This Is Horror

TIH 088: Kristin Nelson on Choosing a Literary Agent, Writing a Query Letter and the Nelson Literary Agency

  • April 12, 2016

  • 4 mins to read

In this podcast Kristin Nelson talks about the Nelson Literary Agency, how to choose the right literary agent, writing a query letter and much more.

About Kristin Nelson

Kristin Nelson is President and owner of Nelson Literary Agency, LLC. She founded her agency in 2002, right on the cusp of traditional publishing morphing to digital, and the following year became known as “that agent sporting some newfangled tablet PC thing” while visiting editors in New York. In 2004, her agency went completely paperless much to the astonishment of her fellow agents. She also started blogging in 2006 along with only four or five other intrepid agent early adopters, and Pub Rants is still active today. She is probably one of the first literary agents to hire a full-time software engineer as an employee to run NLA Digital for clients looking to digitally self-publish. NLA is always evolving to keep stride with changes in the industry, and because of that, Kristin is often a popular speaker at conferences such as Digital Book World.

Show notes

  • [02:15] Interview start/the formation of the Nelson Literary Agency
  • [04:00] Initial challenges
  • [06:10] A day in the life of a literary agent
  • [09:30] Searching for a literary agent
  • [13:20] Choosing the right literary agent for you
  • [15:30] Self-publishing
  • [19:15] Biggest misconceptions about literary agents
  • [21:50] Non-fiction recommendation
  • [23:10] Lydia Peever, via Patreon, asks about the importance of prolific output for success
  • [27:00] Novellas and agents
  • [33:15] Writing a query letter
  • [43:35] Advice to eighteen-year-old self
  • [46:20] Connect with Kristin
  • [46:45] Final thoughts

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