The Gearing Up to Get an Agent Blogfest is shaping up to be pretty fantastic if I do say so myself (and not because of me, but because I have the best helpers in the universe!!).
At the end of the week I will be posting the GUTGAA schedule. Then next week I will be revealing the eleven awesome agents and seven spectacular small presses who will be participating in the pitch contests. I can't wait!
Until then I need your questions!
Is there a burning question you've been eager to ask an agent or small press? If so, leave it in the comments section and I will try to get you an answer for you in the interview portion of GUTGAA.
Still haven't signed up?
There's still time. Head HERE and put your info in the linky and grab a badge to get in on the action. And you don't have to, but I'd love it if you'd spread the word through blogs, facebook and twitter (we will be using the hashtag #GUTGAA).
So get those manuscripts ready, polish those pitches and send in your questions because the time is almost here!!!
15 comments:
I'm so impressed that you do this! You're amazing! I can't really think of any questions, though. If I can come up with one, I'll come back! :)
I am getting really excited for this!
I am new to this online conferences. Love it! Have no clue how to add a badge to my new new blog.
Can you address the question about how to categorize a book,in a query letter that don't fit perfectly into one category?
It is just wonderful that you're doing GUTGAA. Very helpful in so many ways.
I'm curious as to how our (okay, sorry, not trying to own them but I hope you know what I mean lol!!)agents and editors go about selecting the queries that make the cut or queries that don't - beyond the blatant ones where the agent/editor could tell the submitter didn't even bother to see if their story fit the submission preferences specific to that agent/editor?
I would love to hear some feedback on querying agents if you've first had an offer from a small press. How should this be stated in the query? As long as nothing is promised to the small press, is it OK to mention the offer in the query, even if you're unsure you want to work with them?
I don't know much about small presses in general, so I'm curious to hear more. My interest in obtaining an agent is so they can assist me with the best publishing options, so navigating that world on my own is intimidating!
No questions at the moment, but just wanted to pop in and say that I'm excited for this event!
I've asked this question a few other places, and usually get a different answer. What do you think distinguishes historical YA from adult historical? Is it length (both wordcount-wise and timeline-wise), theme, adult situations and responsibilities vs. more light-hearted ones?
I don't want to look like I didn't do my research about my genre or age range, but I haven't been able to find a huge amount of straight YA historical in recent years (as compared to fantasy, paranormal, and "sexy" historicals that read more like Gossip Girl in period clothes) to compare. If it involves something like a 15-year-old getting engaged, a 17-year-old getting married, or an 18-year-old having a baby or serving as a soldier, would that take it out of the YA category and into the adult category, even if the characters are depicted as young people where it really counts and even though such things were considered normal for teens as recently as 40-50 years ago?
Another question: Do you see much of a market for more old-fashioned, quieter, more character driven books instead of fast-paced, plot-centric books?
How exciting for querying writers! You are awesome to be doing this. :)
Ooooh...I would love to know what's hot in middle grade right now and what agents would love to see.
My question for the agents:
Would you consider a young adult novel with an 18 year old college freshman, or would you automatically reject it because of the age and setting?
Thanks.
I can't think of any questions, but I've got some MS polishing to do for sure. Looking forward to GUTGAA!
Got a GUTGAA badge on my blog now! Very excited to be involved this September.
Agent question: If you query and get rejected, how long should a writer wait until he or she queries again with a different manuscript (presuming they have one ready to go on some future date)? Should a writer assume rejection on one manuscript means rejection on all future ones, too? Thanks!
I can't wait! Thanks so much, Deana, for hosting this! I don't think my MS will be ready to pitch (though I've made a lot of progress), but I'd love to learn and participate as much as I can.
I'd love to know how best to query an MS that that the writer feels could be the beginning of a series. I've heard a lot of different advice and seen different approaches in queries. Some say don't mention series unless the book ends on a cliffhanger and has to be a series (basically concentrate on selling the one book and then see about series potential). Then I've seen queries that state the book is part of a planned 3 (or 4 or whatever) part series. Others refer to the book as having "series potential." Additionally for genres like mystery or fantasy it seems like series are preferred to standalones. Does this change the game at all?
Hi Deana - sent you an e-mail about helping with Blogfest - I'd be thrilled to be a part of your mastermind!
What would be a reasonable timeframe to read and make a decision on a requested partial?
Deana -- you are Awesome Queen for this -- thank you!
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