Q: Are there hard and fast rules for synopsis format?
Jessica: Three-five pages is typical. The most important thing is that the writing sings. Remember that the synopsis is typical the first sample of your writing an agent sees.
Q: Rejections?
Jessica: Interns do not make decisions on rejections. She does her best to read and evaluate everything.
Q: Series queries?
Michelle: Let agent know there is a series in the works, but query just one book.
Regina: Just simply make a note that there are other books in the series.
Jessica: But be sure to have synopses ready for the other books in the series in case the agent asks for them.
Q: Should you find an agent locally?
Regina: Agents in New York can have different kinds of relationships with editors than agents in ohter cities. Agents in other locations often make frequent visits to New York.
POSTED BY ALICE POPE
Showing posts with label Regina Brooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Regina Brooks. Show all posts
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Ask the Agents Panel hosted by Chuck Sambuchino
Q: Is there an advantage to publishing an ebook?
Regina: It depends on how many units you sold. If the record is good, that can be positive. 100 copies is not impressive to a publishers.
Q: Do you have to personalize your query letter for each agent?
Michelle: Yes. It shows you've done your research.
Regina: Think of it as a cover letter for a job search. You'd definitely tailor it to the recipient.
Q: Are there hurdles for a non-US citizen in getting published in the US?
Regina: Part of it is the marketing piece of it. If you can show you'll promote the book in the US, there shouldn't be a problem.
Q: I have a well-developed non-fiction proposal, but I'm just beginning to develop a platform. Should I submit now, or wait a year?
Michelle: Often agents will work with you in developing the proposal as you work on your platform.
Regina: I wouldn't submit the manuscript until the platform is more developed. However, there are categories that don't require as rich a platform for their authors.
POSTED BY ALICE POPE
Regina: It depends on how many units you sold. If the record is good, that can be positive. 100 copies is not impressive to a publishers.
Q: Do you have to personalize your query letter for each agent?
Michelle: Yes. It shows you've done your research.
Regina: Think of it as a cover letter for a job search. You'd definitely tailor it to the recipient.
Q: Are there hurdles for a non-US citizen in getting published in the US?
Regina: Part of it is the marketing piece of it. If you can show you'll promote the book in the US, there shouldn't be a problem.
Q: I have a well-developed non-fiction proposal, but I'm just beginning to develop a platform. Should I submit now, or wait a year?
Michelle: Often agents will work with you in developing the proposal as you work on your platform.
Regina: I wouldn't submit the manuscript until the platform is more developed. However, there are categories that don't require as rich a platform for their authors.
POSTED BY ALICE POPE
Ask the Agents Panel hosted by Chuck Sambuchino
Q: Should you write a full manuscript for memoir?
Regina: Yes. Publishers will generally want to see the full manuscript for authors who are not famous/in the news.
Jessica: Don't use the word "Oprah in your proposal unless it's in the context that you'll be on Oprah next Thursday.
Michelle: She also wants a full manuscripts for memoir.
Q: How do you know that an agent has good editorial relationships?
Jessica: Check their websites and see what books they've published. She says a writer who has an offer from an agent should let them know you'll consider the offer, then email those who have seen your query, let them know you have an offer from "an agent" and offer them a chance look at your full manuscript.
Q: Is there a maximum number of agents you should query at once?
Michelle: Do maybe 8 at a time. You could get helpful feedback from that first batch before you move onto the next group of agents.
POSTED BY ALICE POPE
Regina: Yes. Publishers will generally want to see the full manuscript for authors who are not famous/in the news.
Jessica: Don't use the word "Oprah in your proposal unless it's in the context that you'll be on Oprah next Thursday.
Michelle: She also wants a full manuscripts for memoir.
Q: How do you know that an agent has good editorial relationships?
Jessica: Check their websites and see what books they've published. She says a writer who has an offer from an agent should let them know you'll consider the offer, then email those who have seen your query, let them know you have an offer from "an agent" and offer them a chance look at your full manuscript.
Q: Is there a maximum number of agents you should query at once?
Michelle: Do maybe 8 at a time. You could get helpful feedback from that first batch before you move onto the next group of agents.
POSTED BY ALICE POPE
Ask the Agents Panel hosted by Chuck Sambuchino
Q: What does an agent do?
Jessica: We're looking for a long-term working relationship. Dealing with contract is also important role for agents.
Regina: Accents help wade through the slush and offer agents the cream of the crop. She also helps authors come up with marketing plans.
Q: What do you need to do before you contact an agent?
Michelle: For nonfiction, you have to establish yourself as an expert and get your proposal together, then research agents and choose perhaps 10 to query.
Jessica: For fiction, you have to finish the manuscript in brilliant condition. Your first ten pages have got to be brilliant. You have to wow agents from the beginning. In a query, show that you'd done research on the agents.
Regina: For picture you don't need illustrations, you shouldn't include illustration notes, and you can generally submit the entire manuscript to an agent with a letter (but check agents' requirements). For YA, MG, tween books, she prefers query and first chapter. She recommends SCBWI.
POSTED BY ALICE POPE
Jessica: We're looking for a long-term working relationship. Dealing with contract is also important role for agents.
Regina: Accents help wade through the slush and offer agents the cream of the crop. She also helps authors come up with marketing plans.
Q: What do you need to do before you contact an agent?
Michelle: For nonfiction, you have to establish yourself as an expert and get your proposal together, then research agents and choose perhaps 10 to query.
Jessica: For fiction, you have to finish the manuscript in brilliant condition. Your first ten pages have got to be brilliant. You have to wow agents from the beginning. In a query, show that you'd done research on the agents.
Regina: For picture you don't need illustrations, you shouldn't include illustration notes, and you can generally submit the entire manuscript to an agent with a letter (but check agents' requirements). For YA, MG, tween books, she prefers query and first chapter. She recommends SCBWI.
POSTED BY ALICE POPE
Ask the Agents Panel hosted by Chuck Sambuchino
Agents taking part in the Ask the Agents panel:
Jessica Sinsheimer of Sarah Jane Freymann Literary. She got into agenting after getting an internship at an agency. She loved books and agenting became her path.
Regina Brooks of Serendipity Literary. She handles everything but sci-fi/fantasy. She was formerly an editor. She's able to handle a more broad range of titles as an agent than as an editor, which was part of her motivation to get into agenting.
Michelle Humphrey of Sterling Lord Literistic. She handle YA, women's fiction and more. She started at a kindergarten teacher, but decided it wasn't right for her, and ended up interning at an agency, and she's been agenting for three years.
POSTED BY ALICE POPE
Jessica Sinsheimer of Sarah Jane Freymann Literary. She got into agenting after getting an internship at an agency. She loved books and agenting became her path.
Regina Brooks of Serendipity Literary. She handles everything but sci-fi/fantasy. She was formerly an editor. She's able to handle a more broad range of titles as an agent than as an editor, which was part of her motivation to get into agenting.
Michelle Humphrey of Sterling Lord Literistic. She handle YA, women's fiction and more. She started at a kindergarten teacher, but decided it wasn't right for her, and ended up interning at an agency, and she's been agenting for three years.
POSTED BY ALICE POPE
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