Agent Interviews

Takes me to a place I have never been before.

My ideal manuscript has already been seen and critiqued by several people, though it need not be professionally edited. It offers something special to the world and will benefit from the partnership of a solid publisher.

Funny, sad, fast-paced, great characterization, original, highly visual, that teaches me something new about places or people or takes me somewhere (real or imaginary) I've never been.

I'm looking for transcendence. I want to be pulled into whatever world you may be writing about. I love elegant world-building, and characters that are so deep they feel real. "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion." Robert Harling, If an author can make me laugh and cry in the same scene, I'll be a fan for life. I eat angst like candy. I'm always looking for a manuscript that can create the physical manifestation of angst, like an audible gasp or an ache in the chest.

A tricky question! It's very subjective, but I tend to connect to books that have a strong, distinctive voice right from the first page, good descriptive details and a character who feels relatable. Pace is also important, if it can retain narrative tension and conflict throughout then I'm more likely to continue reading. A killer hook always helps, too!

It starts by intriguing and goes on to be involving.

The ideal manuscript has the right balance of exposition (to set me in a scene and in your characters' heads) and action (to keep the plot moving forward). I want pacing that compels me to turn the page; character arcs that leave me longing for them to succeed; new twists on old tropes, or new commentary on your biggest themes; and loose ends that all come together in the end. And of course, I want emotions. Make me laugh, break my heart, leave me on the edge of my seat—or better yet, all of the above!

There are many types of "ideal" but excellence is at the core

Professional-minded but distinctive. In other words, I like an author who realises that we all love exciting books, but it's a business too and their book represents an investment on the part of agents and publishers. Why should we invest in it? Because it tells a good story, loves its characters, says something about the world, and honours the contract with its reader that it will make it worth the reader's time and money.

Something with an incredible hook that makes me want to dive in and keep reading. Formatted correctly (seriously). VOICE. VOICE. VOICE.

Impossible to do. Each is different, unique. But it must sing to me.

Besides the obvious-- that it should be riveting, it should be copyedited and polished.

One that makes my emotions stand up, get knocked down, get run over, and leave me laughing, afraid, or crying! AND, wanting more.

Sentence-level writing that's smooth as butter. Air-tight plot. Characters you're either rooting for or are completely intrigued by. Whimsy, heart, humor, and magic.

A manuscript should have a strong and dynamic plot to help drive the narrative forward. I also look for manuscripts that contain character development and well written or elegant prose.

Engrossing. Page-turning. Unputdownable. If I curse you out at 2 in the morning because I can't get to sleep because I'm still reading your book and I can't stop, you've got a winner on your hands. Make me laugh. Make me cry. Make me recoil in horror, or squint at the page because I don't want to see what's going to happen next to my favorite character who is in a tough spot. Transport me to another place, or another time. Put me someplace uncomfortable where I've never been, or make it so welcoming that I want to go there. Write a character so compelling that I will follow him or her wherever they go. Most of all--stay true to the character, respect the genre, don't try to rewrite the rules. Make me a fan--that's why we all love to read!

First and foremost, I want to race through it, desperate to turn the page and find out what happens next so plot and pace are important. I want characters that I am immediately invested in - will they fail, succeed, fall in love? I also want a manuscript to leave me with plenty to think about afterwards, a book I want to recommend and buy for others. There are no rules but I generally prefer short chapters which helps maintain pace and for every genre (except fantasy!) a rough guide to length is 80-100,000 words. We receive a large number of manuscripts which begin with the main character waking up, so this can be initially off-putting but if the hook is strong enough, I can easily get over this!

One that is well-paced, beautifully-told, and most of all, one in which I care deeply about the characters.

This is a hard question to answer. Reading is such a subjective activity. Always. What is one person's favorite read is not another's. And the marketplace is it's own beast. Damned good writing is sometimes just not enough to break through, especially if there is no clear path to a large potential readership. Yet when submitting to an agent, making sure that the book you are sending is the absolute best you can make it on your own, that's key. Again, being marketplace aware is important; that doesn't mean to try to write to the market (that frequently doesn't work), it does mean having a clear idea of who your end reader is and where your book would be shelved. An early draft is likely not going to catch or capture someone. Showing that you are taking the craft seriously is important, as quality does shine through while sloppier writing or thinking can't be hidden. If you are writing to a genre, ensuring you are following the 'rules' of said genre when it comes to length and tone can be important. Write, revise, share; lather, rinse and repeat.

Well written, has something new to say and is unputdownable.

The ideal manuscript is well-written and unique. It would be a story that shows off the author's unique voice and keeps the reader reading from page one until the end.

Properly formatted, edited, edited, edited. For fiction bring me into the story at the start of something happening, in the middle of something happening, or after something has just happened. Don't provide a lot of backstory up front. Limited hyperbole, and don't load it with cliches. I cringe at "needle in a haystack". SHOW don't tell.

The basic writing, plot, pacing, and characters all have to be there. Beyond that, the perfect manuscript is one that hooks me from the very start, begs for my attention when I'm not able to read it, and sticks with me long after!

Grammatically correct
I just want to add that I receive a lot of memoirs, which I love. However, not all memoirs are interesting to the public at large. Memoirs that I like are not just a retelling of experiences in the author's life, but also tell a story of the time that they're set in with a broader message than, "I have lived an interesting life." Think Angela's Ashes, The Liar's Club, Townie.

Well-written with clean/tight prose, emotional resonance and authentic characters (ie, for MG, they sound/think like a middle-schooler, not like an adult thinks a middle-schooler thinks). A plot with urgency (there's a clear goal for the character/s with real stakes if she/he succeeds/fails). Something that feels unique, either because the writing is special or the plot is somehow different than other books on the market.

One that I can't put down, that grabs me by the throat right from the top. Narratively well-structured. Not demanding numerous line edits. Strong and complex characters, whether fiction or nonfiction. One that explores the most profound themes of our human experience -- love, betrayal, power are favorites. One in which the plot drives character development, and the characters influence the plot: this dynamic is critical to the energy of the read. A beautiful storytelling voice.

Anything I can't put down or long to get back to.

In non fiction, it is usually a proposal that answers 4 essential questions: WHy this book? Why now" WHy am I the best person to write it? And what is it about me and my connections that can practically help a publisher sell thousands of copies.
In fiction, It is a professionally accomplished piece of writing that shows an understanding of not just what readers are looking for in a good read, but has it's own voice and take on the world. It has engrossing characters who capture me and make me care what is happening to them -- and for me is exciting in how it presents characters with increasingly difficult problems and lets me see how those characters overcome these problems. Most importantly for children's fiction, it has a genuine voice that children of any age will immediately connect with, not because they "ought to because it's good for them," but because it genuinely echoes how they see the world and helps them articulate their feelings while entertaining them at the same time.

The ideal manuscript follows guidelines, both industry guidelines as well as agency guidelines. It is clean of fixable typos and omissions and well thought out. It is not another version of other manuscripts already on the market, duplicating what's already been said. It draws the reader, editor, or agent in within the first few words and keeps our attention to the very end.

I know it when I see it.

The ideal manuscript doesn't have to be perfect, but it does have to have a unique voice, one that stands out among the crowd. It's one that bears no trace of AI writing or editing and either presents the reader with a deeply emotionally engaging story or introduces the reader to a perspective or knowledge they've never encountered or considered before.

I love hearing from voices that are typically unheard, and will always be open to commercial fiction and non-fiction, self-help, business, technology, fantasy, science fiction, intriguing studies of interesting subjects, art, and “making of” books on the film and television industry. Having represented Sir Ken Robinson for many years, we are also deeply vested in the subject of education.
I have a special place in my heart for sci-fi and fantasy with a strong sense of style, prose, and voice. I also would enjoy representing YA horror or adult horror books, or adult mystery. I am open to romantasy, but it’s not my bread and butter, so to speak.
At the end of the day I want my curiosity sated and feel that I was thoroughly engaged.

I love a strong, distinctive voice and when it's clear that the author has put some work in and isn't just sending their first draft...beyond that, it differs depending on what I'm looking for - but I know it when I see it.

It should be as polished as possible. Don't turn in something you haven't thoroughly proofread. Make sure you started the story in the right place. Avoid too much info dumping in the first three chapters. Release backstory a bit at a time, while still allowing the reader to get to know your characters. Characters are key. If I can't sympathize with them and fall in love with them, I can't invest in your story. Keep the stakes rising in the middle so that you avoid that sagging middle.
On the positive side, give me a well-crafted story with dynamic characters. I love lush prose that can straddle the lyrical. I love prose that paints a picture for me and can put me in the setting.

Something that I'll cancel plans (and skip sleep) in order to read!

Something fresh I've never seen before, something that fits into the current market, something that shows hard work and craftsmanship in the execution.

No such thing! Every one is its own strange beautiful creature. That is the pleasure of the job.

Great writing, well paced, strong voice.