tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post3960086573341206803..comments2024-02-27T03:36:20.256-07:00Comments on Krista Van Dolzer: Interactive Interview with an Agent: Elana RothKrista Van Dolzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830193414560232842noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-38689012188501850682010-12-18T10:28:29.649-07:002010-12-18T10:28:29.649-07:00You're welcome, Kristin and Myrna!You're welcome, Kristin and Myrna!Krista Van Dolzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830193414560232842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-27898955995821168732010-12-17T23:17:18.939-07:002010-12-17T23:17:18.939-07:00Thanks to both of you!Thanks to both of you!Myrna Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-27911200601775586132010-12-17T20:32:54.637-07:002010-12-17T20:32:54.637-07:00Great interview, Krista & Elana!
Thanks for yo...Great interview, Krista & Elana!<br />Thanks for your time!Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13095264668972996587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-22333531735934719082010-12-17T16:14:42.847-07:002010-12-17T16:14:42.847-07:00And that's a wrap! Thanks to Elana and everybo...And that's a wrap! Thanks to Elana and everybody else for making this interactive interview another success.Krista Van Dolzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830193414560232842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-74714376555813964882010-12-17T15:33:25.299-07:002010-12-17T15:33:25.299-07:00Hi all,
Sorry for the delay in response on these!...Hi all,<br /><br />Sorry for the delay in response on these! <br /><br />@Alex - Truth be told, I don't think New Adult exists. I think it was a marketing ploy by one publisher. I think things are either *teen* or they aren't. So...that should probably answer the question on whether I'd rep it.<br /><br />@FictionalMike - No, I'm not an aspiring writer. And I should clarify that comment to say that some writers would be fine with their agents also writing--some wouldn't. It was more of an example. I myself do not feel that urge to write a novel though. And per the question above, I'm pretty darned hands-on as an agent. That's my job, no?<br /><br />@Ben - I'm not sure...is it actually YA? If so, then I'd call it YA fantasy. If it's not teen, then just call it fantasy.<br /><br />@Myrna - I do, but I don't want to see the really traditional high-fantasy stuff. It's not new enough. Word counts in my opinion shouldn't be much longer for fantasy. I still like my YA in that 60-80k word sweet spot.<br /><br />@Krista - I don't think so. I think a lot of them have sold, and sure that means it'll be harder to differentiate them...but I wouldn't say it's flooded.Elanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322538424009911281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-89194348674325454742010-12-17T14:14:57.425-07:002010-12-17T14:14:57.425-07:00On behalf of SeymourPats over at AW: Is the market...On behalf of SeymourPats over at AW: Is the market flooded with dystopians right now?Krista Van Dolzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830193414560232842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-88154178713141452852010-12-17T14:07:44.921-07:002010-12-17T14:07:44.921-07:00Do you like MG and YA fantasy? And if so, what kin...Do you like MG and YA fantasy? And if so, what kind of word counts do you like to see for them?Myrna Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-61570813861056225192010-12-17T11:32:57.314-07:002010-12-17T11:32:57.314-07:00Okay, I think I've got my head on straight. Wh...Okay, I think I've got my head on straight. What I really want to know is if it makes a difference if I query a book as YA or New Adult (thanks Alex), or should I just say it's plain urban fantasy?<br /><br />*sigh* If that makes any sense at all.Ben Spendlovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17715176546668792509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-32430997814006350932010-12-17T10:34:23.795-07:002010-12-17T10:34:23.795-07:00Hi Elana:
Great interview, excellent info!
You m...Hi Elana:<br /><br />Great interview, excellent info!<br /><br />You mentioned, "Some authors might have a problem if their agent is also an aspiring writer. Some authors might want a more editorially hands-on agent."<br /><br />I'm curious: Are you an aspiring writer? And where would you place yourself on the "hands-on" spectrum?<br /><br />Thanks again to you and to Krista for a wonderful interview.<br /><br />MikeFictionalMikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-6524906106330648112010-12-17T09:43:27.288-07:002010-12-17T09:43:27.288-07:00Hey Elana,
Thanks for doing this, it's mighty...Hey Elana,<br /><br />Thanks for doing this, it's mighty swell of you.<br /><br />I was wondering if you have a take on the New Adult genre? Do you think it will gain acceptance and see growth? Would you rep a novel that falls into that genre?<br /><br />Thanks.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02918640778973671542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-47439821278281766842010-12-17T09:37:39.954-07:002010-12-17T09:37:39.954-07:00*smacks forehead* Right. I should have known that....*smacks forehead* Right. I should have known that. Now that you mention it, I remember reading that you'd been an editor in your bio on CJLA's website.<br /><br />Thanks for answering my (stupid) question:)Krista Van Dolzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830193414560232842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-47217738866174338472010-12-17T09:28:22.989-07:002010-12-17T09:28:22.989-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ben Spendlovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17715176546668792509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-49356541653107697282010-12-17T09:18:35.815-07:002010-12-17T09:18:35.815-07:00Elana,
You gave me feedback on a couple of PBs, p...Elana,<br /><br />You gave me feedback on a couple of PBs, per an auction victory on my part. You are blunt, but in a helpful, constructive way (as opposed to a destructive way). <br /><br />Just thought I'd throw that in there... :-)Julie Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477115458570906449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-23888158895109754622010-12-17T09:15:46.477-07:002010-12-17T09:15:46.477-07:00@LS Yes, I think there's been huge growth. I&#...@LS Yes, I think there's been huge growth. I'm not sure how qualified I am to get into details, other than it's finally becoming clear that we can't ignore digital and best to integrate and embrace it early. It's exciting for sure.<br /><br />@Krista - Oh, I'm SO editorial, it's silly. I was an editor for 5 years, after all. Authors know that when signing up with me :)<br /><br />Okay, off to our agency holiday lunch! I'll be back later to answer whatever else is coming in.Elanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322538424009911281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-42252836411749247302010-12-17T08:54:41.382-07:002010-12-17T08:54:41.382-07:00Awesome questions, everyone, and Elana, awesome an...Awesome questions, everyone, and Elana, awesome answers!<br /><br />All right, here's my question: Elana, you mentioned that writers should know if they want a more editorially hands-on agent, so I'm wondering, are you more editorially hands-on or hands-off?Krista Van Dolzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830193414560232842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-12601703508126551772010-12-17T08:35:03.260-07:002010-12-17T08:35:03.260-07:00Thanks for answering questions, Elana. First, you ...Thanks for answering questions, Elana. First, you rock. I love your tweets and your blog. Second, my question: How have you seen the industry change and develop this year in terms of e-books v. traditional publishing?LS Murphyhttp://LSMurphy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-61634724681519478982010-12-17T08:16:53.772-07:002010-12-17T08:16:53.772-07:00Thanks so much for your time.Thanks so much for your time.Braden Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08543019025938404436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-32869446797573550492010-12-17T08:05:27.813-07:002010-12-17T08:05:27.813-07:00Braden:
We all look at word counts for a loose gu...Braden:<br /><br />We all look at word counts for a loose guide on if you have a good sense on what's appropriate, but there aren't hard fast rules--just guidelines.<br /><br />Fantasy is always longer. Middle-grade can be quite long these days. It's not a dealbreaker, but...I guarantee it could still be cut from there ;) Everything can.<br /><br />I wouldn't toss it because of that, but I'd have to really be swayed by the concept to want to dig into that for that age level.Elanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322538424009911281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-17463877352527374312010-12-17T07:57:26.338-07:002010-12-17T07:57:26.338-07:00Thanks for doing this. I, too, love your tweets.
...Thanks for doing this. I, too, love your tweets.<br /><br />I want to ask you about word count. I've read the agency blog and it seems you have very clear preferences about word count. I want to query at middle grade modern fantasy, but it's at 84K. <br /><br />Because of the world-building, I think those extra words are necessary.<br /><br />Would you still consider it, or would it be a "delete" as soon as I list word count in the query?Braden Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08543019025938404436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-40231352174442220812010-12-17T07:55:06.377-07:002010-12-17T07:55:06.377-07:00Hi Cori,
That's a good question. I do have th...Hi Cori,<br /><br />That's a good question. I do have this happen. The problem is that response times are so different between agents. I try to be within 2 weeks--so sometimes someone can catch me, and if they're lucky I've scanned the subject lines and see there's a new one from the same person. (I have a good memory like that, but not everyone does.) In that case, I'll just delete the first query, and answer the revised one.<br /><br />But...the issue is, if you're querying you should be able to live with your first page the way they are. You shouldn't be querying if you're still actively revising. <br /><br />I'm a big advocate of putting that project to the side when it's being queried. Start writing something else, so you don't do these last minute changes.<br /><br />Hope this helps!Elanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322538424009911281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-81775752558266176912010-12-17T07:47:37.759-07:002010-12-17T07:47:37.759-07:00Hi there,
Thanks for taking the time to do this ...Hi there, <br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. I love your tweets, btw. <br /><br />My question is this: When an author (possibly me) queries you and then a couple of weeks later wakes up in the middle of the night knowing that her first few pages are TOTALLY wrong and she (possibly me) changes them and re-submits to you, do you automatically delete the query because the writer didn't have her act together?<br /><br />Thank you- and happy friday!Corinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-17092419781655188152010-12-17T07:25:37.427-07:002010-12-17T07:25:37.427-07:00Thanks for the questions!
@Elena - No book in par...Thanks for the questions!<br /><br />@Elena - No book in particular. I've just always been a reader, and was an editor for many years before switching sides.<br /><br />@Louise - It'd be a hard sell for me, for sure. You already have a track-record. But I have signed authors who have previously self-published. But they didn't query with that specific novel--a new one instead, which is much easier and cleaner.<br /><br />@Ken - I think so :) Most of my books are male YA main characters. It definitely makes it harder to sell, so that's why the plot and concept are all the more important.Elanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322538424009911281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-76770602369581079172010-12-17T07:18:33.633-07:002010-12-17T07:18:33.633-07:00My question: Is there a future for male YA protago...My question: Is there a future for male YA protagonists? I hear both ways; lots of requests for them, but they can be a tough sale.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12504621012291975089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-33817600088086829392010-12-17T07:17:16.706-07:002010-12-17T07:17:16.706-07:00Great interview. My question is: Would you take on...Great interview. My question is: Would you take on a previously self-published novel?Louise Wisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04585797594757452007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-86593602333031784462010-12-17T07:12:12.020-07:002010-12-17T07:12:12.020-07:00Excellent interview!
Here's a question:
Wa...Excellent interview! <br /><br />Here's a question: <br /><br />Was there a book in particular that inspired you to become a literary agent?Elena Solodowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037029195682225565noreply@blogger.com