Betsy Lerner

The following is a transcript of our live Twitter chat on #agentadvice with Betsy on June 29, 2016. Read along, and feel free to continue the conversation here or on Twitter!

Poets & Writers ‏@poetswritersinc  

Welcome to our live chat with literary agent & author @BetsyLerner! Ask her your questions about agents using the hashtag #agentadvice!

Jenine ‏@jenine_holmes 
#agentadvice @poetswritersinc @BetsyLerner Dear Ms. L, is it okay to pitch more than one agent at the same time a completed CNF manuscript?

Betsy Lerner ‏@BetsyLerner  

@jenine_holmes @poetswritersinc ABSOLUTELY. Many agent websites say that must see work exclusively so be sure to see guidelines.

Betsy Lerner ‏@BetsyLerner  

@jenine_holmes @poetswritersinc But i believe in a free market. Like getting more than one doctor opinion

Jessica Kashiwabara‏@JessKashiwabara
#agentadvice @poetswritersinc @BetsyLerner When is a writer ready to meet with an agent? What should they have prepared/published?

Betsy Lerner ‏@BetsyLerner  

@JessKashiwabara @poetswritersinc the work should be as polished as possible. workshopped, read, revised, edited. And credentials!

The Gloria Sirens‏@thegloriasirens

#agentadvice if you're lucky enough to have an agent, but you're not always sure it's the best fit for your book, what should you do?

Betsy Lerner ‏@BetsyLerner  

@thegloriasirens tough call. first an honest conversation with agent. see where that leads...sorry tough spot #agentadvice

Laura King Edwards‏@lkedwards11
#agentadvice @poetswritersinc @BetsyLerner How long should writers wait after querying w/o a response before assuming it's a "no?"

Betsy Lerner ‏@BetsyLerner  

@lkedwards11 @poetswritersinc again, check the agency website for guidelines. otherwise I'd venture 3-6 weeks. #agentadvice

VC Linde‏@vclinde
@poetswritersinc @BetsyLerner As a poet, I've never worked with an agent but should
I try now I've written a verse novel? #agentadvice

Betsy Lerner ‏@BetsyLerner  

@vclinde @poetswritersinc with a novel in verse I would go directly to small presses. presses who do poetry. #agentadvice

Diane Asyre‏@DianeAsyre
In addition to great writing, what do you think is the no. 2 attention-getter for agents? Other than celebrity. #agentadvice

Betsy Lerner ‏@BetsyLerner  

@DianeAsyre A topic that has universal appeal. For me, something I think can win a prize. Quality. #agentadvice

Laura King Edwards ‏@lkedwards11  

@DianeAsyre My 2 cents: For NF/memoir, a great platform. For fiction, work that's on trend yet fresh. #agentadvice

Beth Kissileff‏@bethkissileff
#agentadvice @BetsyLerner I have a first novel coming out with a small press. How might this affect search for agent for second novel?

Betsy Lerner ‏@BetsyLerner  

@bethkissileff #agentadvice I think that's fine, but work your ass off getting reviews, etc. Doing events, social medial. Work it.

Beth Kissileff ‏@bethkissileff  

@BetsyLerner No pressure in other words! I thought small press and small sales better than high advance unrealistic expectations......

Kristine Crane‏@CraneKristine
#agentadvice @BetsyLerner what types of memoir/short essay collections do you look for? where are good places for beginning poets to submit?

Betsy Lerner ‏@BetsyLerner  

@CraneKristine #agentadvice Poets & Writers best place to find places to submit work. Really.

Sarah K. Carey ‏@SayCarey1  

@BetsyLerner @poetswritersinc @CraneKristine my former prof, David Kirby's best advice 2 me as a student 38 yrs ago: Read P & W classifieds.

Poets & Writers ‏@poetswritersinc  

.@BetsyLerner @CraneKristine We didn't tell her to say that, promise! Contests, Lit Mag & Small Press databases: http://www.pw.org/toolsforwriters 

Betsy Lerner ‏@BetsyLerner  

@CraneKristine #agentadvice This sounds obnoxious, but I don't really look for anything, I just know it when I see it. "IT" is a fresh...

Betsy Lerner ‏@BetsyLerner  

@CraneKristine #agentadvice It is a new way of looking at something, humor, literary quality, something that wakes me up.

The Gloria Sirens ‏@thegloriasirens  

#agentadvice We love your starter questions on your blog. Will you answer them?

Poets & Writers ‏@poetswritersinc  

#agentadvice @thegloriasirens we like them too. Who is the sexiest publisher in NYC, @BetsyLerner?

Betsy Lerner ‏@BetsyLerner  

@poetswritersinc @thegloriasirens #agentadvice Sonny Mehta. Is, was, and always will be.

Melissa Petro ‏@melissapetro  

Psst~ check out #agentadvice for straight talk about #publishing from @BetsyLerner c/o @poetswritersinc! #amwriting #GetPublished #AgentsDay

Laura King Edwards ‏@lkedwards11  

@BetsyLerner Thanks for taking questions today! #agentadvice #amwriting

Poets & Writers ‏@poetswritersinc  
Thanks to everyone who joined our #agentadvice chat today with @BetsyLerner!

Poets & Writers ‏@poetswritersinc  

You can read @BetsyLerner's article from the new issue about being an agent, editor, & author here: http://at.pw.org/291eYzz  #agentadvice

Poets & Writers ‏@poetswritersinc  

And be sure to check out her new memoir, The Bridge Ladies: http://www.indiebound.org/book/978006235... … Thanks again, @BetsyLerner, for all your #agentadvice!

Betsy Lerner ‏@BetsyLerner  

#agentadvice Thanks to P&W and everyone. xoxo