#disability helps abled people

The idea for this came from: https://twitter.com/cheyannemonkman/status/1531243041373028354

The list is my own compiled from different writers and experience with querying and being rejected.

Agents are human too, and often they don’t know what a writer’s life is like, since not all of them are writers. Also, busy. Also underpaid.

So since I’m neurodiverse, but not on the autistic spectrum, I thought I would help bridge the gap and list a wishlist of things writers who are neurodiverse would like to see from agents to help us and other writers query you.

And no, I’m not aiming to vilify agents, etc. Just hoping to bring together two groups to help everyone. Sometimes accommodating disability helps everyone.

Introduction:

I date far enough back in time that the only way to submit was to get a big book from the Library or purchase one and then go line by line and find places to submit. Yeah.

So this kind of thing wasn’t industry standard for obvious reasons. How are you supposed to do it in 100-250 words?

I understand you very much that’s impossible.

However, as we converted to digital and things settled down, I think we can upgrade a bit and help everyone out while being accommodating to those with disability. And no, I’m not name calling for agents who don’t do this. I’m asking you consider it.

The Author Wishlist for agents:

How up to date is your Publisher’s Marketplace, website and Mswl?

Put up a date when you update the genres, etcor aim to update all at once so they aren’t out of alignment.

How do you want to be addressed specifically?

Ms. Mr,. Miss., Mrs.

Honorific, no honorific?

Name:

Full name, surname, first name?

List pronouns?

In case we need to talk to another agent in the agency.

Form of address:

Hello, Hi, Dear?Don’t care.

Query Letter formatting

Some agents are dead set against putting the word count info first. Some say definitely put it first.Which are you?Should we put how we found you, if relevant first or last?

Our Credentials?First or last?

Author biography

Only include if it has writing/life accomplishments relevant to the manuscript?

Y/N

Hobbies?

Y/N

Sentence limit?

Y/N

Hard Word Limit?

Some agents say a fantasy over 110K–will not look at it. Others say send whatever–Sara Maas got in with a 250k manuscript. Which one are you?Where are your hard word limits on fully edited manuscripts for the genres you rep?

Trigger Warnings?

Should it be in the Query letter, with the full manuscript request, synopsis and/or cover letter.

Yes/No. If you want specific types especially… up to you.

If you don’t list it, it makes it really, really hard on writers to divine. And some agents, like Janet Reid say a hard no. Make it obvious.

How long do you want the synopsis?

1 page, 2 pages, 4-5?

Will you accept manuscripts that are not conflict narrative 3/5 act?

yes/noIf you have no clue what I’m talking about:https://www.kimyoonmiauthor.com/post/641948278831874048/worldwide-story-structures

If the author plays with the story structure to fit their marginalization, such as being Neurodiverse, mental health, etc, other than the 3/5 act, will you auto-reject?

Yes/no

When will we get our query answers back?

When is it Dead on arrival? 3 months? 6 months? 10 months? If you plan not to answer at all, tell us a specific cut off date.

If you’re requesting a full, please list if you would like the epilogue and author notes and when we should expect to hear back before poking you.

No, really, the industry rules became fuzzy after switching to digital. Even pros aren’t sure anymore. It used to be a hard no. But now it’s a fuzzy yes, maybe no. Also doc, pdf, etc.

Are you a mood reader?

Might prevent retractions. Don’t blast it on Twitter–update your website. Your twitter post won’t last. You know what does? The mswl and your website.

How do you like to work with authors?

I really appreciate agents who are up front about this. Hold hands type, edit it? Just sell it? etc.

Also, I have to note, if you’re open to diversity, be explicit about it and include the books you would like in your mswl AND in your reading list.

Diversity statements that you really are prepared to work with. If you’ve read Fault in Your Stars, but haven’t really read Sitting Pretty, people will notice. If you’re calling for PoC books, but your top three books of all time are white cishet male, people are less likely to believe you. I get the pressure bias–when asked people tend to list white cishet abled male books. But if repeatedly challenged and you fail, it’s not likely writers will believe you. You’re asking for PoC books, you should list PoC books and show familiarity by being able to rattle off story structures and fundamentally be able to tell how they work (better than the list above.) Same with disability, queer, etc. Show your capability to sell those books, not by your client list only, but by what you read for pleasure. Because privilege qualifying exists and make your place a safe, warm and fuzzy place to be.

Conclusion

If you think this is too long to post, you can post an example of a fake one with formatting. If you don’t care, explicitly state that.

Some agents out there are very strict on these things, but the thing is–writers can’t read your mind. The standards have shifted in the digital age and it’s not consistent as it used to be. And even if we could read your mind, in most science fiction we have to be in the proximity of you to do so. So if you really care that much, help us help you so we don’t get rejected for things we can’t divine, and you get to enjoy all of the query letters and such from people who love following directions exactly how you like them.

Also complaining on Twitter about writers when you *didn’t* put it into any available material like your website, mswl or Publisher’s marketplace, honestly isn’t that helpful for neurodiverse people or much of anyone. I *do* get that it’s deeply satisfying, but it doesn’t help us to do better by you. We can’t read every tweet, especially those of us with PTSD, ADD, ADHD or sensory issues. It’s too much input. Invisible rules help no one and those of us who are neurodiverse might look down on you for it. If it matters that much to you and your well-being please, please put it somewhere accessible. Blasting people for things they don’t know about you and striking them publicly doesn’t look very professional to me, but then I’m neurodiverse, so maybe my perspective is different from yours.

Either way accommodating neurodiverse people is helping everyone.