Literary Agent
Jenelle Stone @Jenelle_Stone
@UweStenderPhD Thank you! I have a question about querying. I'm currently querying agents with a YA manuscript. I was wanting to submit a different MG manuscript to small presses. Are there any drawbacks to doing both at the same time?Not for me, personally. Others *may* disagree.
Literary Agent
Melissa O’Connor @MelissaM_OC
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs Is it of interest to agents to know what a writer is working on now in the bio, if it’s high concept (so easy/quick to convey), or does it confuse the query to mention a second project? (This is for adult.) Thanks!If it's super brief, then yes. If it's out with other agents, absolutely. #askagent
Literary Agent
Jeanette 죄나리 @itsjeanettechoe
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs If you love the hook, premise, and sample pages in a query, can a synopsis be a dealbreaker when it comes to requesting a full? Thanks in advance! 😊For me, a synopsis can tell me if the writer can plot and achieve a satisfying character arc. So if I'm requesting the full and the synopsis is questionable, I might ask some follow-up questions. #askagent
Literary Agent
Stacey L. Pierson @SuperStacey318
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs If a writer fits an agent's MSWL, what could the reason be when sending a rejection stating your MS doesn't fit my list at this time? I have always wondered this.Maybe voice, characters, or plot isn't quite right. There are loads of reasons things end up not being a good fit. Maybe we can't imagine reading it over and over even though it's a great book. So it's not the perfect fit. It's difficult to even say this but reality. #askagent
Literary Agent
Lisa Dunn @AuthorLisaDunn
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs Suppose an agent reads a full MS and passes, but invites the author to submit future work. If the agent eventually offers on another MS, what are the chances she’ll circle back to that first MS? Asking for an author who hasn’t given up on MS #1… ☺️#askagentI agree with these too. I'll circle back to the one that has the most promise. Or sometimes it's just not a good 'first' sale but will be better suited to an author who already has a platform and would do well then. They aren't wasted words, no matter what though. #askagent
Literary Agent
Ana Mae Wright @anamaewright
@StormLiterary @Michelle4Laughs @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz Thank you so much for this session!1) Do quiet YAs have a place in the market, and if not right now, do you foresee the phase coming back around?
2) Will comps you don't know or don't understand being relatable by reading the query deter you from reading pages?
Everything has its cycles. And comps--I look them up and so yes, it helps anyway. I often read the pages first anyway. #askagent
Literary Agent
Kelly Swemba @KSwemba
@HeatherCashman @StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs My PBs are SEL themed with universal topics. Sometimes when I hear commercial I feel that SEL might not be considered. Is this type of PB something you would be interested in if it had the right amount of everything? (I know, it's vague and I apologize!)Yes. I think these topics can be commercial. They do fit with a wide audience and can reach a broad readership, and should imo. Lots of other things can be layered in too that will make it even more universal. #askagent
Literary Agent
Jayne Rice @JayneRiceWriter
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs @Michelle4Laughs How do you go about considering full MS requests? What do you look for when reading a full? #askagentSomething I can't put down! It should keep me up at night, make me regret that I am mortal and require sleep, and something I want to read again and again. #askagent
Literary Agent
Mianassivera @mianassivera
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs My second question is this, when you get a book deal, do you get galleys through your publisher?? If so, do you only get sent galleys in the age category you write in?Your book is published in a single age category. So that is the age category of the galley. Perhaps I am not understanding the question though, so feel free to follow up. #askagent
Literary Agent
Mianassivera @mianassivera
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs Hello 👋🏼 I was wondering two things, one is this--I write ya fantasy, but it's so saturated right now I was considering revising my stories to fit MG. I love writing romances in ya but I could let them go for middle grade. Is revising to fit another age category worth it?For me, this is a matter of writing to the market vs. what the story demands. I'd consider (IMO) if the themes, character arcs, personalities, content, and general storyline are appropriate for MG vs. YA. Not all stories can be transposed that easily and still work. #askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Steve Hill @stevehillwriter
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs Do you prefer personalized queries that reference something in your wish list or bio, or is that superfluous? I had advice from other writers for both opinions.I prefer a short half or whole sentence about it, but it's not a negative if it's not there either. #askagent
Literary Agent
Kade Kessler - Writer @KadeKessler
@katiemahood2 @StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs As a follow up… do you have any advice for learning if you can trust beta readers that you’ve connected with/built a relationship with online (twitter, discord, Reddit communities) if you don’t have many writer friends offline? The internet can be a shady place these days…I'm not sure about this. I would have a really difficult time trusting people with my manuscripts if I didn't have a longer-term relationship with them. I would highly suggest meeting people at conferences. But also, I know it does work for a lot of people. #askagent
Literary Agent
Shannon Anderson, M.Ed @Shannonteaches
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs If you had an agent before and it was not a good fit, does that work against you when seeking a new agent?Not for me. But I might (and probably will) ask about this if it progresses to the point of a call. #askagent
Literary Agent
Kelly Swemba @KSwemba
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs @HeatherCashmanHi Ms. Cashman,
In your bio, it states you are looking for all genres, but is there one that interests you the most?
No. I just love unique premises that lean toward the commercial with writing that leans literary. This is probably no help at all. #askagent Feel free to ask more specifics if you want.
Literary Agent
Kade Kessler - Writer @KadeKessler
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs How many active authors do you typically have on your roster at a time? When an agent is open queries how many authors are they typically looking to sign? (At Storm vs most agencies?)I can't speak for other agencies or even other agents at Storm, but I don't usually have any number in mind. It's all about what I absolutely fall head over heels for and will be devastated if I let it go. #askagent
Literary Agent
Angelle 🇺🇦 @AngelleTerrell
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs Is there a "stopping point" on a full which makes an agent pass? If so, what is it? Or do agents generally read the entire thing before sitting back to consider?For me, the stopping point can happen at any time. It can be a lot of reasons that make me stop reading. Perhaps the plot falls apart, the characters become inconsistent, etc. #askagent
Literary Agent
Kelly Swemba @KSwemba
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs Hi Storm Literary and thank you for taking questions!I write PBs and have one upper MG that's been through a few revisions. In my PB query, do I include that I also write MG even though I have only written one? (I plan to continue to write in both genres.) Thank you!
I appreciate when authors do this, because I'm hoping to build my MG, YA, and Adult lists and so, it at least gives me the opportunity to grow that way with that author if I really love the PB as well. #askagent
Literary Agent
Katie Mahood @katiemahood2
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs Other than critique groups and MS swaps, do you have suggestions on getting good feedback. Received many form rejections that say try another agent, but not sure if I should keep querying it, or if something needs fixed, or if it's just not interesting.I think a lot of form rejections could mean several things. Are they mostly coming without pages or without asking for pages? It could be the query or premise isn't unique or compelling enough. #askagent
Literary Agent
Jeanette 죄나리 @itsjeanettechoe
@StormLiterary @essiewhitewrite @HeatherCashman @LJAmstutz @Michelle4Laughs Do you find that agents are more interested in stories that have decent writing but a captivating/solid storyline, or fantastic writing on a line level but needing some structural work?For me, voice is paramount. Other things can be revised. #askagent