TIMESTAMPS 01:47 How did Thao get started in agenting? 05:43 What is it like being based in San Diego? 8:12 How long it took Thao to become a full time agent 09:26 What Thao is seeking in PB/MG/YA/Adult 10:59 Why high word counts don't work in YA fantasy/sci-fi but are OK in adult 15:03 Should writers write and query series now? 17:14 Thao discusses being an editorial agent & how querying writers can self-edit before querying 20:52 Does Thao have any query auto-rejects? 22:42 On partials/fulls, what leads to a rejection? 25:21 How Thao scouts writers from fanfic 29:02 Thao's advice for self-published authors who want to query agents 33:05 How to address past self-publishing catalog in a query 34:54 Does being an international writer impact querying? 36:53 What are editors asking for right now?
Thao Le has been my dream agent for YEARS now! I remember following her on twitter and keeping up with her mswl when she had basically just started, and thinking she had a really cool personality (and taste). This interview just confirmed what I've always thought about her, I love her answers and insights and her vibe. I will query her when I'm ready ♡
Thao Le looks like an amazing agent. Such a heart warming, friendly and kind person, with lots of experience and industry knowledge. She makes me write my book only so I can query her! ^_^
Alexa, I blame you for sleepless nights. I didn't know what a critique partner is. And now I can't find one. Action Thriller so not quite your genres. But keep it up. I've learned so much about the business.
Thank you, Alexa and Thao for this Q&A session! I've always worried that being an author not based in the US would impact my chances of getting an agent. Also, the answer about whether a writer should query a standalone or a series was relieving to hear. Once again, thank you for clearing the doubts and questions I had!
Just started querying for the first time recently! I’m already so grateful for your videos as I’ve learned so much but I’m hyped about finding this one! I just queried her this week! 🤩🤩
Thank you so much for doing this! She is literally my number one dream agent! It's so great to see agent's personalities to get a better feel for whether or not you would work well with them. I hope you're able to get more in the future!
This was so great! Very informative. Definitely adding Thao to my list of A-list agents to query one day...hopefully this fall if I can get all my revising done! ☺️
This has to be the BEST agent interview I've ever seen/heard! Thanks for asking (and answering) all the hard hitting questions with honesty! I learned so much!
Thank you so much Alexa and Thao. This is super insightful and inspiring. I am not at querying stage yet, but I watched it through and feel like I learnt so so much. I am bookmarking this for the future. Particularly, it is great to learn that you can be repped by an agent in the US even if you are based in the UK.
Great video....sat and watched from beginning to end with a cuppa in one hand, pen in the other taking notes......really enjoyable and informative....thank you very much for this...Cheers
This was very informative! I'd be interested in querying Thao, as I'm big into character driven escapist novels, and I'm hoping to be done revising June/July time. Though I worry while querying that some agents will be put off my novel because theres no romance (the main character is ace/aro).
Thanks a lot for that question about international writers! A real life friend of mine told me not to mention in my letter the country I am from, since that might be a deal-breaker. I always found that weird, since I already mention my real name and address in the query, so at this point, it would feel like hiding an essential information about myself instead of being transparent. Also, if that does prove to be a deal-breaker for some agents, then they weren't the right ones for me anyway!
TIMESTAMPS
01:47 How did Thao get started in agenting?
05:43 What is it like being based in San Diego?
8:12 How long it took Thao to become a full time agent
09:26 What Thao is seeking in PB/MG/YA/Adult
10:59 Why high word counts don't work in YA fantasy/sci-fi but are OK in adult
15:03 Should writers write and query series now?
17:14 Thao discusses being an editorial agent & how querying writers can self-edit before querying
20:52 Does Thao have any query auto-rejects?
22:42 On partials/fulls, what leads to a rejection?
25:21 How Thao scouts writers from fanfic
29:02 Thao's advice for self-published authors who want to query agents
33:05 How to address past self-publishing catalog in a query
34:54 Does being an international writer impact querying?
36:53 What are editors asking for right now?
I love how Thao Le goes on fanfic sites and reaches out to fanfic authors whose works she enjoys.
Honestly the dream 😂
Thao Le has been my dream agent for YEARS now! I remember following her on twitter and keeping up with her mswl when she had basically just started, and thinking she had a really cool personality (and taste). This interview just confirmed what I've always thought about her, I love her answers and insights and her vibe. I will query her when I'm ready ♡
Thao Le looks like an amazing agent. Such a heart warming, friendly and kind person, with lots of experience and industry knowledge.
She makes me write my book only so I can query her! ^_^
Alexa, I blame you for sleepless nights. I didn't know what a critique partner is. And now I can't find one. Action Thriller so not quite your genres. But keep it up. I've learned so much about the business.
Thank you, Alexa and Thao for this Q&A session! I've always worried that being an author not based in the US would impact my chances of getting an agent. Also, the answer about whether a writer should query a standalone or a series was relieving to hear. Once again, thank you for clearing the doubts and questions I had!
Just started querying for the first time recently! I’m already so grateful for your videos as I’ve learned so much but I’m hyped about finding this one! I just queried her this week! 🤩🤩
Thank you so much for doing this! She is literally my number one dream agent! It's so great to see agent's personalities to get a better feel for whether or not you would work well with them. I hope you're able to get more in the future!
Focused Alexa is Focused! Waiting for laser eye beams to discharge!
Loved the interview. More please! Thank you so much for all your content! *HUGS*
This is the video I needed right now! Thank you, Alexa and Thao!
This came at just the right time! Thank you!
Thank you for another great interview! Thank you Thao for all your insight.
This was so great! Very informative. Definitely adding Thao to my list of A-list agents to query one day...hopefully this fall if I can get all my revising done! ☺️
This has to be the BEST agent interview I've ever seen/heard! Thanks for asking (and answering) all the hard hitting questions with honesty! I learned so much!
Loving this series, thank you for doing this!
As an indie published author, it's good to know she doesn't have any auto rejections :-)
Thank you so much Alexa and Thao. This is super insightful and inspiring. I am not at querying stage yet, but I watched it through and feel like I learnt so so much. I am bookmarking this for the future. Particularly, it is great to learn that you can be repped by an agent in the US even if you are based in the UK.
Great video....sat and watched from beginning to end with a cuppa in one hand, pen in the other taking notes......really enjoyable and informative....thank you very much for this...Cheers
I love how friendly and amazing she sounds!😍
The international writer question is a great addition 💓
This was very informative!
I'd be interested in querying Thao, as I'm big into character driven escapist novels, and I'm hoping to be done revising June/July time.
Though I worry while querying that some agents will be put off my novel because theres no romance (the main character is ace/aro).
Thank you so much for asking about international authors!!!! 💛💛
Thao is the best!!!! I signed with her back in october and she's literally amazing
beautifully hosted! thanks so much for making this conversation happen. :)
That was incredibly helpful and insightful! Thanks so much!
This is such a great interview!
This is so helpful. Thank you for all your videos.
Lots of realistic wisdom here. I might just have to query her when I'm done with this edit--!
Thanks, Thao for all your advice. What a great interview :0)
Thanks a lot for that question about international writers! A real life friend of mine told me not to mention in my letter the country I am from, since that might be a deal-breaker. I always found that weird, since I already mention my real name and address in the query, so at this point, it would feel like hiding an essential information about myself instead of being transparent. Also, if that does prove to be a deal-breaker for some agents, then they weren't the right ones for me anyway!
This is really helpful! Thanks.
What about adult novella (under 50k words.) is there a current market for this?
... are Cali prices different from NYC prices? Because YA books be going for $20-$25 here