Literary Agent
JRPyle-Carter is doing NaNoWriMo @JrpyleC
@Sarah_Nicolas Is there a big difference between novels and novellas when it comes to pitching/selling them?for the actual pitching process? no. there are just a lot fewer places that actually publish novellas, so the market is very small
Literary Agent
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.)
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.
Literary Agent
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.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
Literary Agent
Kristi McManus 📚 @kristimcmanus
@Sarah_Nicolas What is the best way for a debut, unknown writer to promote their book and their brand?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.
Literary Agent
Kristi McManus 📚 @kristimcmanus
@Sarah_Nicolas Is YA fantasy as hard a sell as it feels?yes. there are just SO MANY people writing it that it is crowded. ⬇you and me
Literary Agent
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?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.
Literary Agent
Shannon Hawkins @sionnanigans
@Sarah_Nicolas Sorry, I’m on airport anxiety and didn’t read instructions earlier. 😅 If you could help me gage what project to work on next year:Is YA Fantasy pretty saturated or would that be ok to focus on or
Is Adult Dark Fantasy pretty strong?
I just need Market thoughts. Thank you!
I think that's outside the bounds of a question i can answer on twitter. both markets are tough. all markets are tough right now, tbh. write the one you can't stop thinking about in the shower <-my personal method
Literary Agent
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!
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)
Literary Agent
Barrett Duke @BarrettDuke
@Sarah_Nicolas For someone that has never been published outside of a professional journal, how much do you think that plays into getting representation for a first novel? I always feel very lacking when I’m asked for a biography.Very very very little. For fiction, the book is the thing. Nothing else really matters
Literary Agent
Stephen Harkleroad @americancrank
@annmrose What are your most/least favorite tropes in fantasy novels?🧐
Tired: Reiterating patriarchal ideals in “fantasy” settings
Fire: cozy fantasies or ones that just feel fresh and different
Literary Agent
Stacey L. Pierson @SuperStacey318
@annmrose What are most excited/looking forward to reading in queries/MSs from querying authors in 2023?I’m just excited to find compelling stories!
Literary Agent
Michelle S. Kennedy @MichelleSKenned
@annmrose What is the best way to grab an agent's attention in a query?Be professional
Have a hook
❤️
Literary Agent
S. G. Winter @SGWinter13
@annmrose Good day to you!My question would be, how do you feel (and think other agents feel) about uncalled for requeries of a project that has gotten a complete rewrite. Not an edit but an actually different book with a newfound voice that makes the story sing rather than stutter? 😰🫣
I can only speak for myself but I’m totally open to revisiting
Literary Agent
Chris Corvus, a bird of words. @inkmaderaven
@annmrose How forgiving are agents about typos and such? I know I've got issues where my brain likes to autocorrect what I read so I sometimes not even know there's typos as I go along editing. Since editors are a step in the process is it more about the story or does the technical factor?I think if there are a couple here and there it’s NBD but if it’s all just one giant typo then it could be a problem
Just do the best you can
We know typos happen ❤️
Literary Agent
Casey Kincade @Noir_Kincade
@annmrose Do you prefer a spoiler-free query letter and summary or do you want all the juicy plot points up front?Query letters should not have spoilers
Synopsis should have spoilers
Literary Agent
M.Rose is writing @mayroundstone
@annmrose I see Fantasy is listed as a genre on your Query Manager page. Does that include Urban Fantasy? Thanks and happy holidays! ☺️Yes. If there is a specific “urban fantasy” category I can select I must have missed it 🤨
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
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?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!
Literary Agent
Caroline Klapper @cklapp2
@annmrose Do you have different form letter rejections depending on if you liked a project or not?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 😔
Literary Agent
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?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!