I would like to thank everyone for hosting DVpit, AskDV, preDV, & DVParty. Good luck to everyone pitching tomorrow. I hope everyone lands an agent.
September 29, 2026 at 1:14 PM
I would like to thank everyone for hosting DVpit, AskDV, preDV, & DVParty. Good luck to everyone pitching tomorrow. I hope everyone lands an agent.
#DVParty I would like to thank everyone for hosting DVpit, AskDV, preDV, & DVParty. Good luck to everyone pitching tomorrow. I hope everyone lands an agent.
September 29, 2026 at 1:13 PM
#DVParty I would like to thank everyone for hosting DVpit, AskDV, preDV, & DVParty. Good luck to everyone pitching tomorrow. I hope everyone lands an agent.
Are agents running queries through AI checkers? It's stressing me out that mine might get deleted even though I wrote them myself 😢 #AskDV
September 28, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Are agents running queries through AI checkers? It's stressing me out that mine might get deleted even though I wrote them myself 😢 #AskDV
YA wants a coming of age element and thematic focus to its stories; this can be a little blurry with crossover these days, but ultimately I think there is a noticeable difference between horror that is adult but starring kids and horror that is for teens. #askDV
How does YA horror differ from NA or Adult horror? It can't just be age of protagonist—a lot of horror features children
#askDV
#askDV
September 24, 2026 at 8:52 PM
YA wants a coming of age element and thematic focus to its stories; this can be a little blurry with crossover these days, but ultimately I think there is a noticeable difference between horror that is adult but starring kids and horror that is for teens. #askDV
My adult epic fantasy was planned as a trilogy with each book having its own arc. Should my query state planned trilogy or with series potential? #AskDV
September 24, 2026 at 7:28 PM
My adult epic fantasy was planned as a trilogy with each book having its own arc. Should my query state planned trilogy or with series potential? #AskDV
I think about it this way: the biggest moments in most books are about interpersonal relationships, even the bigger more action-driven genres. Relationships are the things that make the stakes real in any genre. Emotional stakes are actually the highest stakes. #AskDV
How do we go about drafting attention grabbing stakes for contemporary upmarket when it’s either internalized stakes or at most a change in MCs relationships? Unlike fantasy where stakes are higher risk or time bound? #AskDV
September 24, 2026 at 7:26 PM
I think about it this way: the biggest moments in most books are about interpersonal relationships, even the bigger more action-driven genres. Relationships are the things that make the stakes real in any genre. Emotional stakes are actually the highest stakes. #AskDV
I love when they come w/ a sense of what communication and practices work best for them. Not to make demands but to see if you're the right fit as professional partners and not just creatively. Many do, but I think some feel too intimidated to express what they need in a partnership. #AskDV
#AskDV what do you wish authors asked you about more? Particularly when you’re meeting to discuss offers of rep.
September 24, 2026 at 7:15 PM
I love when they come w/ a sense of what communication and practices work best for them. Not to make demands but to see if you're the right fit as professional partners and not just creatively. Many do, but I think some feel too intimidated to express what they need in a partnership. #AskDV
A really concise high concept that feels fresh will generally catch my attention. Something that feels unique and compelling in so few words will stand out to me. #AskDV
#askdv what pitches in these kinds of events really grab you? Cool graphics? Text only? An agent’s guide?
September 24, 2026 at 7:09 PM
A really concise high concept that feels fresh will generally catch my attention. Something that feels unique and compelling in so few words will stand out to me. #AskDV
A good rule of thumb is to keep it long enough to hook people with your story, short enough that your full query if formatted as a letter would print on only one page. #AskDV
How long does a query letter pitch need to be? #AskDV
September 24, 2026 at 7:06 PM
A good rule of thumb is to keep it long enough to hook people with your story, short enough that your full query if formatted as a letter would print on only one page. #AskDV
I would guess most authors haven't attended a con or conference prior to getting an agent. I wouldn't worry about this hurting your chances. #AskDV
I’ve heard that attending book cons and writer conferences is very important for marketing books.
Are writers from distant countries (not based in the US or Europe) at a disadvantage when seeking represention and going on sub because they wont be able to attend as easily as others might?
#AskDV
Are writers from distant countries (not based in the US or Europe) at a disadvantage when seeking represention and going on sub because they wont be able to attend as easily as others might?
#AskDV
September 24, 2026 at 7:04 PM
I would guess most authors haven't attended a con or conference prior to getting an agent. I wouldn't worry about this hurting your chances. #AskDV
Bluesky's Top 10 Trending Words (past 60min):
💨x1* - democracy 🔓
💨x1* - gaza 🔓
💨x1* - ukraine 🔓
💨x1* - epstein 🔓
💨x62 - 40/40
💨x47 - 1﹐923
💨x45 - 2026-09-24
💨x34 - 40-40
💨x33 - nor'easter
💨x24 - henson
*🔓 = Unlocked Emergency Words (see img)
#ListenToBlackVoices
(Something not right? Reply!)
![Emoji Legend
💨x# | "Increased Trending Rate" for a Word (meaningful value; "💨x8 - burger" will mean "burger" is trending at 8 times its own normal rate for this time of day)
🔓 | "Unlocked" Ongoing Emergency Word (such words are not weighted down by their own previous usage; their *ongoing* increased usage--weeks, months, years--would otherwise move them down the list.)
[PREVIOUSLY USED]
⚠️💨# | "Trend Strength Rating"
⚠️🌀💨 | "Trend Strength Rating" (see above)
⚠️🌀 CAT. # | [same; "CAT." = Category, like hurricane]
💬# | 10min Post Count
🆎# | 10min Word Count
🙂# | 10min Emoji Count](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:k43ha6nlknmdw4owymqnvcat/bafkreigp6bgag3jzkool6uxrujpcrwtn6zkd7cbfrmevhaxaqhhewgolmu)
September 24, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Bluesky's Top 10 Trending Words (past 60min):
💨x1* - democracy 🔓
💨x1* - gaza 🔓
💨x1* - ukraine 🔓
💨x1* - epstein 🔓
💨x62 - 40/40
💨x47 - 1﹐923
💨x45 - 2026-09-24
💨x34 - 40-40
💨x33 - nor'easter
💨x24 - henson
*🔓 = Unlocked Emergency Words (see img)
#ListenToBlackVoices
(Something not right? Reply!)
For me it typically comes down to voice. That's what draws me in most, and without it even a great concept is probably not a fit for me as an agent. #AskDV
What are the common reasons you see a promising query fail to translate into a compelling manuscript and a request?
#AskDV
#AskDV
September 24, 2026 at 7:01 PM
For me it typically comes down to voice. That's what draws me in most, and without it even a great concept is probably not a fit for me as an agent. #AskDV
Definitely not. Some do but most don't, and agents don't expect it. Agents largely believe in the maxim that money flows TO the author, not away. That's why our jobs are set up so that we only get paid when authors do. #AskDV
#AskDV do you need to hire an editor before querying your work? I find the investment is risky because you don't know if it'll be money well-spent or money you lose bc the book died in the trenches.
September 24, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Definitely not. Some do but most don't, and agents don't expect it. Agents largely believe in the maxim that money flows TO the author, not away. That's why our jobs are set up so that we only get paid when authors do. #AskDV
I would say the soonest you can while putting your best foot forward. A few weeks is pretty normal a wait, in my experience. The sooner the better, but not at the expense of the work! #AskDV
If an agent favorites a pitch, how soon do we need to get a query out? E.g., if we want to polish things a bit, can we delay a few weeks? #AskDV
September 24, 2026 at 6:56 PM
I would say the soonest you can while putting your best foot forward. A few weeks is pretty normal a wait, in my experience. The sooner the better, but not at the expense of the work! #AskDV
If you wish to, you can bring it up in your query letter, but I would ask about it no later than an offer call. Mention any challenges you expect or accommodations you need and ask the agent to speak to those things. Try to bring ideas to the table for how you work best. #AskDV
September 24, 2026 at 6:54 PM
If you wish to, you can bring it up in your query letter, but I would ask about it no later than an offer call. Mention any challenges you expect or accommodations you need and ask the agent to speak to those things. Try to bring ideas to the table for how you work best. #AskDV
95k is a solid word count: room to grow if an agent wants you to develop/add, and clearly not so short that your story is missing worldbuilding etc. For me if you’re above 100k you have to earn it—the world has to be really epic and the scope of the story much broader. #askDV
What's an appropriate word count for YA SFF? I'm at about 95K and keep seeing different guidelines
#AskDV
#AskDV
September 24, 2026 at 6:53 PM
95k is a solid word count: room to grow if an agent wants you to develop/add, and clearly not so short that your story is missing worldbuilding etc. For me if you’re above 100k you have to earn it—the world has to be really epic and the scope of the story much broader. #askDV
It can be helpful, and there's no harm in mentioning it in my view. It's not an expectation that authors will have done so, but it's good to know. #AskDV
oh hai #AskDV
if an unagented author has engaged professional services prior to querying (e.g., sensitivity reader, development editor) is that relevant info for a query letter? if yes, is it helpful to name names?
if an unagented author has engaged professional services prior to querying (e.g., sensitivity reader, development editor) is that relevant info for a query letter? if yes, is it helpful to name names?
September 24, 2026 at 6:51 PM
It can be helpful, and there's no harm in mentioning it in my view. It's not an expectation that authors will have done so, but it's good to know. #AskDV
oh hai #AskDV
if an unagented author has engaged professional services prior to querying (e.g., sensitivity reader, development editor) is that relevant info for a query letter? if yes, is it helpful to name names?
if an unagented author has engaged professional services prior to querying (e.g., sensitivity reader, development editor) is that relevant info for a query letter? if yes, is it helpful to name names?
September 24, 2026 at 6:34 PM
oh hai #AskDV
if an unagented author has engaged professional services prior to querying (e.g., sensitivity reader, development editor) is that relevant info for a query letter? if yes, is it helpful to name names?
if an unagented author has engaged professional services prior to querying (e.g., sensitivity reader, development editor) is that relevant info for a query letter? if yes, is it helpful to name names?
This is anecdotal, but I've had editors ask me for these lately, and I'm definitely looking for them :) #AskDV
What does the market look like for why choose and poly books?
#askDV
#askDV
September 24, 2026 at 6:24 PM
This is anecdotal, but I've had editors ask me for these lately, and I'm definitely looking for them :) #AskDV
"The Call" is definitely your time to make sure that an agent would be a good fit for you (we already love your book, so barring wild circumstances, we're locked in!) It is absolutely appropriate to voice your communication needs and to let an agent know where you might need accommodations #AskDV
September 24, 2026 at 6:22 PM
"The Call" is definitely your time to make sure that an agent would be a good fit for you (we already love your book, so barring wild circumstances, we're locked in!) It is absolutely appropriate to voice your communication needs and to let an agent know where you might need accommodations #AskDV
A good amount of guesswork. Monitoring the way sales are trending in what's out there now is useful. And sometimes we guess that people will want lighter (or darker!) content around an election (or after a pandemic), but it's pretty unscientific if I'm being honest. #AskDV
How does one predict trends in literature? Not to follow one, since following a trend is nigh difficult, but identifying signs so you can choose which story to pitch. Do you have educated guesses about how publishing looks two years in the future? #AskDV
September 24, 2026 at 6:21 PM
A good amount of guesswork. Monitoring the way sales are trending in what's out there now is useful. And sometimes we guess that people will want lighter (or darker!) content around an election (or after a pandemic), but it's pretty unscientific if I'm being honest. #AskDV
If an agent favorites a pitch, how soon do we need to get a query out? E.g., if we want to polish things a bit, can we delay a few weeks? #AskDV
September 24, 2026 at 6:19 PM
If an agent favorites a pitch, how soon do we need to get a query out? E.g., if we want to polish things a bit, can we delay a few weeks? #AskDV