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Margaret Riseley @MagicRide
@wordwiselit Thanks Steven. I’m revisiting a romcom thriller I wrote years ago and that won an unpublished prize but wonder about its chances these days since it’s set in the gold mining industry. Would that be an automatic turn off?Well, gold mining industry still exists.
But are we talking about the old California Gold Rush? This would likely count as historical fiction. Nothing wrong with that.
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H.W. Johnston is writing a first draft @hwjohnston7
@annmrose What's does it mean in a rejection when you're told your "good but not amazing"?Without context perhaps it means that there are good ideas in there but they just need more fleshing out to make them stronger
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Jack Keaton @graveyardfeeder
@annmrose I was surprised to be told that most horror/thriller manuscripts are between 65-85k words. How legit is this? Some of the best stories are the ones that a short and sweet to the point rather than drawn out epics. What’re your thoughts?I wouldn’t call 80k words epic
I would say for traditional publishing this range checks
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Dorina @Dori_thedragon
@annmrose Is it okay to use 'High fantasy with science elements' as my book's genre in a query letter? Its too fantasy to be sci fi (duels and warlocks) but too sciency for just fantasy (space travel and evil AI) - leaning more fantasy side.Thank you!
It’s fine just know that it does have to sit somewhere firmly on one shelf
I have a book on my list that mixes fantasy and sci-fi so it’s possible to do
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JessAGuest is Querying! @JessA_Writer
@annmrose Thanks for doing these! I always find the information informative! Do you have a process for queries in your maybe pile?Read
Close
Read again
Stress about it
Close
Read again
Stare at screen for indiscernible amount of time
Think about how I would pitch and position it—who can I think of to send it to
Make decision
Or something like this
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Kathryn Faye @KathrynFaye007
@annmrose What are things in queries/manuscripts that make you sit up and miss your bus stop?Strong MCs (this doesn’t mean physical and they don’t have to start this way)
Hooking concepts
Revenge plots
Feminist themes
Female friendships
Nuanced characters
…
*Doesn’t have to all be in one story
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rob @robinspncr
@annmrose you must be tired of me asking for wordcounts 😫 but is 64k too short for YA contemporary fantasy? or there’s still hope?It’s a little low but it wouldn’t be a quick no for me.
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Nora Barnacle #amquerying @NoraBarnacle3
@annmrose About how many words into the sample pages before you know it's going to be a yea or nay?As many as it takes 🤷🏼♀️
I’m sorry that isn’t a solid answer 😔
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Ellie L @RedPencilScript
@annmrose Do most agents read the sample portions of the writing or do they base most of their decision on the pitch, query letter, and synopsis?Every agent is different so I can’t respond for everyone, but I will say if you send me a project that is something I rep I do look at pages. If it’s an age group/genre I don’t rep than generally I won’t look.
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Helen Coe (she/her/elle) @Helen_Coe
@annmrose I've previously submitted a rhyming PB to agents & sensed/got feedback that the rhyme was the issue. Should I resubmit now that I've reworked to non-rhyme? Or only if they specifically identified rhyme as the issue? Happy Ellipticalling :)Thank you!
I think if the book has been significantly reworked it can be resubmitted but do check agents’ websites about their feelings on this. It might also be helpful to include that info in the query too (how it has changed)
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L.M. DeFrates @Lmdefrates
@annmrose Can you give me some insight into the relationship between agents and Publishers Marketplace? I check on there to see recent sales, etc., but often run into profiles while are old/outdated. Do you have to update your own profile on there? Or do some people just opt out? Ty.Agents have the ability to create their own pages on there. That said, I personally have not figured out how to do this (it’s not very intuitive). 😬
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M.A. Wardell (he/him) @MAWardell
@annmrose Is it critical you have a firm title before pitching your manuscript?Nope. It can always change.
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Brandy @MidlifeCreative
@annmrose Do you prefer to sign with a client for a career or a book?For me, it’s for their career.
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Cas Fick @CM_Fick
@annmrose If an agent has a partial, should you nudge after a set period of time, or assume a no?(This is not reflective of your query pile 😉)
A nudge at 3 month increments I think is fair.
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Jess L Freed @JessLFreed
@annmrose If a writer attends an in person pitching event, what all do they need? Printed copies of the query letter? Manuscript?Just you!
You don’t need to bring anything. If you want a notecard or something for yourself that’s fine but you don’t need to give us anything.
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Melissa Tombstone @melissatyndall
@annmrose There’s been a lot of conversation about word count in manuscripts lately—especially for debuts over 100k. What do you, as an agent, prefer it to be: under, over, right in the middle? What seems easier to revise for sub?My general “rule” is that is should be within range and not too far over or under. Hitting right in the middle is probably “safest” right now.
Does this answer your question?
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alex ☁️ @alexandramar1e
@annmrose If a synopsis is required, what is the best possible way to write one? Does point form work, or should it be in paragraphs? How do you know what should be included and what isn’t? What is considering an important plot point and what is too small?A synopsis is the full story and character arc. Written in paragraphs is usually best. Hit the major plot points and don’t get too bogged down with subplots.
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alex ☁️ @alexandramar1e
@annmrose If you have an offer, does putting “offer in hand” in the subject line help an agent take interest?It will help them get to it sooner mostly likely.