Literary Agent
Robyn Michaels @RobynMichaels9
#askPSLA Do you have a preferred query formula?Great question! ☺️ I like the book + hook + cook formula.
The PSLA website has a helpful breakdown of what each paragraph should contain. e.g. 1st paragraph "title and category of your work (...), an estimated word count and a brief, general introduction." #askPSLA
Literary Agent
I'm at the @BytetheBook Agent Tables event this afternoon where I get to meet some aspiring authors and give some feedback on opening chapters.
I am looking, as always, for "the three Cs" in any novel opening:
✅ Character
✅ Conflict
✅ Concept
#AskAgent
Literary Agent
The Scribbling Dragon 🐉 @ScribblingDrake
@UweStenderPhD Is a writer more appealing if they have a deal in hand?Theoretically yes, depending on the deal and whom with, but, for me, I would need to read your book first. If I don't love it, I will not be interested.
Literary Agent
Chelsea Covington Maass @chelseasfiction
@UweStenderPhD When you sign a client, do you want to hear about their ideas for future books before they start a new project?Sure, but whatever the client wants to talk about is fine with me.
Literary Agent
Susan Burdorf @sburdorf
@UweStenderPhD Do you personally feel that changes made to adapt to COVID related connection issues will remain (i.e. use of ZOOM over in person meetings and things like that)I don't know, I'm not suffering from grandiosity syndrome which you would have to to predict the future. I hope ZOOM won't stick, because it overwhelms me, stresses me out,& I hate looking at myself all the damned time. I want to look at a REAL person I am talking to. I NEED IRL.
Literary Agent
Susan Burdorf @sburdorf
@UweStenderPhD What is the best thing an author can do when submitting a project for consideration to help the agent/editor work with the project?This is going to sound ridiculous/dismissive/rude/whatever...write a GREAT book!
Literary Agent
Chelsea Covington Maass @chelseasfiction
@UweStenderPhD Do you ever sell foreign rights prior to selling in the U.S.?On a VERY VERY rare occasion, yes. We have a German original thanks to my brilliant colleague Brent.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Shirley Songweaver @Ssongweaver
@UweStenderPhD Is it okay for first book in a series to end on a cliff hanger?Certainly, especially if, despite the cliffhanger, it can still stand alone as well.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Siobhan Mitchell @siobhanmitchell
@UweStenderPhD Thanks for #askagent! Do you think portal fantasies for MG are too cliched/overdone?I personally am not the biggest fan of portal anything, YET, I am currently reading one I TOTALLY adore, so there is that.
Literary Agent
faith a. villanueva @faithavills
@UweStenderPhD what genre do you get most excited about as a reader, and is it different from what you like to see as an agent?Ha, yes. I love reading German originals, especially adult suspense, in my spare time, but I don't usually rep those.
Literary Agent
Karen ❄ @karenjoe93
@UweStenderPhD Hi, Uwe. Thank you for doing this. I hope I'm not late. Is it okay to ask how caught up are you with submissions?Have a wonderful night:)
I am woefully behind with fulls...but if I am more than 3 months behind, please nudge me. And apologies either way. If it is NOT a full, just a query, then I AM caught up, but there were several times when I had a specific OOO message, so no response in that timeframe is a NO.
Literary Agent
L. Dean @designerldean
@UweStenderPhD How long should we wait on a full after a nudge? Should we wait another month or two before one more nudge?First nudge: about 3 months, second nudge 6 weeks later...but I can only speak for myself.
Literary Agent
Sharon Black @TheSharonBlack
@UweStenderPhD Is there a hard limit on word count for YA? I’ve read 80 to 90,000. Would 100,000 simply be considered too much? And thank you these. They are very helpful!Thank you! 🙂 It depends on the genre, but PERSONALLY, I think it's ok, but it somewhat depends on the project and writing, too.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Jenna (J.M.) Jinks @AuthorJMJinks
@UweStenderPhD Hi! Thank you. Do you recommend pen names to your clients if they write multiple genres or age groups?It depends on the specific case, but I don't necessarily discourage it.
Literary Agent
Brittney is querying 🧜🏼♀️🖤✍ @BrittneyCWrites
@UweStenderPhD What's your opinion on modern-day mermaid/siren YA books right now?I don't know. I've seen a lot of them which didn't sell, but it depends on the writing and story.
Literary Agent
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.I reject them because I would prefer to start with a clean slate, but I cannot speak for other agents.
Literary Agent
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?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.