Candid Interview w/ Literary Agent Paula Munier: ADVICE Every Aspiring Author Needs to Hear!

Are you an aspiring author? Do you think you're ready to pitch your book to a literary agent?
Don't even think about it until you've watched this interview with USA Today Bestselling Author & Literary Agent Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary Agency.
In this interview we discuss:
- How do you know if your manuscript is ready for representation?
- Red flags that turn off agents and publishers.
- Loglines: what are they and how to write them?
- Comps: how are important are they?
- Do you need a developmental editor?
- What are publishers looking for in today's market?
Looking for more writing tips and advice on publishing? Then check out: www.careeerauthors.com

[@kit888]

00:01 Intro
01:40 After the first draft
03:30 Developmental editors
06:30 Paula's book - Writing With Quiet Hands
07:55 Loglines
10 words for Hollywood
50 words for publishing
Protagonist, main action, emotional impact
13:05 Comps
Same but different
Used for sales forecasts
Put in query letter to show you understand the business
16:05 Author red flags from agent viewpoint
Resistance to revisions
Not understanding that authors need to do more than write
18:55 Importance of author platform
Anything about your personal or professional life that informs your writing
21:25 What does a publisher want?
Same but different
High concept
Be true to yourself, try to make readers feel something
First page sells the book, last page sells the next book
Go big, go straight to the heart

[@loudrimshot]

Amazing. I created the pitch for my book while I listened and paused this video. What a brilliant lesson. Thank you so much.

[@iosyntropy]

im buying writing with quiet hands. what a wonderful video thank you for this channel and all of your helpful work, truly thank you.

[@iosyntropy]

she smiled so genuinely at so many of your questions because of how in tune you were with what she was saying, none of your questions being leading or waited to ask while letting her finish the last, as in you were truly listening and it really showed in the warmth of this interview. and wow, what fantastic intel. im really beside myself. these kinds of wisdom nuggets do not come through the feed often and it can difficult to search directly for this kind of specialised sub-category of learning the writing industry. im grateful because this kind of nugget will really make the difference i can feel it. its always been right on the tip if my tongue but i guess i never knew how to confront it and identify it, the simple fact that in an interview, your ability to work well with others, flexibility, adaptability, as well as a work ethic that says you know youll be overworked and under compensated for the foresseable future while you prove your dedication to the craft and the company, and your general intention being to make the life of your employer easier are, by far the most important aspects that must be clarified.

[@ElderBill]

This was EXCELLENT for aspiring authors. Writing for the market 101. A MUST VIEW video.

[@elenasingleterry5854]

Wow! What an informative interview. And both of you have such an amazing energy and presence.

[@jlolson53]

I also purchased some of your books. My wife loves dog-related novels! Thanks! Great interview!

[@davidjarvis4047]

Love this interview. Love Paula Munier. She would probably be a great agent.

[@kingjnz]

This was great! One of the most useful-for-authors interviews with an agent I've seen

[@SuzanneJoyRiley]

Loved this!

[@tonybulmer6365]

I found Paula’s book Plot Perfect particularly helpful.

[@StaceyDennyFreelanceWriter]

Great interview with my dream agent. Thank you!

[@daviddupree8596]

That is GREAT information. Has me rethinking many elements of my book. Thank you

[@lizgonzalez801]

Awesome information that I can actually use. Brilliant. Can’t wait for your next video.

[@AndrewsAndWilson]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@morganeoghmanann9792]

What is the advantage of paying a lot of money to a developmental editor, following all their advice, submitting your MS, truly believing you have followed all the steps, just to have an agent or editor turn around and demand more revisions?
Paying a developmental editor for something you have to end up doing for yourself anyway (as any writer should), is a loss of money and time that many first time authors don't have to begin with because they have another job and maybe very limited funds.

[@NP-Hunt]

Fantastic interview and absolutely great advice. Thanks

[@AndrewsAndWilson]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@daviddarlingauthor]

Great advice!

[@Jim-vl7sv]

Castaway on Mars. Brilliance in brevity.

[@michellefelstead9456]

Superb

[@starklingspars8956]

This aas good

[@MrDanroche]

New England writer here, currently living in Maine. I mostly write from a New England setting and I’m wondering if Paula is open to queries. where I can find her and get an idea what she’s looking for?
Great video, thank you for sharing.

[@adamhenrysears3288]

Writing is a hobby; Selling what you write a business. Time to become a business manager.

[@jlolson53]

I generally go high concept...but I think there is some subjectivity as to what qualifies. For example, someone who believes he's a serial killer but is in fact in a virtual reality therapy pre-crime program?

[@malcolmgarcia4181]

How can I put that I’m willing to have my work revised in my query letter?

[@tcm087]

To join a genre-specific association you have to have sold so much in that genre….so at this point won’t ever join because won’t have resources to help me get published…disheartening

[@MrK.A]

Best selling author in Maine... Isn't that Stephen king?

[@rickthomas422]

This interview pretty well explains why people don't read anymore. It's all just the same but different... Which is boring. No offense to the military fiction writer... but some of us would like more options. We've narrowed the audience of readers down too much and it's most certainly your fault.