Directory Writing Workshops

Writers Workshop: Literary Agent Answers Author Questions

Dancing Word Writers Workshop

with Literary Agent Joyce Hart

March 2002

 * Chat has been edited for clarity

Anne McDonald: Lord, thank You for Your grace and mercy. Thank You also, for giving us the opportunity to meet tonight. Bless our guest as she answers our many questions. Guide and guard our conversations. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Protocol reminder: type ! for comments, ? for questions and ga when you are through. Please remember to wait to be called on in turn.Tonight, I have the pleasure to introduce to you Literary Agent Joyce Hart (also president of Hartline Literary Agency). Joyce has been a literary agent for more than a decade, and she has graciously agreed to field our questions tonight. Welcome, Joyce.

Joyce Hart: Thank you

Anne McDonald: Joyce, what are you looking for in a manuscript?

Joyce Hart:  What we're looking for right now is suspense in fiction, women's fiction, non-fiction of all kinds, especially self-help and women's issues.

bee: Do you want synopsis, outline, sample chapters, or the whole manuscript?

Joyce Hart: Yes, at first just a proposal, also your bio/vitae

jeanne: I have heard from other agents that they prefer not to represent Christian romance writers unless they already have several books published. Is this true with your agency also?

Joyce Hart: All agents prefer published authors. However, we've been successful in getting some new authors published. It helps if you've been published at all, articles, etc. Also, education helps, any classes you can take, critique groups, anything you can do to hone your skills.

Anne McDonald:  It often seems very scary for writers to approach agents. Any tips?

Joyce Hart:  I can't speak for other agents, but our agents are just people and we're very approachable.

LindaMae: When you say 'published' you don't want us to list our letters to the editor and such do you? You are talking magazine articles and such?