BC WRITING
Saved by @Mollyycolllinss

As we’re heading into the #PitchWars showcase and since the conversation seems abuzz...here’s a thread of questions I would recommend you ask not only potential agents during The Call, but references, and clients you reach out to personally:

 1) What happens if we don’t sell this project? Are you willing to look at a pitch in the same genre?

I heard a panel recently where half the writers were dropped by their first agent after they pitched their second project. Be sure to ask around outside of the agent on this one.
2) Are you an editorial agent? Why or why not?

Meaning, will they revise the manuscript with you beforehand or just do small edits and send it off to editors. Both have their pros and cons, and one might matter to you more.
3) How many clients do you have and how do you juggle your workload with your clients?

In other words, how much time do they have to devote to you and your career. You can also ask, on average how long does it take to get a project on sub?
4) How would you describe yourself as an agent? What are some ways that others have described you as an agent?

This one I think is rarely in questions lists, but I think it’s a fun one to see how passionate an agent gets about their career.
5) What are some projects you’ve recently sold or signed?

This one is to see if they are signing and selling projects like yours. If you write sci-fi and all they’ve sold recently are contemporaries in a different age group that’s good to know!
6) Do you have ideas on where we could send my manuscript already?

This will allow you to see if they are excited to send to large publishers or are leaning more toward mid-sized, etc. This might matter more to you one or the other way.
7) What changes do you think the manuscript needs if any?

If there are things you are not willing to change that the agent mentions, better to have the conversation before. Many agents won’t tell you everything, you can always mentions some things you don’t want to change too.
8) How much do you think my project would sell for?

If this is super important to you, you can definitely ask about money up front and the value they think your project has.
9) How do you typically develop a writers career?

Career building and planning is definitely something that your agent should have some idea on. A lot depends on what happens with project one, etc, but just an overall idea if this is something they do with clients is good!
10) What are your favorite books and writers?

I’ve found that a lot of my agent sibs and I have a similar commercial style and it makes me feel like I’m in the right coven. Knowing that your writing fits into what your agent likes to read will make you feel confident.
11) Do your clients talk to one another? Does your agency do any type of conferences or events for writers within the agency to meet?

Last year I attended KT’s bi-annual retreat for the first time and got to know some of my amazing agency sibs and my agent. Definitely is a plus!
12) How does your agency handle foreign and television/movie rights?

This is a business and knowing that your agency has access and experience with other avenues that will make your $ is awesome! If they can give you examples of this even better!
13) What happens if you leave the agency? Can you take me with you?

Some agents can and some can’t. Some may leave the industry entirely. Important to know what will happen to you if any of this happens.
14) How does your agency support marginalized writers/writers of color?

This might be important to you even if you are not a marginalized writer. Some agents/agencies are sadly are sometimes racist, etc. Good to know beforehand!
15) What happens if we part ways? How long would it be before I can put projects you’ve sent out/worked on on sub again?

At KT, I think it’s one or two years before I could use a manuscript again with another agent if (Gods forbid) my agent and I parted ways. Important to know!
Hope this has been helpful!

I also love Jim McCarthy’s list of questions here: https://t.co/JtWuqOu3XG

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For writing blogs, books, screenplays:

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Procrastination is the result of two reflexes:

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This reveals a truth about writing: needing a comfy chair, room, or "the right ambience" is a myth.

If you're waiting until your room is the right temperature to begin writing, you're lying to yourself.

Your blocker is not comfort, but rather distractions.

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See, that’s an example of style.

I could have just said: "And now let’s learn about style."

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I want to talk about the editorial support you should expect from an agent who says they work editorially, &what you should not expect, too. (As always these are my opinions; others will think differently; you can take any opinion you encounter or burn it in a trash can.) #Thread

Most agent offer calls come with a discussion about editorial support and expectations on both sides. If an agent says they work editorially, both of you can talk about what you hope this will look like. This may include:

Rounds of overall revision to plot/character/structure/setting, or tightening to a genre guideline, based on an "edit letter."
Line edits/sidebar comments by your agent. I always stress these are suggestions to achieve a goal. How author arrives at that goal is up to to them, but

I should make it clear to you what the goal of the point is: heighten emotional moment, untangle complicated scene, drive a relationship, clarify stakes, etc. I may suggest HOW and you can use my suggestion or come up w/your own solution. As long as the goal is attained.

But I'll always be honest if the changes came up short, too. It's a conversation, a development, open-door for challenge.
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SHORT THREAD!

Simple Writing Trick to Avoid Plagiarism when using Templates

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In other words, how to avoid the copy & paste syndrome.

Kindly RT to help others.

The past week brought some concerns about plagiarism in scholarship documents. For example:


Plagiarism is unacceptable at any level in academia and may lead to several undesirable outcomes, including revocation of admission offers or conferred degrees. So here is how you can prevent or rid yourself of the copy&paste syndrome


1. Don't use any template at all.
Just follow the darn instructions, or use helpful tips scattered all over the internet. Worry less about perfection.

I understand this may be hard for less experienced scholars. So if you must use a template, continue with the thread.

2. If possible, find more than one template.

This helps you identify the flow of ideas and the commonalities in the template. You can then develop your own unique document from this knowledge.

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You doing the academic book thing? Dope! A thread.
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2. Don't cold-submit a manuscript. Reach out to an editor. Talk about your work. Tell them where you are in the project. If y'all vibe, they'll ask to see what you got. Have it ready. Which leads to my next suggestions:

3. Don't waste your time or the editor/press' time. Bring your A game. If you are revising your diss, you need to scrap it to its bare bones starring YOU. You the authority. All that citing needs to fall back to the footnotes LOL. How are you changing/adding to the convo?

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5. Aight so boom you get invited to submit a proposal for peer review. Aaaaye! Your proposal is the blueprint: What's your project about? Why should it be published? Who would you be next to on the shelf? What makes you shine? Why xyz press? What is your timeline?
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