Kiara Valdez
Editor
First Second Books
@01FirstSecond Editor Extraordinaire | Writer | ✏️STEPPING UP | She/Her | Opinions are mine | Demi-Bi Afro🇩🇴 | #LatinxInPub | Rep’d: @BrittSiess
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Rain Ashton says buy BAD WITCH BURNING @RainTheWriter
What do you think of marginalized folks trying out dead tropes/genres? Are the dead-dead genres still dead no matter what? I'm asking mostly for adult! #askDVPitNo tropes are dead to marginalized folks. 👏🏾Period👏🏾 None. Do them all. #askDVPit
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Hussna Az @AzamyHussna
What are some fantasy tropes/topics you are tired of?#askDVpit
Not tied to only fantasy—I’m tired of stories of white ppl in foreign lands being surprised, shooketh, idk about this place/culture that isn’t there’s. Lol I don’t care about their thoughts or discomfort in this situation…🤷🏾♀️ #askDVpit
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Tangent Points @PointsTangent
#askDVpitHow often do trends lasts or return if they've gone out of favor? For instance, high fantasy or paranormal MCs?
It really depends on the medium. For example in GN, middle grade and YA contemporary and memoir has been hot for YEARS and will continue to be popular for many more. It’s almost evergreen. Other genres have some successes but are less stable—but this will change soon! #askDVpit
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Exquisite ⚔️🤎 @ExquisiteWill
What are things that immediately turn you away from a pitch? #askdvpitSome red flags:
1. If the person knows nothing about the market (i.e if you are pitching your story as MG but it definitely reads YA, etc or if their comps are SO off)
2. If the story obviously doesn’t feel like it was written for GN #askDVpit
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Rush is revising @RushWriteNow
How do you feel about using TV shows as comps? I have one book and one TV show in my query #askdvpitTV shows are definitely a useful comp, especially when it captures something you can’t use a book comp for. #askDVpit
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AdrianaLWrites @Adriana_Writes_
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received during the writing journey? Editors/agents — what is one thing you tell all your authors? #askdvpitI don’t say this enough but focus on your authentic truth—whatever that means to you. Whether you’re writing memoir or some space odyssey, everything you write has a piece of you in it and if you focus on being genuine, it will reach ppl in a profound way. #askDVpit