30 minutes until the video #askagent session! I hope to see you there!

youtube.com/watch?v=aOzimz…

Send your best, submission-ready work regardless of tone/genre.

#AskECLA #AskAgent

I wouldn't say they're necessarily more difficult, it depends on the story you're telling. An "I went to my grandparent's house" is different than "my grandparent passed away" is different than "my grandparent is teaching me something about my culture."

#AskECLA #AskAgent

I think many adults think PBs are "easy" because they are short, and many parents/grandparents decide to write them and center themselves in the story too much. Those same parents/grandparents still buy books, so if it's well done, there's room for it. #AskECLA

I wouldn’t say any category is dead. IMHO, I’m wary of that time period because I worry it’s the writer telling a thinly veiled story of teenagerdom THEY know, instead of trying to speak with teens today. But as with everything, done well and differently is never dead! #askECLA

Hoping to stay open for quite awhile! I am 100% caught up on queries and have two fulls (from January) I need to finish. I think my vice is staying open TOO long and developing a backlog because I don't want to miss out on awesome stuff! #AskECLA

My nos for horror:

Gore for the sake of gore/shock value. long, drawn-out on-page assaults
ableism (this is a hard one because horror is FULL/based on ableism)
-isms

#AskECLA #AskAgent

I try to say "competitive" rather than "oversaturated" because I think there is always room for brilliance. I actually signed a new YA fantasy this week. For me it's just about feeling fresh/interesting and not super derivative. #AskECLA

What I mean by that is when your Chapter One is less ~exciting~ so you tack on an eventful moment first thing as a prologue. That doesn't usually work. But sometimes, they are appropriate ways to tell the story you want to tell, so it's up to the prologue! #AskECLA #askagent

Not 100% against it but many times they are not necessary. It also depends on how many pages you are to submit. I take 20 pages (which should get me, at least, the first chapter) but some people only want the first 3-5 pgs.

#AskECLA #MSWL

Oooooh the prologue. Very controversial! :) I think they *can* work if you're honest with yourself as a writer and not just starting the manuscript in the wrong place. This is more for "action prologues" than anything. #AskECLA

This! Short of PB, we just want to see what other things you might be thinking of. We're not a one-and-done agency!

#AskECLA #AskAgent

Yes, agree with D.Ann, it's not AT ALL uncommon in the PB world, but for novels usually it's more "what direction are you going next?" Even editors ask US this when they are about to offer on a project! It's usually good--they're looking ahead. #AskECLA

Ditto the other two! Give me the atmosphere, give me the psychological, give it all. I do overt blood as well. Also, if the horror is mixed with another genre I'd love to see it.

#AskECLA #AskAgent

I, and the rest of @EmeraldCityLit , really want to work wtih writers for their careers -- not for one manuscript. So it's important we align on what that career looks like in the writer's mind #AskECLA

#AskECLA #AskAgent

This generally only applies to PB because of the shorter word count. It's also to see what other stories/ideas the author has and what type of work will be needed.

No silly questions! I've never asked to see additional MSs, but I have asked what else the writer is working on to get a sense of what kind of writing path they envision for themselves. All kidlit, some adult? Plus how much they write, what stories they want to tell #AskECLA

Agree with Caitlin, that CREEPY, but sometimes you don't know WHY is so cool, but I also don't mind more overt horror (I've signed one with blood and guts and more overt stuff despite the fact that I cannot WATCH that in a movie.) #AskECLA

Ooh that's such a good question. I love contemporary, personally, but atmosphere is most important. I want those creepy feelings to build and build so that I know something WRONG is going on, but I'm not sure what yet. Love twists and turns. #AskECLA

My teen and I got really into sweet tooth! I would certainly consider something in that vein. #AskECLA