.
Literary Agent
Francesca Main @francescamain
AGENT ETTIQUETTE QUESTION! An author asked me this - I'm not 100% sure of the rules and thought others may find the replies helpful. So: can an author submit to more than one person at an agency, either at the same time or if someone else there has passed?Useful thread on whether you should submit to more than one agent at an agency #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Rohan O'Duill @rohan_oduill
@AnneTibbets Sorry for the late question. I have been told a synopsis should be under 500 words. If you have a long book with multiple protagonists and many intertwining storylines is it ok to stretch that out or should you always condense it to under 500?A pitch paragraph should be under 500 words. A synopsis is 2 - 5 pages long, depending on book length.
Literary Agent
Linda L. Perlman Fields @PerlmanFields
@AnneTibbets Hi Anne! Are there stories that simply cannot be sold to publishers due to lack of interest at this time, e.g., set in certain decades or a theme they feel is stale?The market is cyclical, so what's "out" now will be in demand again in 5 to 10 years, and there are always exceptions.
I'd also say, publishing is realizing just how skewed white it's been in the past & is attempting to rebalance. /cont'd
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
A.Sage Inglis (Ing-als) @ASageInglis
@AnneTibbets Do publishers release E-Book versions at the same time as the title is originally released? Is there a delay? Are paperbacks available right away?Depends on the publisher. It's USUALLY hard cover and ebook (and maybe audio) at the same time. Paperback and (if not earlier) audio a season or so later.
Literary Agent
Alexis McCarley Is Drafting @AlexisMcCarley4
@AnneTibbets What's your #1 tip for new authors trying to break into the game as far as trying to get an agent to rep them? Like, the biggest mistake newbies make that should be avoided or something?Number 1 Tip: Don't query agents who aren't looking for what you're pitching. I'd say about HALF of the queries I get are for stuff I don't rep. I always feel bad, like this rejection could have been avoided, dude, if you'd just gone to my profile on the agency website.