Hannah Bowman

My current wish list

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:22:45 -0400

I would really love to find:

-historical fantasy in the vein of Naomi Novik or JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORRELL

-feminist science fiction: think James S.A. Corey with a female protagonist

-character-driven secondworld fantasy, particularly for the adult market, but also YA

Do you rep sci-fi? If so, what are you looking for?

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:19:57 -0400

I do rep sci-fi! One of the things I would like to find most right now is a big feminist military sci-fi or space opera: think James S.A. Corey with a female protagonist.

Do you think unpubbed, querying fiction writers need to have a website or blog prior to querying? Is it a plus if they do?

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:18:44 -0400

Not required, but definitely a plus. And you should absolutely be on Twitter, for your own professional networking even if not to build a platform.

How do you feel about writers following up with questions on requested material you've passed on?

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:18:12 -0400

On requested materials, I may reply to those questions — but only if I have helpful thoughts. Often, it’s really just a question of “not right for me” and I’d rather give no advice than steer you the wrong way.

I don’t have time to respond to questions about why I’ve passed on queries, however.

I'm getting ready to query a manuscript. I've been to a couple of events recently (workshops/conferences) and part of attending is being able to submit directly to the editors in attendance. From your perspective, does it make sense for a writer to submit to a couple of carefully selected editors while also querying? If I do find an agent, I don't want to mess up his or her submission plans.

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:17:11 -0400

I think submitting to a couple of editors you’ve met at a conference will not hurt you, and may help. You don’t want to send it to too many editors, however, or it gets in the way of our submission process. But if you had a personal connection with them, take advantage of it!

Should you mention in your query that you have had a professional editor work on your story?

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:16:08 -0400

Doesn’t particularly hurt or help you either way. I mostly care about the story and how well-written the query is — how well it tells me your story.

People always talk about how they had to write four, ten, whatever number of books before they got to one that an agent picked up. Is it bad if a writer has the stamina to go through most of that learning process (in time, # of drafts, etc.) with one story?

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:15:33 -0400

This is a good question! It’s not necessarily bad, although I do tend to think that writing a second book, and playing with new ideas, can really help you develop your craft. In my experience, it’s hard to find the kind of really serious reimagining that needs to happen with one book — but it does happen. Ultimately, it’s really up to you.

Do you accept memoir?

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:14:30 -0400

No. My interests in nonfiction are primarily popular science books like Bill Bryson’s A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING and sociological books about religion, like my client Dianna Anderson’s forthcoming DAMAGED GOODS.

If you get a R&R, should you send the updated version of your MS to other agents who have your full?

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:13:03 -0400

That’s really up to you. If I’m one of the other agents, I may want to see the new version, but if I’ve already read the old version and didn’t love it for any number of reasons, I may not read the new version.

Would you represent a writer whose native language is not English, but his/her books are written well in English?

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:14:22 -0400

As long as the writing in the book is fluent, yes.

Brian Staveley

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:13:50 -0400

Brian Staveley:

On the Writing of Epic Fantasy

Writers of fantasy, you should be following my client Brian Staveley’s blog. He has smart things to say, and his debut epic fantasy trilogy, beginning with The Emperor’s Blades will be out from Tor and Tor UK in January 2014.

Can authors living outside the United States, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand send you their query?

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:07:33 -0400

Yes! We represent clients all over the world, although only for MSs in English.

Do you ever accept novellas?

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:07:16 -0400

Not right now. I don’t see the market for standalone novellas being strong enough at the moment.

Should a writer have their MS professionally edited before querying? ie spend their own money to do it?

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:06:58 -0400

I don’t think this is necessary. First find a good critique partner and see how far you can get on your own. Only pay for an editor if you really think it will teach you to improve your writing — it’s not a requirement!

If a book has supernatural elements, is it automatically considered paranormal?

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:36:27 -0500

Not necessarily, but in this market agents are being pretty cautious about things with paranormal elements.

What is your average response time for queries?

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:36:00 -0500

Depends on when! This fall, it’s running two weeks to a month. I’m hoping to get that down soon, though.

I've had one manuscript on query for about nine months now. In that time, I've written and polished another manuscript that I'm almost ready to query. However, a few agents still have either a partial or full of the first MS. Is it bad form to query two different projects at once? They're both in the same genre, as well. What would I do if, by some amazing luck, I receive an offer on the latter project while the other is still in the hands of another agent?

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:35:19 -0500

Opinions differ on this. I think it’s fine to query both. If you get an offer on the new one, also let the agents still considering the old one know, so they can read and maybe offer on the new project if they want.

I am having bad luck on my queries, so far, the only responses I am getting are "thanks, but no thanks." I am thinking into changing my first chapter to add more action or to give another perspective and then either do a flashback or change to the main character's point of view. I didn't planned my novel like this but I feel the changes would improve hook. Do you recommend it?

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:34:26 -0500

I’d look at your query letter first. Usually quick cosmetic changes to the opening of the book don’t work — either there’s some writing issue you need to address throughout the book or it’s the query letter that’s not working.

I have an upmarket novel with a male protagonist. So many agents specify "women's fiction" when looking for "upmarket" or "book club" fiction. Does a male MC mean this isn't what any agent is looking for?

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:33:44 -0500

I wouldn’t generalize about what “any agent is looking for.” It’s not women’s fiction, but might be upmarket commercial fiction, and people still sell that. (Probably not right for me, though!)

I have a partial request with an agent. She usually responds by a certain time period. If she doesn't by then, should I "nudge"her, and if so, how?

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 09:54:29 -0400

I wouldn’t nudge before two months or so, even if she’s usually faster. After that, it’s fine to send a polite email asking about the status of your partial.