Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub 💛🤍💜🖤
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

JRPyle-Carter is doing NaNoWriMo @JrpyleC

@Sarah_Nicolas Is there a big difference between novels and novellas when it comes to pitching/selling them?
Replying to @JrpyleC

for the actual pitching process? no. there are just a lot fewer places that actually publish novellas, so the market is very small

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub 💛🤍💜🖤
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

Ana Mae Wright @anamaewright

@Sarah_Nicolas Hi Sarah! Thank you for doing this! Hope you feel better soon!
1. Romance: open door/closed door sells better?
2. Thoughts on acceptability of profanity in YA? (A recurrent topic of discussion among some of us writers.)
Replying to @anamaewright

1) i can't say one or the other sells better. editors have their preferences. there's a market for both (i like them sexier, personally)
2) cursing in ya is fine. HOWEVER, if it's the kind of book that will go on state library/school lists, cursing can keep it off of them.

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub 💛🤍💜🖤
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

Erika Romero, PhD @evereducating

@Sarah_Nicolas Any must-dos or never-dos when it comes to nudging an agent? I’m coming up on 3 months since sending the queries, but have never nudged before.
Replying to @evereducating

just make sure you see what they say about nudging. for example, my guidelines say not to nudge me unless i announce i'm past the date you submitted. use the info available to you. you can often see on querytracker (even the free one) where agents are in their inbox

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub 💛🤍💜🖤
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

Kristi McManus 📚 @kristimcmanus

@Sarah_Nicolas What is the best way for a debut, unknown writer to promote their book and their brand?
Replying to @kristimcmanus

there is no one best way. it's what works for you and works with your skillset. i always recommend learning from a lot of different people about promo, take what works for you, and leaving the rest behind.

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub 💛🤍💜🖤
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips
Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub 💛🤍💜🖤
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

caspar “writing winner” breadloaves @fivebreadloaves

@Sarah_Nicolas What sort of things would you suggest be put in the bio section of a query letter when one has no publishing credits?
Replying to @fivebreadloaves

for a novel, the bio portion isn't that important. if you have a personal connection to something in the book, you can mention that. if you're a member of a writing group, you can mention that.

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub 💛🤍💜🖤
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips
Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub 💛🤍💜🖤
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

Amy Lange Kawamura @AmyLangeKawmura

@Sarah_Nicolas Hi, and thank you! Do most agents (in your opinion) shut down to queries from late December to early January for the holidays? Or do some prefer to get queries during that time?
I def. pay attn. to whether an agent is "open" or not, but I am just wondering...
Thank you!
Replying to @AmyLangeKawmura

A lot do, but if they haven't said they're closed, go ahead and send if you have the time. They'll just go into the queue of they're not reading right now.

I have seen one agent get mad because authors queried them during holidays when they weren't closed and ... (cont)

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub 💛🤍💜🖤
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips
Ann Rose
@annmrose
Literary Agent
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
206 MSWL
448 AskAgent
11 Queries
127 Tips

Stephen Harkleroad @americancrank

@annmrose What are your most/least favorite tropes in fantasy novels?
Replying to @americancrank

🧐
Tired: Reiterating patriarchal ideals in “fantasy” settings
Fire: cozy fantasies or ones that just feel fresh and different

Ann Rose
@annmrose
Literary Agent
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
206 MSWL
448 AskAgent
11 Queries
127 Tips
Ann Rose
@annmrose
Literary Agent
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
206 MSWL
448 AskAgent
11 Queries
127 Tips
Ann Rose
@annmrose
Literary Agent
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
206 MSWL
448 AskAgent
11 Queries
127 Tips
Ann Rose
@annmrose
Literary Agent
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
206 MSWL
448 AskAgent
11 Queries
127 Tips
Ann Rose
@annmrose
Literary Agent
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
206 MSWL
448 AskAgent
11 Queries
127 Tips
Ann Rose
@annmrose
Literary Agent
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
206 MSWL
448 AskAgent
11 Queries
127 Tips
Ann Rose
@annmrose
Literary Agent
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
206 MSWL
448 AskAgent
11 Queries
127 Tips
Ann Rose
@annmrose
Literary Agent
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
206 MSWL
448 AskAgent
11 Queries
127 Tips

Shouka (anxious writer) @ShoukaRo

@annmrose I was told my story may be hard to market because it straddles the line between YA and adult (think stranger things with multi pov with teenagers and adults) I can't make all the pov characters teenagers. But I also hear there's barely any agents that rep crossover. Any advice?
Replying to @ShoukaRo

The issue it sounds like you have is one of shelf space. Remember a publisher’s job is to sell to bookstores so if your book straddles the shelf how will the store position it?
My advice, decide who your reader is and what shelf it should be on to reach them.
Good luck!

Ann Rose
@annmrose
Literary Agent
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
206 MSWL
448 AskAgent
11 Queries
127 Tips

Caroline Klapper @cklapp2

@annmrose Do you have different form letter rejections depending on if you liked a project or not?
Replying to @cklapp2

Nope.
I unfortunately have to pass on a lot of really great projects and believe it or not it hurts a lot to do, so stressing over which form to send would create more anxiety for me 😔

Ann Rose
@annmrose
Literary Agent
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
206 MSWL
448 AskAgent
11 Queries
127 Tips

May Zullino (Querying) @WaywardCelestia

@annmrose Is there an etiquette limit for the number of agents one should query at a single agency? Does it change depending on the agency size?
Replying to @WaywardCelestia

Most agencies will have a policy somewhere on their website about this. I know at Tobias it is one at a time and we are really great about sharing subs!