As a first time writer, what’s the best way to approach agents with my story?  #AskDV #F #MG #YA

I'm writing a book where the main character is purposely annoying, but over the course of the book he learns and grows. How often do agents reject a manuscript because of an annoying character in the opening pages, even if the query says they grow and change over the course of the book? #askdv

Agents and editors will have different opinions on word count. I recommend 60,000 max for a MG fantasy (including upper) since middle grade as a whole has been shorter lately. It may be better if an MG fantasy is lower than that. And I usually suggest 100,000 for a YA. #AskDv

Are fantasy stories that take place in our world still popular in MG and YA? #AskDV #F #MG #YA

For a YA fantasy anchored in a real historical atrocity, what do you look for to know the history is handled with care rather than used as a backdrop? #askdv

#askdv what do you look to edit in your debut client MS before going on sub?

#AskDV what are some market trends that have occurred this year in publishing or in your query inbox that have or have not surprised you? 👀

#askDV it seems crossover may be popular right now, but what is your advice for pitching manuscripts that may straddle a few genres?

My story is written in Australian English with occasional Australian slang. Will I have to change my English if my book is accepted by an agent in US or UK? #AskDV

#askDV If a book was written entirely in second person, would you consider representing the manuscript?

I'm writing a #MG fantasy where the main character is neurodivergent (as am l) which means she sometimes acts younger than she is. This is intentional for disability rep, but what should I do while querying so agents understand the intention & don’t just assume she's acting too young? #AskDV #F #ND

#askDV – When looking at short-form pitches during events like DVPit, what catches your eye? And what, if anything, would keep you from requesting a full based on a query prompted by a pitch event like this? (I know it's super subjective, I've just always wanted to know!)

#askdv what are some questions you recommend asking beta readers before querying?

#askdv What makes you reject a query that you might have otherwise accepted?

#askDV in 2026, what kinds of queer books are considered a hard sell in publishing?

#AskDV starts NOW and runs until 2PM Eastern Time!

Using #AskDV ask @jimmccarthydgb.bsky.social @laurenabramo.bsky.social @stutitelidevara.bsky.social @rebeccaw04.bsky.social @sandraproudman.bsky.social questions about pitching, querying, & publishing!

Be respectful & have fun!
#DVpit

#askdv do you think shorter novels/novellas are gaining more interest due to short wordcount? If yes, any specific genres?

#askDV what is one unpopular opinion you have about querying? thanks for participarting!! 🥰

How well do graphic novel picture books do in trad pub?
I'm writing and illustrating one, and I'm wondering if I'll have any success with it, or should I go towards early readers graphic novel format?
#askDV

With the advice to consider authors whose books would "sit on the same shelf as yours" and all their agents to your query list, I was curious if agents ever pass on a query because it's too similar to something by an existing client #AskDV