In my query letter to an agent for my YA fantasy novel, should I mention a previously published work I have even though it was 10 yrs ago and it’s a nonfiction PB? Should I mention my website even though it’s just centered around that PB?
melbato
2 months ago
Is it appropriate for a non-BIPOC author to use comps written by BIPOC authors, assuming they refer to a specific element (that has nothing to do with diversity, identity, marginalization, etc.)?
Amy
2 months ago
Writers often have to wait a little bit to hear back from agents. Is it the same for agents who’ve submitted their client’s work to editors? What are average response times from editors?
LIzDale
2 months ago
Are you interested in representing authors from the UK, if so, do books for all ages from picture books up to YA transfer well from the UK to the USA?
A. T. Baron
2 months ago
I am writing a YA contemporary romance with a telepathic MC. I’ve read contradicting information on telepathy and in which genre it falls. Do you consider it paranormal, sci-fi, or speculative?
LIzDale
2 months ago
What type of m/s are you looking for the most?
Amy
2 months ago
What sort of response time should a writer expect from their own agent? Should they get worried if they aren’t hearing back?
nrae
2 months ago
If you write across age categories/genres, how important is it to find an agent who represents all age categories/genres you write in? Or should you just focus on finding one who can represent the the book you’re querying?
StephanieS
2 months ago
How do you feel about previously shopped material (as in represented before and sent out to a handful of editors <10 a couple of years ago)? Can these books be shopped again at some point?
ErinJamie
2 months ago
Thank you for doing this Q&A! What is the editorial process like between you and your clients? And will you be accepting submissions from WriteOnCon attendees this year?
sgf
2 months ago
If a writer is seeking representation after amicably parting ways with their previous agent, is it recommended to state the previous agent’s name in the query letter?
jennadevillier
2 months ago
Would you be open to queries from WriteOnCon attendees, although you’re currently closed, or should writers wait until you reopen? Thanks!
MonicaAsAnAuthor
2 months ago
How do agents feel about self-published materials being submitted for traditional publishing? I wrote a PB 10 years ago that I self-published just for family and friends. Would this be appropriate to pitch to an agent?
StephanieS
2 months ago
Are you an editorial agent? What is your communication style?
sgf
2 months ago
Could you share any thoughts on the YA market in general and where it may be headed?
Sarah_Marriott
2 months ago
Do you care if they already have an existing platform (socials, website, etc)?
melbato
2 months ago
What are the advantages/disadvantages to an established agent v. a newer agent?
DesireeRose
2 months ago
I have received three no’s and two offers to ‘vanity publish’…. I believe in my books but have not found the right agent yet. Any tips on finding the right fit? I feel the query process to be so impersonal
BrieannaWilkoff
2 months ago
I have a YA novel with 3 POVs. In the query, do you feel it’s better to give a brief description of each character’s arc or to give more detail about just one character? If the latter, would you still like to know there are multiple POVs, or does that just make you wonder why I didn’t talk about the other characters?
cris
2 months ago
I’m a retired school librarian. Is that a strong point to mention in a query, or leave it out?
KristiO
2 months ago
How soon do your clients share ideas with you for novels in progress? Full draft or sooner?
Crazyfoxxy
2 months ago
What are your thoughts on female POV vs Male POV in YA? Seems like most commercial books are female.
KatieBennett
2 months ago
A lot of agents have another job to support themselves, much like a lot of authors. Do you have any tips for managing work/life balance while juggling dual careers like this?
HabonJama
2 months ago
What do you think about POV switches in MG? Most of my MG is in Third Person Limited then there is 1 chapter in Third person Omniscient to show something the MC doesn’t know towards the end. Can this be done?
Krromo
2 months ago
Of the ages you represent, what age do you sell the least/most (PB, chapter book, MG, YA) ? Do you have theories about why that is?
CarolynLHuston
2 months ago
I clicked on your link through Bradford Literary Agency. It says you are closed to submissions. When you do open up again, if we want to submit to you, would you suggest we participated in this conference and Q & A session?
LIzDale
2 months ago
Would you take on an author who has an agent in another country, for you to handle sales in the States?
KristiO
2 months ago
Do you think authors should mention in their query letter if they have had an agent in the past?
PepperHawk
2 months ago
Do you find agents really seeking and engaging with pitch contests on Twitter (or similar) or do you tend to find more from the ‘slushpile’
CharLeighWrites
2 months ago
What suggestions do you have for personalizing the query letter without sounding like you have been stalking the agent?
BrieannaWilkoff
2 months ago
What are your thoughts about books with diverse characters that are not own voices?
HabonJama
2 months ago
What do you think about POV switches in MG? Most of my MG is in Third Person Limited then there is 1 chapter in Third person Omniscient to show something the MC doesn’t know towards the end. Can this be done?
Does a potential client’s platform or connections within the writing community affect your decision to work with them?
KatieBennett
2 months ago
I’ve always been curious about whether an agent’s clients know each other personally. Do your clients tend to become friends with each other? Do they talk? Or are they completely isolated from each other? Is that something you kind of encourage at all?
Jeanette
2 months ago
Hi! I have an R&R request from an editor who found me from a Twitter pitch contest. IF they are interested in my manuscript after the R&R, how do I go about getting a literary agent to represent me? Or would this cancel out my chance of getting an agent?
Icemountain28
2 months ago
Do you have any recommendations on where to find potential agents online?
ElizabethAnne
2 months ago
I was so excited when I saw you were doing this! I just watched your feedback video and I loved it. Do you have any advice for author-agent relationships?
Last edited 2 months ago by ElizabethAnne
Suzi
2 months ago
If you said you’d read pages based on the query in the feedback session, are you open to seeing that query before you open with that info in the subject, or should those writers wait until you open to general queries?
JessicaAKassin
2 months ago
Hello, thank you for doing this! I’m new to this whole thing. When do you typically start looking for an agent? You mentioned working with clients at idea phase, but I thought there was an assumption you had to write a book before querying to find an agent?
kmalady
2 months ago
If an agent takes an author after querying a specific book, and the author queried and shelved prior books due to earlier rejection, what is the etiquette for bringing up those earlier books to the agent (or are they gone forever)?
ElizabethAnne
2 months ago
You said that you wouldn’t represent books about BIPOC characters that are not #OwnVoices. What about allegorical… like a story about inequality in a fantasy world?
Last edited 2 months ago by ElizabethAnne
Patricia
2 months ago
When you said you don’t accept diverse characters not in own voices, did you mean main characters? So minor characters can be diverse?
If I love the sound of the idea, I’ll still take a look at the pages. If it’s something I’m looking for that sounds right up my alley, I’ll also take a look at pages even if the query isn’t perfect.
In my query letter to an agent for my YA fantasy novel, should I mention a previously published work I have even though it was 10 yrs ago and it’s a nonfiction PB? Should I mention my website even though it’s just centered around that PB?
Is it appropriate for a non-BIPOC author to use comps written by BIPOC authors, assuming they refer to a specific element (that has nothing to do with diversity, identity, marginalization, etc.)?
Writers often have to wait a little bit to hear back from agents. Is it the same for agents who’ve submitted their client’s work to editors? What are average response times from editors?
Are you interested in representing authors from the UK, if so, do books for all ages from picture books up to YA transfer well from the UK to the USA?
I am writing a YA contemporary romance with a telepathic MC. I’ve read contradicting information on telepathy and in which genre it falls. Do you consider it paranormal, sci-fi, or speculative?
What type of m/s are you looking for the most?
What sort of response time should a writer expect from their own agent? Should they get worried if they aren’t hearing back?
If you write across age categories/genres, how important is it to find an agent who represents all age categories/genres you write in? Or should you just focus on finding one who can represent the the book you’re querying?
How do you feel about previously shopped material (as in represented before and sent out to a handful of editors <10 a couple of years ago)? Can these books be shopped again at some point?
Thank you for doing this Q&A! What is the editorial process like between you and your clients? And will you be accepting submissions from WriteOnCon attendees this year?
If a writer is seeking representation after amicably parting ways with their previous agent, is it recommended to state the previous agent’s name in the query letter?
Would you be open to queries from WriteOnCon attendees, although you’re currently closed, or should writers wait until you reopen? Thanks!
How do agents feel about self-published materials being submitted for traditional publishing? I wrote a PB 10 years ago that I self-published just for family and friends. Would this be appropriate to pitch to an agent?
Are you an editorial agent? What is your communication style?
Could you share any thoughts on the YA market in general and where it may be headed?
Do you care if they already have an existing platform (socials, website, etc)?
What are the advantages/disadvantages to an established agent v. a newer agent?
I have received three no’s and two offers to ‘vanity publish’…. I believe in my books but have not found the right agent yet. Any tips on finding the right fit? I feel the query process to be so impersonal
I have a YA novel with 3 POVs. In the query, do you feel it’s better to give a brief description of each character’s arc or to give more detail about just one character? If the latter, would you still like to know there are multiple POVs, or does that just make you wonder why I didn’t talk about the other characters?
I’m a retired school librarian. Is that a strong point to mention in a query, or leave it out?
How soon do your clients share ideas with you for novels in progress? Full draft or sooner?
What are your thoughts on female POV vs Male POV in YA? Seems like most commercial books are female.
A lot of agents have another job to support themselves, much like a lot of authors. Do you have any tips for managing work/life balance while juggling dual careers like this?
What do you think about POV switches in MG? Most of my MG is in Third Person Limited then there is 1 chapter in Third person Omniscient to show something the MC doesn’t know towards the end. Can this be done?
Of the ages you represent, what age do you sell the least/most (PB, chapter book, MG, YA) ? Do you have theories about why that is?
I clicked on your link through Bradford Literary Agency. It says you are closed to submissions. When you do open up again, if we want to submit to you, would you suggest we participated in this conference and Q & A session?
Would you take on an author who has an agent in another country, for you to handle sales in the States?
Do you think authors should mention in their query letter if they have had an agent in the past?
Do you find agents really seeking and engaging with pitch contests on Twitter (or similar) or do you tend to find more from the ‘slushpile’
What suggestions do you have for personalizing the query letter without sounding like you have been stalking the agent?
What are your thoughts about books with diverse characters that are not own voices?
What do you think about POV switches in MG? Most of my MG is in Third Person Limited then there is 1 chapter in Third person Omniscient to show something the MC doesn’t know towards the end. Can this be done?
Does a potential client’s platform or connections within the writing community affect your decision to work with them?
I’ve always been curious about whether an agent’s clients know each other personally. Do your clients tend to become friends with each other? Do they talk? Or are they completely isolated from each other? Is that something you kind of encourage at all?
Hi! I have an R&R request from an editor who found me from a Twitter pitch contest. IF they are interested in my manuscript after the R&R, how do I go about getting a literary agent to represent me? Or would this cancel out my chance of getting an agent?
Do you have any recommendations on where to find potential agents online?
I was so excited when I saw you were doing this! I just watched your feedback video and I loved it. Do you have any advice for author-agent relationships?
If you said you’d read pages based on the query in the feedback session, are you open to seeing that query before you open with that info in the subject, or should those writers wait until you open to general queries?
Hello, thank you for doing this! I’m new to this whole thing. When do you typically start looking for an agent? You mentioned working with clients at idea phase, but I thought there was an assumption you had to write a book before querying to find an agent?
If an agent takes an author after querying a specific book, and the author queried and shelved prior books due to earlier rejection, what is the etiquette for bringing up those earlier books to the agent (or are they gone forever)?
You said that you wouldn’t represent books about BIPOC characters that are not #OwnVoices. What about allegorical… like a story about inequality in a fantasy world?
When you said you don’t accept diverse characters not in own voices, did you mean main characters? So minor characters can be diverse?
yes, as long as they’re written accurately and respectfully.
With regards to picture books, do you prefer receiving only one manuscript at a time, or more if they are related?
Thank you!
thank you!
Thank you, Natalie!
Thank you!
How do you handle querying authors with queries that aren’t “there” yet but have good pages? I’m worried about my ability to “sell” my writing.
If I love the sound of the idea, I’ll still take a look at the pages. If it’s something I’m looking for that sounds right up my alley, I’ll also take a look at pages even if the query isn’t perfect.
Thank you, This was very informative.
Thank you! I learned a lot.