Comments on: Ask Daphne! Speed Round

By: shelli

shelli — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:55:09 +0000

a friend once told me that you don’t know your dream agent until you meet him/her and they love your book as much as you do.
shelli
http://www.faeriality.blogspot.com

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:15:34 +0000

Thanks, Jean. Good point! I forget sometimes the difference between giving writing advice and giving publishing advice. By all mean, write! Write like the wind!

By: jeanoram

jeanoram — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:08:26 +0000

For the teen memoir inspired:
I say, write your memoir. It’s good practice, plus you will have all those memories and events written down. Whether you publish it now–or ever–is moot. The fact is, writing is therapy and it helps to write things out. If it isn’t print-worthy at this juncture, it will at least be something nice to have later in life–for reasons yet unknown. Go for it!
(I like re-reading my teen diaries and wish I had written more.)

By: Kiersten White

Kiersten White — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:00:38 +0000

I had a lot of “dream” agents (Kate included!) but ended up with an agent I’d never heard of. And guess what? She’s a great fit, and I couldn’t be happier.
Point being, query widely. There are a lot of dream agents you just haven’t figured out you should dream about yet ; )

By: stan

stan — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:11:15 +0000

I didn’t have just one dream agent—I had four. I included them all in my initial ten query letters. All four requested my manuscript and I thought: this is gonna happen. They all said nice things but they all passed. One asked for a revision, which I did. He passed on that too, just didn’t fall in with it but was sure someone else would. Two asked to see future work. One said she’s sure I’ll find a home for this story. Now I have ten partials and two fulls out there. I’m very encouraged by the responses I’ve gotten but I’m continuing to query.

By: stina

stina — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:12:16 +0000

I had to laugh at the dream agent part. I never thought my dream agent would ever request a partial. I didn’t even query her first, thinking there was no way it would go beyond the query letter and first chapter. But to my immense surprise, she did request the first 50 pages . . . right after another agent requested the full. So now I wait nervously, wondering who’ll get back to me first. Of course I’m realistic, considering my dream agent’s client list (I’m a fan of three of her YA authors, which is more than I can say for any other agent save one). But I’m honored that she requested anything at all. There are thousands (I exaggerate not) who wish they were in my shoes. So I say go for your dream agent, though do your research first to make sure she is the right one for you beyond just her client list. Now I’m off to frame my dream agent’s request for a partial . . . which I’ll treasure even if she passes on my novel ;0)

By: Kelly Ann Fiore

Kelly Ann Fiore — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:19:44 +0000

Regarding the teen reader, I’ve read that some agents are looking for a good teen memoir like “Eat. Pray. Love.” I have a feeling, however, that those memoirs will be written by adults about their (or someone’s) teenage experience. What seems to come with time is the ability to reflect more objectively and let go.

By: lotusloquax

lotusloquax — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:40:52 +0000

great questions and thanks for the answers.