Questions for THE CALL! What to ask a literary agent
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- What questions should you ask a literary agent on your call? This is an extensive overview of the questions I think are good to ask, divided up into thematic sections!
02:07 About Your Book
05:51 Editorial Process
12:15 Submission
17:01 Communication
19:50 Post Deal Process
22:35 Future Projects
26:36 Subrights
28:17 General Misc
31:13 Agency Misc
Find the masterlist of questions here: alexadonne.com/blog/questions-...
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Here is the masterlist of questions: alexadonne.com/blog/questions-to-ask-an-agent-on-the-call/ + TIMESTAMPS!:
02:07 About Your Book
05:51 Editorial Process
12:15 Submission
17:01 Communication
19:50 Post Deal Process
22:35 Future Projects
26:36 Subrights
28:17 General Misc
31:13 Agency Misc
You’re so informative and your conversational skills are very engaging. Adore your content, thank you for sharing!
@Deborah Marks The industry standard is 2 weeks. This allows you to field any other offers that may come in and allows time to let other agents know which agent you have chosen to go with. It 's all about professional courtesy and you will be respected for it.
Literary agent here - Thank you so much for talking about the house + editor vs house-only lists. It’s not shared enough and I appreciate it!
Hey Bethany! I hope to interest you in my YA literary romantasy once your open ❤❤
I have been watching your videos for a long long time. I watch all your videos, but I skipped over this one, telling myself I'll watch it when my time comes. Pleased to say that my time has finally come T.T
My brain has been continuously exploding since I got the email about The Call, and this has helped me so incredibly to feel prepared! Thank you!
Congrats!!!
What a great, thorough video. I loved how tactfully all these questions were phrased. I also appreciated how you didn't just shotgun the questions at us but took the time out of your day to explain and give examples. Considering you have a full time job plus a busy schedule as a writer, your quality contributions to AuthorTube are impressive and very generous.
Two questions I would add are: How involved is a client in the contract negotiations with a publisher? And: How many books/projects is an agent willing to work on in a year?
Thank you! I really enjoy making this kind of content--so many places share topline info, but why not do the deep dive!
And omg that 2nd question is a GREAT one. I'm not a multi-book kind of author, but I have friends who definitely want to juggle multiple projects a year and that is a crucial question to ask!
Alexa Donne I'm impressed at the quality and often the length of your videos, plus your willingness to be real with the tough love; though at the same time you're unfailingly positive. Just what we need. If you hadn't come along, AuthorTube would have had to invent you!
OMG I clicked faster than lightening!!! This is THE topic. Even after doing diligent research, it is so hard to know everything you should ask! I was always afraid that with my inexperience I'd totally miss some key questions. Thank you so much!
Oh god I have been waiting for this video!!! *taking copious notes*
I love this because I can't image how nervous you would be on the call. You're excited but also trying to figure out if this agent is the best fit for your little book baby.
Thank you so much for all the work you put into this community and all the info you provide. This video is amazing. I'm hoping I'll be back looking for that blog post in a few months.
This is so helpful!! Hoping to have some sort of 'call' soon. Thank you for your incredible videos! You were the first Authortube that I started watching on CZcams and I haven't turned back since :D
This was super informative! Querying and offers of representations are a long ways away from me, but it's so interesting to learn about the industry.
Your videos are so informative! Thank you so much for putting your knowledge out into the world!
This is a great video post and covers such a wide range of questions. Thanks so much, Alexa.
This was an AMAZING video! I am new to this and am just starting to query agents. Your list of questions to ask is AWESOME!!!
Thank you for this! I have The Call tomorrow and it’s so hard to find in-depth, non emotional information about what to ask. This has been so valuable
Querying is so far in the future for me to begin with, but I love all the information you present. It's handy to know!
Videos like these are why you're my favourite authortuber
Thank you so much for this! Very helpful!
You are simply fabulous! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Now, I need to rewatch it.
Everything you put up is always beyond helpful!
One of my favorite videos that you've done
This was so incredibly helpful. Thank you for taking the time to prepare and go over the questions and what to ask.
This was really informative thanks for the info!
Thank you so much for this!
Thanks for posting this video,all new info to me!
Thank you so much for this! I still need to actually write my first book, but at least this will give me an idea of what I will be getting myself into when I'm ready for publishing.
I love this video. I watched it the first time before I signed with my agent and I'm watching it again now because I'm about to go out on sub and have a call with my agent to discuss the submission process. Thank you for the great information.
Thanks for the video. It was really helpful for preparing before my meeting.
Thank you, this is really helpful. ❤️
Great presentation! Thanks for sharing!!
A million thanks to you! I feel so much more confident about receiving The Call. I'm ready now, Universe! :)
You are the best Alexa! Thank you very much for this video! :)
Thank you for this, Alexa! So important, evergreen, and came just in time for me!
Hi Alexa! This video was incredibly helpful when I was first researching how to handle "the call" with my now-agent nearly one month ago. Thank you so much for sharing your insights. I've since watched several other of your videos and have found them equally informative and funny. I was wondering if you could do a video sharing your thoughts about how you think the pandemic has, or will, impact traditional publishing and the future of this industry. Thank you again!!
Thank you!!
Thanks for the video! I got an invitation to a talk with an editorial director this Friday from my Scribbler subscription, and this video will definitely come in handy for that!
Great info. Thanks
Awesome video!!
Your agent sounds amazing honestly.
Great guide!
I hope I need this info at some point, LOL. Love all your videos!
Amazing as always Alexa! Appreciate your insight and valuable advice
Also could you please kindly share your lovely shade/brand of purple/plum eyeshadow? Cool purple tones are so difficult and rare to find, would love to know any you like/recommend - thanks in advance!
Hi Alexa! Been here since you had a few hundred. I absolutely LOVE your channel!
***Video Request***
Can you make a video on how to research your agents for those of us that don't have, and don't know anyone with a Publisher's Market Place subscription. And maybe list off a few established agencies for us to vet to avoid a shady agents, "SCHMAGENTS". Thanks!
Wonderful information Alexa, I'm sure you have videos out there on the subject of handling multiple subs to agents and when and how to withdraw your subs if you find the right agent for you and no longer wish to continue submitting to other agents?
Very greatful for you. You have taught me so much so I don't look like an idiot as I go through the motions on my debut novella which is currently at the beta readr phase. Thank You for your time and care.
19:40 "Hey, I'm feeling emo!"
Love the info in this vid. Don’t know that I’ve ever heard the word prescriptive so much though lol
Thanks for this video! I have a follow-up question. Say you're querying, and even after nudging the agents who have your partials/fulls, you end up with only one offer of representation. And it's not a good fit. Is it poor form to politely reject and keep querying?
Alexa, do you recommend participating in networking opportunities during the revision process of a novel? Thank you for your input! There is an event in my local area with opportunities available to pitch agents as well as receive feedback on the first 10 pages of your manuscript. Basically... how “done” do you need to feel in order to be prepared for such an event? Thank you!
I always adore your makeup! It's always so gorgeous and it keeps with your purple theming for your books :)
I'm contemplating whether or not to go to a writing conference that's about how to get traditionally published, so this was perfect timing for me!
A conference can be worth it if you're starting out, though it depends on which one! I've heard the SCBWI ones are pretty good, for kidlit. I recommend WriteOnCon which is in a few weeks--it is entirely online and is like $10. A steal!
Miss Donne, who pays for the editorial fees? Writer? Agent? Publisher? If the writer pays, does the fee come from advancements, does the writer have to pay up front? Or, does the fee come from sales? Thanks.
I feel like we need a COVID update on this. Things aren't the same anymore. Agents are swamped and slow to follow up on call emails. What's the new normal now? I wonder.
This is SO great, thank you!
Can you make your blogs shareable to Pinterest? (Unless you don’t want to...😁)
Would you say that it is better to go with an agent from a big agency or do you think you risk being lost in the crowd?
I don't think a big agency is inherently better than a smaller one, or a boutique agency--it depends entirely on the agent, the client, and fit. For instance, Holly Root is a boutique agency but she's one of the best in the biz--I would never tell someone to go with Writer's House instead of Holly just because of agency size! And not all individuals do well on a large list--if your work is more niche, or if you need/want more one-on-one time with your agent, you often don't get that with a large commercial agent. But if you're a big commercial writer, then you might want to be on that sort of roster. It's entirely down to individual circumstances.
Thank you for replying! I write Romantic Suspense and I was considering going for a larger agency, but I would definitely prefer more one-on-one.. I don't have any agented author friends to ask these kinds of questions, so I really appreciate you putting all this information out there! X
When you get THE CALL, does the agent just cold call you, or do they usually email first to set up a time to call?
From what I hear from people they usually set up a time to call first, which is good.
Should I ask if they have questions about me?
Oh my God!
Great video, but the Editor and Agent relationship seems like a super scary proposition. Something to think about.
Two literary agents have my full manuscript- I’d love a call request.
The phone would worry me - my northern Irish accent lol