Literary Agent
Kate McKean @kate_mckean
? from DMs: how important is it to hire an editor IF you've run your WIP through multiple drafts on two separate critiquing sites?I've got a dozen critrers on my serious WIP's and a couple are pretty editorial. Is that enough to query with?
Ans: I would think so! You don't HAVE to have your WIP critiqued any amount of times. If you're getting useful feedback and you implement it and you're happy with the book, send forth!
Literary Agent
? from DMs: Is it frowned upon to look for a new agent before you've cut ties with your old one?
Ans: Yes. Break up w/ your current agent before you go find a new one. I know it's scary! But it's the ethical and fair thing to do. Read the agency agrmt for the Termination clause
Literary Agent
Kelly Knox @kelly_knox
@kate_mckean Thank you!! Is there a standard outline or format for a book proposal?There's no one SINGLE format, but this is the general one! katemckean.substack.com/p/whats-a-book…
Literary Agent
? in DM: Would an academic/research background (MsC, PhD, and so on) be a deterrent on getting an agent?
Ans: nope! unless it's nonfiction, it's not really relevant. (in NF an advanced degree would be a positive factor)
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
B. Zelkovich @BZelwen
@Sarah_Nicolas Thanks for doing this Sarah!Q: when setting up The Call™, would it be weird to request a video call? I have auditory processing issues which make phone calls very anxiety-inducing. I communicate much better when I can see the other person.
heyyyy I have the exact same issue! Being able to see the face that is talking helps me comprehend info. When I ask for editor calls I say "Do you mind if we do a video call? I have auditory processing issues that makes audio-only hard for me."
Literary Agent
Sarah Nicolas aka Sarah N Fisk @Sarah_Nicolas
? from DM: For a Debut author is there a specific bracket that is sellable? I have seen many debuts in the YA fantasy but hardly any in adult thrillers. Is there a risk limit for debut authors to what agents would be willing to take on?Ans: there is no one genre umbrella that is clearly "easier to sell" than the others. some markets are bigger than others, but that's usually proportionate to the writers trying to publish there. write what you want to write. trying to write something you don't love is hell
Literary Agent
R. B. Miner @rbminerauthor
@Sarah_Nicolas If I fumbled my query letter first time around but am confident in the novel, is it okay to submit to the same agents with a revamped letter? How long should one wait for an initial response (or non-response)?IMO it's always okay to resubmit once (but no more) if you've made big changes. response times vary widely! query tracker is a great place to see what kind of response times other writers are having with agents.
Literary Agent
Sarah Nicolas aka Sarah N Fisk @Sarah_Nicolas
? from DM: I’m a trans nb writer who does not identify with my given/legal name. When querying, should I use the name I identify with, or my legal name?Ans: the name you identify with! when you get an offer, have this convo with the agent since contracts will have to be signed with your legal name. if the agent is weird or insensitive about it IMO don't sign with them!
Literary Agent
? from DM: Any advice or query letter examples for multiple POV and nonlinear structured stories?
focus on the main story arc. look at other published books structured similarly to yours and examine how their back cover copy does it
Literary Agent
Elena Berrino @ElenaBerrino
@Sarah_Nicolas When looking for an agent for a trilogy, is it better to have all 3 books finished? Or is querying a trilogy a no go to begin with?it's very very very hard to sell a trilogy so "standalone with series potential" is the golden standard. You definitely don't have to write the whole trilogy before querying, just the first book (and probably shouldn't)
Literary Agent
Sarah Nicolas aka Sarah N Fisk @Sarah_Nicolas
? from DM: I've read how i got my agent stories about how someone got an offer from an agent that needed an entire revision, what would make an agent take a chance on something needs a whole revision?Ans: the agent believed in the concept and/or writing enough that they think its worth it to them. also they're confident the writer can pull off the revision they think it needs
Literary Agent
Sarah Nicolas aka Sarah N Fisk @Sarah_Nicolas
? from DM: should you disclose in your query letter that your manuscript is adapted from a fanfic you wrote? Just to be transparent and also since that's a thing that's happening more now. What's the best way to do that?i don't think i need it, unless it's still very close to the fic and the fic is still posted online. as long as, of course, the worldbuilding is original and there's not enough of a crossover that would cause an IP issue
Literary Agent
? from DM: I currently have 5 fulls out with agents I've queried 16 in total. Are there odds out there to maybe getting a yes?
Ans: it's so hard to say but that is a very good request rate so you're doing something right!!
Literary Agent
Sarah Nicolas aka Sarah N Fisk @Sarah_Nicolas
? from DM: I had an agent request from me that said she loved it so far and couldn't wait to read. For an agent that is so enthusiastic about a full, what could make them decline?Ans: this is actually pretty standard language to use in a request. It could be any number of reasons! hopefully you're getting at least a little bit of feedback on full Rs! (though if the agent is especially overworked, you may not)
Literary Agent
Sarah Nicolas aka Sarah N Fisk @Sarah_Nicolas
? from DM: If someone had an agent previously but parted ways long before their MS was on sub anywhere, should you mention it and is a +/-Ans: you should definitely mention it! something like "I was previously represented by xyz and this book was never put out on sub." An agent may have follow up questions so be prepared to answer those!
Literary Agent
Sarah Nicolas aka Sarah N Fisk @Sarah_Nicolas
? from DM: Can we query 2 novels at the same time (not to the same agents of course)?Ans: it's not ideal and i've seen it cause uncomfortable situations (offers from 2 agents on 2 MSs in 2 genres at the same time). but responses take so long I hesitate to give this a hard no
i don't see as big a problem when it's the same genre, honestly because you're only going to have one agent for one genre. it's when you'd be in a situation of maybe having two agents that it gets super complicated
Literary Agent
EC Belikov @ECBelikov
@Sarah_Nicolas Hi Sarah. I self-pubbed & small press pubbed a few books about 10 years ago under this pen name. They had mediocre sales. I feel like I'm a different writer now, and I plan to try to go trad pub route. Would it be better to simply switch pen names?definitely something to discuss with an agent when they offer! agents usually aren't looking to closely at past book sales like publishers do. a good agent will help you strategize that.
Literary Agent
? from DM: how long you take to respond to client emails. Not people querying but your actual clients
they get priority. if it's something I can answer quickly, two business days. if it's something i need more time to answer, i will let them know when I'll get back to them
Literary Agent
Brionna Bennett #amrewriting @bennett_brionna
@Sarah_Nicolas When Querying: how are prologues typically viewed?i gave a more detailed answer than twitter will allow in this video askagent from two weeks ago: youtube.com/watch?v=aOzimz…