Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent
Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent
Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Rae @rae_rae_go

@RebeccaLMatte Can you give just a little insight to what happens after signing with an agent? I'm specifically wondering about the editing process. Is it a team effort? I've recently overhauled my MS & getting some positive feedback/requests, and realizing I don't know anything about that part
Replying to @rae_rae_go

Sure! After paperwork, usually agents give an edit letter with feedback. I foreshadow this when offering, and then give more detail. Then I step back and let the author write, offering support as needed. Iā€™ve done brainstorm calls and looked at chapters, or wait for a new draft.

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Dinah writes šŸ„€ Over the Golden Sea @RedFishies

@RebeccaLMatte What reasons are there if an agent says they love the manuscript but declines it anyway
Replying to @RedFishies

I hate doing this, but I have. When I do it, it means either 1) I recognize this is good but itā€™s not my thing, or 2) thereā€™s potential here but I donā€™t know how to move it forward. #1 is how I feel about Sondheim - incredible art, but I donā€™t want to listen every day.

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Jason Noble @JayceNobleAuth

@RebeccaLMatte I'm working on a series of educational videos where I edit my book as I go to showcase the process and help people out.

Would this hurt me in the querying process bc I'm showing text from my initial drafts? I heard agents don't like this kind of thing.
Replying to @JayceNobleAuth

For me it wouldnā€™t. Honestly I probably wouldnā€™t even know upfront unless you told me. If you are rigid in how you believe editing works that may be tough, as agents may not think youā€™ll take their feedback. But showing early drafts has nothing to do with where you are now

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent
Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Elizarah O'Neduncan is querying @ElizarahO

@RebeccaLMatte Do agents like books that are part of series?
Are superhero books repped often?
Replying to @ElizarahO

Depends! I know thatā€™s not helpful, but series can be great for reliability, but can also be harder to sell bc fewer houses want them. More common in SFF than other adult categories. I donā€™t think thereā€™s a trend per se in superhero, but itā€™s not uncommon, esp in kidlit

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Diane Owen @DianeOw69576207

@RebeccaLMatte If I queried an agent a year ago and received a pass, could I query again? The novel has been revised and edited multiple times. The synopsis has not changed.
Replying to @DianeOw69576207

I would say that if it feels like another book entirely (major structural changes, not small edits), it might be okay. Flag it in the first paragraph and see if thereā€™s guidance on the website. If itā€™s just small thingsā€¦probably not, unfortunately.

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Leah Nova @Bookish_Harpist

@RebeccaLMatte What do you think the ideal day job for a literary agent is? Are other publishing jobs allowed? (probably not in editorial, but what about other areas of publishing?)
Replying to @Bookish_Harpist

Ha! Oh boy. Some places are okay with other jobs that have no control over book buying. Some arent so thereā€™s no appearance of conflict. Other writing or editorial is fine, but I say do what pays bills. Nothing will prep you to agent other than doing it, so play to your strengths

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Jessica Jonas @JessicaMJonas

@RebeccaLMatte How many setting changes feel right in the opening 10 pages, rule of thumb? Do you need to feel grounded in a specific place while you get to know the MC/stakes, or can they move between settings? Eg, my MC is in 3 distinct places in 10pp (same day) -- prob ok, or too busy?
Replying to @JessicaMJonas

Thatā€™s tough. First 10pp should give a good idea of character & stakes. How much can you do if theyā€™re moving? Like, if itā€™s a person reflecting on 1 thing as they go through a day, thatā€™s different from 3 scenes. You want agents to focus on whatā€™s key, not try to track location

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Judah Mahay @judahmahay

@RebeccaLMatte How important is an authorā€™s unpublished backlist when considering representation? Do you ask about other projects when in initial discussions or focus solely on the book queried when considering whether to rep a client?
Replying to @judahmahay

I ask only to understand what they write. So if itā€™s all MG horror, and this is Adult SF I want to know cause then weā€™d not be the best match. Some people may want to see more, but I figure weā€™ll get there after this book.

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

āœØ Prime | Illustrator | Writer āœØ @Prime649

@RebeccaLMatte Is it feasible to have a debut novel be the first in a series, even if you have the whole series planned out?
Or would that kind of be dead in the water when first querying?
Replying to @Prime649

Feasible yes. It is harder. I definitely balk when I see first of (# larger than 3). If it can standalone, thatā€™s great and you can say first of a planned series but stands on its own. itā€™s easier for SFF, but agent is still taking on an unwritten series having only seen 1 book

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Addy is writing āœļø @AddytheLopez

@RebeccaLMatte Any advice for writers about to start querying? I'm almost done with the first draft of my book and going to start edits. I've heard lots of stories about being in the query trenches and am nervous šŸ˜…
Replying to @AddytheLopez

Take your time. Do your research, find resources for identifying problem agencies and agents, and make other querying friends. Make sure you know how a query is supposed to look and that you know the rules for each agency (whether you can query someone new with a no from one)

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

šŸ¾SabaceanBabešŸ¾šŸ’ƒā„šŸš€šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡¦šŸ“ @sabaceanbabe

@RebeccaLMatte Thank you for doing this!

When reading a query for a dual-POV book, do you want to see both POV characters represented or just the main one for a deeper dive into that character?
Replying to @sabaceanbabe

Oooh this is hard. When I pitched a dual pov book I used one character as focus and hit on other characters themes and arc. Usually one person jives most with the major narrative and themes and so you can use that. But if both are necessary, nothing wrong with using both

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Norees Reads @ReadsToo

@RebeccaLMatte Do you think it hurts the manuscript if it kinds of straddles the YA/Adult line with an mc in their later teens?
Replying to @ReadsToo

Definitely not. I think the market is pretty open to those books right now, and it means you can pitch to either adult or YA editors which leaves leeway. Just make sure thematically and voice wise you know which it is. It can change, but to start it should pick one

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent
Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Madi J. Whitley - Author @madijwrites

@RebeccaLMatte Hi Rebecca! I have my first finished novel, but it is the first in a trilogy. Would agents/editors be more interested in a standalone debut? Is starting with a series making it harder on myself?
Replying to @madijwrites

I know this doesnā€™t help but it depends. Some agents are wary to take on 3 books that must be sold together, some prefer it.

Can the first book standalone? Does it end on a cliffhanger? Cause you can frame as ā€œ1st in planned trilogy but could standaloneā€ to split the difference

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Erin Clark is Querying YA @erinclarkwrites

@RebeccaLMatte Tips for writers for building a positive long-term relationship with an agent once you sign?
Replying to @erinclarkwrites

Communication. Set boundaries, discuss preferred timelines, check ins, and expectations. And find out the same from them.

You & the agent need to know to rely on and trust each other, which the above does for you.

And donā€™t be afraid to ask for what you need, so you can get it

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

āœØAnima is querying n editingāœØ @author_anima

@RebeccaLMatte Thanks Rebecca for doing this. Much appreciated.
My Q is- When a book is inspired by a classic and other 20yr old book, how do we comp it appropriately??
Replying to @author_anima

I think thereā€™s a difference between inspiration & comp. You can say ā€œa modern retelling of X, My Book explores..ā€ and then also comp to something more recent.

Comps are about where your book sits in the market/on shelves. You can include both recent comps & older inspiration

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
7 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Amber writes a magical gangster opera šŸ–¤ @AmHamWrites

@RebeccaLMatte Ooo! Question about POV. Iā€™ve heard 1st person present is really popular right now. But is 3rd past multi okay for adult? Is it gunna turn people off?
Replying to @AmHamWrites

Omg please use third person multi, if itā€™s right. I think pov sets tone a lot, and one trend may not be right for all books. I actually struggle with present tense, though I see it a lot.

I personally love really voicey third person so it feels like 1st but with benefits of 3rd