In the tenth and final agent presentation, “Building a Writing Career” with Ann Leslie Tuttle, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, she zoomed out to give us a broader perspective on navigating a career as an author.

I appreciated Ann Leslie’s positive energy. Here is some of the advice she offered:

1. Identify what success is for you. Use that to guide your decisions and to stay true to your goals.
2. There isn’t an age limit for authors. It’s about passion.
3. If writing is your dream, go after it, just remember to keep your expectations realistic.
4. Love what you do. Be dedicated and have a strong work ethic.
5. You also need resilience. There will be highs and lows throughout.

Bonus takeaway: No matter how small, don’t forget to celebrate your wins!

Some additional takeaways from the session:

1. She begins each morning looking through her query box.
2. Her notes for an author’s manuscript will generally be in-depth. She wants you to be comfortable with her notes and changes.
3. She says that comps should be published fairly recently, no later than three years old. Look for comps that have good reviews, awards, and are similar to your voice.
4. Agents are busy, but if they have reached out to you, they have factored in the time they will spend with you.
5. Editorial agents will most likely want to do edits before sending your manuscript out on sub.

Bonus takeaway: Romance is having a moment again, and New Adult is back.