Literary Agent
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.
Literary Agent
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.
Literary Agent
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.
Literary Agent
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.>
Literary Agent
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.
Literary Agent
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.
Literary Agent
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
Literary Agent
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.
Literary Agent
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>.
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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
Literary Agent
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
Literary Agent
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
Literary Agent
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
Literary Agent
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
Literary Agent
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
Literary Agent
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
Literary Agent
Megan ~ Closed to Queries @Megan_Manzano
Hey friends! I'm going to host a publishing Q&A session over on instagram this Saturday 05/22 at 12:30 PM EST.If you have questions about querying, sub, or the industry in general follow me on insta at meg.edits.words 📚 pic.twitter.com/dbIA6hwsOO
The Q&A session is live now! Come ask whatever questions you have about publishing on my insta.
#writingcommunity #amquerying #askagent
Literary Agent
Marie Lestrange @LestrangeBooks
@UweStenderPhD Sweet spot on horror wordcount?Hmm, no clue...maybe 80-90 k...just a guess.
Literary Agent
Michelle Cruz @TXMichelle_Cruz
@UweStenderPhD How important is nailing the genre in a query? For example, someone queries as upmarket mystery, but w/agent experience, you feel it's WF or literary fiction. Is that an auto-reject? And what makes the difference between reject/R&R/offer?Thanks for your time!
You should be clear on the genre.
If I LOVE a book, I offer. If I LOVE the book, but have some concerns, I will ask for an R&R. If I don't love it, I will pass.