Literary Agent
Kade Kessler - Writer @KadeKessler
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs I know for years, the recommendation for authors seeking agents was to get face-to-face and build a relationship before querying. Does that advice still hold true after COVID? With fewer in person events recently, have you found it harder/less reliable to sign authors?Not at all. Even before Covid, most of my clients came from the slush and still do. #askagent
Literary Agent
Shannon Anderson, M.Ed @Shannonteaches
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs What is your best advice for PB writers who do not also illustrate? I see a lot of agents say they will only take PB authors if they write AND illustrate.My advice would be to just keep looking for agents who do rep author-only PBs. They're out there. #askagent
Literary Agent
Laura Bower @LauraMB2
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs @heathercashman Having been previously rejected on a full, Im currently revising my middle grade manuscript with my mentor through #writementor. Would a resubmit be of interest or is a "no" always a no?For me, if the manuscript is significantly revised, especially with professional help, I'm definitely open to seeing it again if I haven't specifically said that the premise is not a good fit for my list. #askagent
Literary Agent
Andrew Hiller @AndrewHiller
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs #askagentWhat is most important in a MG query? Is there any difference between what an agent is looking for in a MG query and adult fiction queries?
I love it when the voice of the query pitch matches the voice of the audience. And knowing your audience comes out in the best queries as well. #askagent
Literary Agent
Heidi Dischler @heididischler
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs Does it discourage agents to offer representation when they see authors who have self-published before but are querying a completely new novel? Having minimal sales for those self-published novels as well.It's not discouraging to me, since it is for a new novel. #askagent
Literary Agent
Somebody asked on the #AskAgent Tumblr, 'Is it still possible for a writer to be able to "quit their day job" or are advances too low now?' -- my answer:
tumblr.com/blog/view/lite…
Editor
Grace Morrow @realgmorrow
@C_H_Armstrong @eric5310pub Hi Cathie and Eric! If your MS is an adult-crossover yet is also geared to an older YA crowd should you stick with querying agents who only accept adult or can you query YA agents as well?We have a category for that: New Adult.
Look for publishers of adult fiction that publish adult fiction with YA interest or YA publishers who publish YA fiction with adult interest.
Literary Agent
MK Brownlow ✍🏼✌🏼#amdrawing @MK_Brownlow
@C_H_Armstrong @eric5310pub I’m a romance author whose true love is picture books. I’m an illustrator, too. Over the last 10+ yrs while publishing novels, I’ve been writing & illustrating #pb - now I have so many, I don’t know which to query 1st. Do agents ever sign ppl on a body of work & not just 1 book?Yes! I want to Represent my clients for their whole career—except I don’t rep PBs. 😂❤️❤️ But a lot of agents do.
With that said, pick one to start with and have a convo about the other when you get an offer and see where the agent stands.
Editor
Deana @deana_kay_2013
@C_H_Armstrong @eric5310pub Do you prefer to sign clients with manuscripts that are basically sub ready? Or will you still sign someone if the MS needs more work but you love the premise?I prefer 100% done, edited, and polished.
But I’ve received proposals from agents before who were representing authors with books that only had a synopsis and were looking for a publisher+advance before writing it (they were all bestselling authors already), but I don’t take them
Editor
Tammy Blakley @tammy_blakley
@C_H_Armstrong @eric5310pub Hi Cathie and Eric! Do you prefer authors who write a series or standalone novels?No preference; depends on the genre, story, plot, if your series is ready or not, and a lot of other things 😊
Literary Agent
Suzy England 🇺🇦 @suzy_england
@C_H_Armstrong @eric5310pub Thanks so much for answering questions tonight, Cathie! How often do you check a querying author’s website/social media pages and if so, what are you hoping to find?Sporadically up until now, but going forward I’ll be checking more often—not for followers, but for content. I have a great team who supports each other and it’s important to me I don’t upset the balance.
Editor
BRCloth @brclothwrites
@C_H_Armstrong @eric5310pub When you hear, “I loved it but not sure how to market it” what does this really mean? What would cause an agent to feel this way?Usually it’s because you queried a book that doesn’t fit what the agent/publisher is currently looking for OR you queried something that doesn’t match their catalogue.
Could be good feedback, since it’s not saying your story is not good, it’s just not for that agent/their list.
Editor
Mary (of Doom) @maryofdoom
@C_H_Armstrong @eric5310pub Hi Cathie - thanks so much for this. Q: what do you think when you see a project with co-authors? Is there anything my co-author and I can do to address concerns right out of the gate? Appreciate your advice.I’d figure out the royalty split, if any.
Editor
Susan @storiesbysusan
@C_H_Armstrong @eric5310pub Hello! Thanks for the Q&A! If an author doesn't have credentials/previous publications/industry memberships, what are the best elements to include in a bio?Who are you? Why did you become a writer? What’s your favorite book? What other books and authors inspire you? Are you working on anything else? Do you have any social projects? How are you changing the world with your writing? Did you ever get any praise for other books? Etc.
Editor
Jaimie Hunter is PAST Midpoint! (70/85K) @jaimiehunter
@C_H_Armstrong @eric5310pub Hi Cathie, & thanks! When is it time to accept a manuscript is not "the one" and table it? For ex, if you have received 80 rejections w/4 requests, keep hearing "not a good fit" or "can't sell this," etc. When to revise, when to start something new? Is that answerable? LOLWhen querying, you should already be writing your next book. Never wait for a book to be picked up before starting your next one. Published or not, the best way to sell your book is by witting your next one. Good luck 😉
Literary Agent
💜ᴮᴱtaesbae ₇ | 2022.6.10 ᴾʳᵒᵒᶠ @taesbae21
@C_H_Armstrong @eric5310pub Do you have any tips or resources for someone who may be rewriting/revising a novel but is overwhelmed about where to start?With the revision process? Yes—there are some great books in editing that will help you. I’ll share a list later. Also, if you don’t have critique partners or a writing group, try to find some. They help tremendously.
Literary Agent
Katja is going to Switzerland AGAIN 🇨🇭🌸💕 @OneOfUsHasToGo
@UweStenderPhD Is it a problem for querying the German version of my novel that the word count is 101,000 rather than 99,000, somehow resulting in some 20 more pages? (Cause... you know how long German words can be... making the text move down further and further... 😔)Thanks ❤.
I don't think so, as long as you query that version to literary agents in German speaking countries.
Literary Agent
Ana Mae Wright @anamaewright
@UweStenderPhD For writers who have MSs in different genres, what's your recommendation for querying different books simultaneously?Thank you for taking questions!
I would only query one book at a time, and then during the "offer call" talk about the other books and strategy re: your career.
Literary Agent