Agent Interview: Tina Wainscott

Self-help/limited memoir

My own agent, Nicole Resciniti, of the Seymour Agency. Really all of TSA's agents because I personally know their dedication to their authors and to achieving excellence with all of our interactions.

Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, Brene Brown, Michael Singer, Dr. Joe Dispenza, and Colette Baron-Reid

I have a small list and I work very closely with my authors. I truly see us as a team. I acquire using the usual criteria of unique idea, compelling writing/voice, great platform, but sometimes I really resonate with a project that may lack platform and offer representation based on my instinct.

Craft an actual query letter and use my name. Keep the query succinct. Try it out on others to test it: is it clear? Snappy? What's the project's hook? Don't make me wade through a lot of verbage to get to the point.

See my advice.

I want an accessible voice that the reader will immediately grasp, relate to, and understand. A logical flow of information is great, with chapters that aren't too long. Clear takeaways for the reader. Grammatically clean, formatted correctly, and in Times New Roman. And that has been vetted by someone unfamiliar with the material. Authors often don't come across clearly because they know the material and assume the reader gets it. The hardest kind of manuscript to edit is where the wording of the sentences just doesn't flow clearly, making me have to reread the sentence. If this is the case often, I won't take on the project. Those are the most tedious to edit.

Not sending a proposal with sample chapters. And sending me projects I don't represent, such as religious projects.

Just a snapshot is fine, especially about what pertains to the project, eg credentials or experience. If the author has a really cool story about themselves (think something marketable), and again especially if it pertains to the project, a bonus.

I can often tell that the manuscript isn't right after a few paragraphs, though I try to read the query through to the end.

We set up a call where we can both get a feel for the other's personality, expectations, and how we would work together. I always invite them to think about it, though sometimes it feels so right that we agree right then and there. We have a standard contract we have our authors sign, and then we're off and running.

A lot of visiting the inbox! I'm also editing and doing follow-ups, working on offers and contracts.