If you enjoy using social media and feel comfortable and confident with it then by all means do so, but it’s not vital. If you already have a huge following on Twitter or Insta, for example, then that can be useful for publishers, but it’s not the be all and end all so don’t worry about it too much. Also, remember that everything you put on social media is public, so be careful what you post and if you can’t be nice then better not to say anything! 🙂
How do you prefer to see books with multiple POV characters pitched? (Mine has 3)
CharLeighWrites
2 months ago
How do you show your interest in an agent in the query letter without seeming like you have been stalking them? Do agents like it when we mention other projects they have worked on?
Inkdancer
2 months ago
If you’re querying a fantasy novel that has a prologue, should you send that as your first page (if the agent’s guidelines ask for a first page), or should you skip to the beginning of your first chapter?
sidra_sheikh
2 months ago
Are writers based outside the UK at a disadvantage during the querying process?
Hi there, no, we accept manuscripts from all over the world. Life has moved online so much since Covid that it’s even easier to connect. It is slightly easier if you’re in the same country as your publisher as they may wish to set up meetings face to face but it isn’t a significant obstacle these days.
amaretdoe
2 months ago
What tips, if any, do you have for those trying to pitch their first novels?
Make sure you’ve read widely in the age-group you’re writing for so that you really know the market and know what’s doing well and what the appropriate tone is for your readership. After that, all the points and tips we discussed in the Q&A apply for new authors and seasoned authors alike! Try to avoid cliches and make sure your pitch is as exciting and engaging as possible, but in the end don’t get hung up on it. It’s your manuscript that will really do the talking for you and which agents and publishers will focus on!
sidra_sheikh
2 months ago
My latest ms is a ya fantasy with a central love story – the story ends on a positive note but the love story – tragically – how acceptable is that in ya writing?
Nadine_Holland
2 months ago
What makes a query really stand out to you?
Nadine_Holland
2 months ago
Would you still consider signing someone if the query is bad but the MS is good?
Nicholefw
2 months ago
Is there one mistake you see new authors make the most when reading queries?
I think the most important thing is that you’ve read recently published books and that you know the market you are trying to break into. When the comparisons or inspirations are Enid Blyton or Jennings etc then it suggests that the writer hasn’t read anything published for today’s generation – which is a little worrying!
Not vital but they can be useful to summarise what you are aiming for with your novel.
caitlinpeakcoons
2 months ago
How important is it to have a catchy query / pitch? I feel like these books are sometimes in a category all their own (ex, something like “HARRY POTTER! IN SPACE! WITH ZOMBIES!!!!!!”) and get a lot of traction on social media, but don’t always mean there’s a great book to follow.
KatrinaS
2 months ago
How important is getting the right word count to you? I.e. would it be off putting if someone queried one too short/long. And if so, what are your suggestions for YA and MG brackets? Thanks 🙂
Wendy
2 months ago
What makes a strong synopsis? Any do’s or don’ts?
gawritergirl
2 months ago
What are your thoughts on working with a writer who has self-published successfully but is interested in moving more into traditional publishing?
DesireeRose
2 months ago
What is the best way to pitch multiple PB MS; I have been trying to tailor the query to each agent with one MS submission- but how do I know it’s the ‘right’ one for them?
Hey, I’m a fellow PB writer in the query trenches and I feel you! Joanna and Amber have great advice on this. I, too, try to match the manuscript with each agent, and I look for what they say they are looking for so I can put in a personalization (e.g. “I’m submitting this manuscript because I saw in your blog interview that you are looking for…”), but beyond that, I don’t worry too much if it’s the right one. Usually if they like your voice and see potential in the manuscript, they will ask to see more.
sidra_sheikh
2 months ago
I really wish this live had been last week, before I’d sent off my query to you. Fingers crossed …
LIzDale
2 months ago
What types of books are you really wanting to receive pitches about right now?
amberjlane
2 months ago
Very much looking forward to your discussion today!
Amber & Joanna, Thank you so very much for your time today! Diana Psyras
KatieBennett
2 months ago
When using comps, how similar must they be to your own book? Do they have to be similar in almost every way, or is it okay to just mention that you are comping to a particular element of said book?
NadineAvola
2 months ago
Is it annoying to mention a book that the agent represents as one of the reasons why you’re seeking their representation? Or is that overdone? Agents think it’s brown-nosing?
There is no set number because it will be different for every author, but you must remember that most agents will not reconsider a manuscript they’ve already seen and turned down, even if you’ve then revised it. You generally only get one chance to impress, so make sure your manuscript is as good as you feel it can be before you send it out.
KatrinaS
2 months ago
If you could name one thing you look out for when reading the first pages of the extract submission, what would it be?
It can mean that they are seeking to establish a particular balance of genres or ages on their list and your manuscript doesn’t fit into that balance. But in all honesty I think more commonly it means that that particular person just didn’t love the manuscript quite enough to want to take it further.
sdpeters
2 months ago
Amber and Joanna, what if I’m writing a story and I can’t tell if it’s older MG or younger YA? Is summarizing the story in the query enough and leave this industry reading category out?
I understand what is MG and what is YA, after doing a Childrens Book Writing Certificate, but I’m not conforming to those norms.
We need to know where you feel it sits in the market so you do need to decide which readership you are targetting. It can be difficult if your work falls between MG and YA so if you want to give your novel the best possible shot, it’s probably best to commit fully to one or the other.
Dawn
2 months ago
If a writer queries you with an MG project that you think would fit better in YA, are you likely to consider them for YA or suggest for them to revise it as YA? Or would you just dismiss it as the author not knowing their market and not consider them as clients?
Most likely we’d give them feedback and let them take that and run with it. If we really adored the manuscript, though, but just felt it was slightly out on target age group, then we might offer an R&R (Revise & Resubmit)
Scott R
2 months ago
Do you consider entering one of your competitions to be a query submission?
No, we don’t so if you have sent it in for a competition, you’re still fine to submit it through the usual channels. Probably best to mention that you entered the competition though – so if we recognise it, we aren’t racking our brains to work out where we have seen it before!
MNgirlUK
2 months ago
If a book is off on word count, say 10-15k under, is that an automatic deletion or do you read the pitch/synopsis/first chapters first? Do publishers ever look for shorter books?
isabella
2 months ago
How much do agents typically cost?
StephanieS
2 months ago
How do you feel about previously shopped materials (as in represented before and sent out to a handful of editors)? Can these books be shopped again eventually?
It’s fine. You don’t have to use comp titles. They can just be a useful way of giving someone a sense of your novel. But it’s fine not to use them. You can certainly comp to authors, but that’s quite a claim! I’d probably try to make sure others would agree with the comp before you go down that route…
CharLeighWrites
2 months ago
My writing group was recently discussing if white writers should or should not Comp Bipoc authored books. The intention was to comp a certain theme or plot that matched the writers MS, regardless of the author. But an agents recent tweet about this topic has us wondering what to do. What are your thoughts?
Well, the book I described didn’t have a bully scene, I was just giving you context for the main character. That is very different from a scene where a character is running away from bullies. Bullies exist in many different ways in the real world but the old cliches in books have become a bit tired. I hope that clarifies things for you, Caroline.
BrieannaWilkoff
2 months ago
I have a novel with three POVs. Do you recommend trying to address them all in the query, or is it better to focus on just one in order to give more detail? And if just one, should I mention that it’s a multiple-POV book, or does that just make you wonder why I didn’t talk about the other characters?
Carol
2 months ago
Any genre you don’t want? I’m writing historical fiction YA. From the 50’s.
We are open to all genres. However, I personally do not like animal stories. I usually find them too upsetting unless all the animals are blissfully happy throughout! 🙂 But historical YA is a big plus for me!
It’s OK to use a comp that’s older like this, but make sure that you also use one that’s more contemporary/current so it’s clear to agents that you are also familiar with the modern marketplace.
Last edited 2 months ago by Amber Caraveo
betsyb
2 months ago
You’ve said that most agents, if they’ve already rejected a book, won’t consider it again, even if it’s been revised. But is it okay to query a different book to an agent who has already rejected a previous manuscript of yours?
Yes, being published previously isn’t an obstacle for us but we would need to see new material that hasn’t previously been published going forward.
Ruizium
2 months ago
Does it make a difference to you whether an author has published something previously (like a short story etc.)? How do you recommend someone pitch a novel manuscript if they don’t have this prior experience?
There are no hard and fast rules on this. If you can make it work in the character’s voice then feel free to do that. I would try and make it as engaging as possible so perhaps not too formal in tone so as to keep it interesting! Don’t over-think it too much – we aren’t evaluating your writing here, just trying to get a sense of what you are doing with the story.
Denise Lehman
2 months ago
Thank you very much!
Cinderella2021
2 months ago
Would you consider signing a French American writer traditionally published in France, who also writes in English?
How important is it to have social media pages? Is that only relevant if you have lots of followers already?
If you enjoy using social media and feel comfortable and confident with it then by all means do so, but it’s not vital. If you already have a huge following on Twitter or Insta, for example, then that can be useful for publishers, but it’s not the be all and end all so don’t worry about it too much. Also, remember that everything you put on social media is public, so be careful what you post and if you can’t be nice then better not to say anything! 🙂
Thank you so much!
How do you prefer to see books with multiple POV characters pitched? (Mine has 3)
How do you show your interest in an agent in the query letter without seeming like you have been stalking them? Do agents like it when we mention other projects they have worked on?
If you’re querying a fantasy novel that has a prologue, should you send that as your first page (if the agent’s guidelines ask for a first page), or should you skip to the beginning of your first chapter?
Are writers based outside the UK at a disadvantage during the querying process?
Hi there, no, we accept manuscripts from all over the world. Life has moved online so much since Covid that it’s even easier to connect. It is slightly easier if you’re in the same country as your publisher as they may wish to set up meetings face to face but it isn’t a significant obstacle these days.
What tips, if any, do you have for those trying to pitch their first novels?
Make sure you’ve read widely in the age-group you’re writing for so that you really know the market and know what’s doing well and what the appropriate tone is for your readership. After that, all the points and tips we discussed in the Q&A apply for new authors and seasoned authors alike! Try to avoid cliches and make sure your pitch is as exciting and engaging as possible, but in the end don’t get hung up on it. It’s your manuscript that will really do the talking for you and which agents and publishers will focus on!
My latest ms is a ya fantasy with a central love story – the story ends on a positive note but the love story – tragically – how acceptable is that in ya writing?
What makes a query really stand out to you?
Would you still consider signing someone if the query is bad but the MS is good?
Is there one mistake you see new authors make the most when reading queries?
I think the most important thing is that you’ve read recently published books and that you know the market you are trying to break into. When the comparisons or inspirations are Enid Blyton or Jennings etc then it suggests that the writer hasn’t read anything published for today’s generation – which is a little worrying!
Caroline: UK . What is your most memorable query letter? I hope it’s mine – I sent it this week! 🙂
How important are comp titles?
Not vital but they can be useful to summarise what you are aiming for with your novel.
How important is it to have a catchy query / pitch? I feel like these books are sometimes in a category all their own (ex, something like “HARRY POTTER! IN SPACE! WITH ZOMBIES!!!!!!”) and get a lot of traction on social media, but don’t always mean there’s a great book to follow.
How important is getting the right word count to you? I.e. would it be off putting if someone queried one too short/long. And if so, what are your suggestions for YA and MG brackets? Thanks 🙂
What makes a strong synopsis? Any do’s or don’ts?
What are your thoughts on working with a writer who has self-published successfully but is interested in moving more into traditional publishing?
What is the best way to pitch multiple PB MS; I have been trying to tailor the query to each agent with one MS submission- but how do I know it’s the ‘right’ one for them?
Thank you for taking the time to respond and for the advice! Enjoy the conference
Hey, I’m a fellow PB writer in the query trenches and I feel you! Joanna and Amber have great advice on this. I, too, try to match the manuscript with each agent, and I look for what they say they are looking for so I can put in a personalization (e.g. “I’m submitting this manuscript because I saw in your blog interview that you are looking for…”), but beyond that, I don’t worry too much if it’s the right one. Usually if they like your voice and see potential in the manuscript, they will ask to see more.
I really wish this live had been last week, before I’d sent off my query to you. Fingers crossed …
What types of books are you really wanting to receive pitches about right now?
Very much looking forward to your discussion today!
Amber & Joanna, Thank you so very much for your time today! Diana Psyras
When using comps, how similar must they be to your own book? Do they have to be similar in almost every way, or is it okay to just mention that you are comping to a particular element of said book?
Is it annoying to mention a book that the agent represents as one of the reasons why you’re seeking their representation? Or is that overdone? Agents think it’s brown-nosing?
If it’s genuine I think it’s fine, but don’t force it!
If your log line is in a foreign language, do you provide a translation in the query or pitch?
If you are submitting to English-speaking agents and publishers, then yes, your log line should be in English.
How many submissions would you say you receive in a week v. how many fulls you request? Interested in hearing a ballpark ratio. Thanks!
At what stage in the writing process do we submit queries and manuscripts? Obviously after a lot of edits, but how many?
There is no set number because it will be different for every author, but you must remember that most agents will not reconsider a manuscript they’ve already seen and turned down, even if you’ve then revised it. You generally only get one chance to impress, so make sure your manuscript is as good as you feel it can be before you send it out.
If you could name one thing you look out for when reading the first pages of the extract submission, what would it be?
Beautiful, brilliant writing!
What does it mean when a rejection says “it doesn’t fit our list”? Thank you!
It can mean that they are seeking to establish a particular balance of genres or ages on their list and your manuscript doesn’t fit into that balance. But in all honesty I think more commonly it means that that particular person just didn’t love the manuscript quite enough to want to take it further.
Amber and Joanna, what if I’m writing a story and I can’t tell if it’s older MG or younger YA? Is summarizing the story in the query enough and leave this industry reading category out?
I understand what is MG and what is YA, after doing a Childrens Book Writing Certificate, but I’m not conforming to those norms.
We need to know where you feel it sits in the market so you do need to decide which readership you are targetting. It can be difficult if your work falls between MG and YA so if you want to give your novel the best possible shot, it’s probably best to commit fully to one or the other.
If a writer queries you with an MG project that you think would fit better in YA, are you likely to consider them for YA or suggest for them to revise it as YA? Or would you just dismiss it as the author not knowing their market and not consider them as clients?
Most likely we’d give them feedback and let them take that and run with it. If we really adored the manuscript, though, but just felt it was slightly out on target age group, then we might offer an R&R (Revise & Resubmit)
Do you consider entering one of your competitions to be a query submission?
No, we don’t so if you have sent it in for a competition, you’re still fine to submit it through the usual channels. Probably best to mention that you entered the competition though – so if we recognise it, we aren’t racking our brains to work out where we have seen it before!
If a book is off on word count, say 10-15k under, is that an automatic deletion or do you read the pitch/synopsis/first chapters first? Do publishers ever look for shorter books?
How much do agents typically cost?
How do you feel about previously shopped materials (as in represented before and sent out to a handful of editors)? Can these books be shopped again eventually?
How do you feel about queries without comp titles? About comps to authors?
It’s fine. You don’t have to use comp titles. They can just be a useful way of giving someone a sense of your novel. But it’s fine not to use them. You can certainly comp to authors, but that’s quite a claim! I’d probably try to make sure others would agree with the comp before you go down that route…
My writing group was recently discussing if white writers should or should not Comp Bipoc authored books. The intention was to comp a certain theme or plot that matched the writers MS, regardless of the author. But an agents recent tweet about this topic has us wondering what to do. What are your thoughts?
I would avoid it. That way you don’t risk causing offence to anyone.
What are your tips for pitching a picture book?
Oh dear, Amber doesn’t like bullies at the start! But Joanna mentioned one of her favourite pitches included bullies. Which is it?
Well, the book I described didn’t have a bully scene, I was just giving you context for the main character. That is very different from a scene where a character is running away from bullies. Bullies exist in many different ways in the real world but the old cliches in books have become a bit tired. I hope that clarifies things for you, Caroline.
I have a novel with three POVs. Do you recommend trying to address them all in the query, or is it better to focus on just one in order to give more detail? And if just one, should I mention that it’s a multiple-POV book, or does that just make you wonder why I didn’t talk about the other characters?
Any genre you don’t want? I’m writing historical fiction YA. From the 50’s.
We are open to all genres. However, I personally do not like animal stories. I usually find them too upsetting unless all the animals are blissfully happy throughout! 🙂 But historical YA is a big plus for me!
Using an older comp like the movie “All the Right Moves” staring Tom Cruse, would that be okay to use. Or, does it need to be a newer movie/show/book.
It’s OK to use a comp that’s older like this, but make sure that you also use one that’s more contemporary/current so it’s clear to agents that you are also familiar with the modern marketplace.
You’ve said that most agents, if they’ve already rejected a book, won’t consider it again, even if it’s been revised. But is it okay to query a different book to an agent who has already rejected a previous manuscript of yours?
Yes, we are happy to see new material from an author who has queried us previously.
Would you consider a French American writer traditionally published in France (in French, also writing in English)? Thank you!
Yes, being published previously isn’t an obstacle for us but we would need to see new material that hasn’t previously been published going forward.
Does it make a difference to you whether an author has published something previously (like a short story etc.)? How do you recommend someone pitch a novel manuscript if they don’t have this prior experience?
Would it be helpful for a prospective agent to know if we have more than one manuscript written if the manuscripts would flow into a series?
Yes, absolutely! Share this info in your covering email.
Should the synopsis be in the characters voice? or make it very formal?
There are no hard and fast rules on this. If you can make it work in the character’s voice then feel free to do that. I would try and make it as engaging as possible so perhaps not too formal in tone so as to keep it interesting! Don’t over-think it too much – we aren’t evaluating your writing here, just trying to get a sense of what you are doing with the story.
Thank you very much!
Would you consider signing a French American writer traditionally published in France, who also writes in English?