As it is the end of a year and beginning of a new one, here's a thread on #writing and what agents look for:

1)A clear idea. However complex the story, a debut novel must offer a simple proposition of author, pitch and market.

2)We enjoy plot, but we remember characters.

3)A voice can be heard in a novel, not by its volume, but by its distinctiveness
4)it must promise the potential for moving the reader to a new place, but not by ditching what has been proven already to have worked. A "bridge" from somewhere familiar to somewhere new & unexpected

5)A debut novel must showcase talent and voice, but not at the expense of the story. Self-confidence in the voice, editorial discipline and a certain degree of risk taking must all be evident.

6)The story behind the story must be clear and communicated well. We always want to know why the writer has been moved/compelled to write this particular story and be prepared to tell that. We like to know why it has been written.

7)We look for a writer who will lift us from the mundane, the ordinary and the everyday. We look for an element of magic, a feeling that the script in front of us could only have been written by that individual and is an exciting privilege to be sharing it with others.

8) a sense of fun and seriousness in equal measure. We are in the business of entertaining, suprising, delighting, moving, stimulating readers and often the attitude of a writer can come through in process.

8) Every paragraph deserves something special.

10)There is no such thing as a perfect book. The only thing that matters is the constant striving for it.