Thread by @WordsofColour, Happening now! | MEET THE AGENTS with @EliseDillsworth @emma_a_paterson @nocturnalreader @ILoveCopyright @iamheathermarks [...]

Happening now! | MEET THE AGENTS with @EliseDillsworth @emma_a_paterson @nocturnalreader @ILoveCopyright

@iamheathermarks will be live tweeting Meet the Agents from our account so stay tuned for the highlights! #TakeFlightHub https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/112099476552/

Take Flight Hub: Meet the Agents

Meet literary agents Davinia Andrew-Lynch, Elise Dillsworth and Emma Paterson and learn what they do and how they represent their writers.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/112099476552/

@ILoveCopyright to the panel: how would you explain the role of the literary agent to someone who is new to the industry? #TakeFlightHub

@EliseDillsworth: 'They put your work with the right publishers, get you the right deal, explore all possible avenues for the book – basically build your career.' #TakeFlightHub

@emma_a_paterson: 'I’m kind of their avatar in the publishing world so that they can focus on their creative work.' #TakeFlightHub

@nocturnalreader @AndlynLit: 'We’re your champion. We’ll tell you hard truths. We get you to where you want to be and where you deserve to be. We’ll push you because we believe in you.’

Q from @ILoveCopyright: What are the most important qualities you're looking for in a new author? #TakeFlightHub

@emma_a_paterson: 'The writing is incredibly important. You can write a good covering email but its what you attach that matters. I feel inspired by a sense an author is intentional about what they're doing. It's also meaningful to...' #TakeFlightHub

@emma_a_paterson cont: '...understand why a writer has written a particular piece of work. How they want it to exist in the world. To feel that the chemistry is there.' #TakeFlightHub #MeetTheAgents

Q from @ILoveCopyright: Aside from referrals, where do you find your authors? #TakeFlightHub #MeetTheAgents

@EliseDillsworth: 'prizes, awards, festivals, our website, creative writing courses' #TakeFlightHub #MeetTheAgents

@emma_a_paterson: 'For all its evils, the Twitter algorithm has served me well as it shows me people who I am naturally interested in.'

@nocturnalreader: 'Conferences!' #TakeFlightHub #MeetTheAgents

Q: What prizes or conferences should authors be looking out for? #TakeFlightHub

@emma_a_paterson: 'short story prizes – a longlist or a shortlist will draw attention.'

@nocturnalreader: 'Bath Novel Award, FAB Prize @AndlynLit + @FaberBooks, @WordsofColour (thank you!) ...'

@nocturnalreader cont: ' @JerichoWriters'

@EliseDillsworth concurs with @emma_a_paterson that short/longlists are where agents look - 'I don't necessarily go for the winner.' #TakeFlightHub

Q: What makes you pay attention in a submission? What makes a submission more attractive? #TakeFlightHub

@emma_a_paterson: 'What’s useful for me is to know why the writer is writing to me in particular. That’s not out of vanity - it starts to establish a rapport. The writing activity they’ve done, any prize recognition.' #TakeFlightHub #MeetTheAgents

@EliseDillsworth: 'Follow the submission guidelines! So many people submit things that I don’t represent. It’s a job application – spell the agent's name correctly, say why you’re applying here.' #TakeFlightHub #MeetTheAgents

Q: What shouldn’t authors do? What are the common mistakes you see? #TakeFlightHub #MeetTheAgents

@EliseDillsworth: 'Calling me Elsie – instant delete!' #TakeFlightHub #MeetTheAgents #SpellHerNameRight!

@nocturnalreader: 'Don’t tell me your book is going to be the next Harry Potter. This makes me think you don’t know the market - HP is over 20 years old. Spell my name right. Don’t say ‘dear sir’. And don’t send me a really long letter.' #TakeFlightHub #MeetTheAgents

@emma_a_paterson: ': I want a submission which feels intentional – you know why you’re writing to this particular agent & you know what you want to work on for the next 2 years. Sending other options in one submission shows me you don’t. ' #TakeFlightHub #MeetTheAgents

@EliseDillsworth: 'You must send me the work in its best condition. Don’t send it & then say 2 wks later that you’ve changed it.'
@nocturnalreader: 'Don’t send me 3 chapters & when I ask for more, say the novel’s not finished. You lose the agent's excitement.' #TakeFlightHub

Q: What is the one piece of advice you regularly give to authors at the start of their careers? #TakeFlightHub

@EliseDillsworth: 'Be reasonable. Realistic. RESILIENT.'

@nocturnalreader @AndlynLit: 'Research – research your market, who you’re sending your work to. That will put you in good stead going forward.' #TakeFlightHub

Q from the audience: 'What if you're an author who is writing content outside of the UK? Does that deter UK-based agents from representing you?' #TakeFlightHub

@EliseDillsworth: 'Absolutely not!'

@emma_a_paterson: 'It comes down to how the author imagines their author-agent relationship. Some authors want to see their agent and have feedback in person. If that's you, choose an agent you can have contact with.' #TakeFlightHub

@nocturnalreader: 'Regarding the children's literature market, its important for authors to be able to do school visits so if you can’t do that I would think twice [about applying to an agent who isn't in your country]. #TakeFlightHub

Q: What’s the most misunderstood part of being an agent?

@emma_a_paterson & @EliseDillsworth: 'That agents spend all their time reading!'

#TakeFlightHub #MeetTheAgents #Publishing

And that's a wrap! Thank you to our host and panellists @ILoveCopyright @EliseDillsworth @nocturnalreader @emma_a_paterson for an informative discussion, and to everyone who joined the chat - great questions! #TakeFlightHub

Join us next week for Publishing Inclusively with (drum roll

)...

@aimeefelone - @_KnightsOf

@valrey - @JacarandaBooks

@SharLovegrove - @dialoguebooks

@CrystalMMorgan - @OWNITLDN

@iamheathermarks will be here live tweeting! #TakeFlightHub https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/take-flight-hub-publishing-inclusively-tickets-111994316014

Take Flight Hub: Publishing Inclusively

Learn from four powerhouse women spearheading their own publishing houses and imprints about what inclusive publishing truly looks like.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/take-flight-hub-publishing-inclusively-tickets-111994316014

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