Kelly Van Sant
@agentkellyvansant.bsky.social
Senior literary agent and Contracts Director with KT literary. I open to queries the first 7 days of every month.
https://www.agentkellyvansant.com/
https://www.agentkellyvansant.com/
Pinned
My apologies for the broken query link! If I like your #DVPit pitch, please query me at a working link here: querytracker.net/query/kellyv...
I've got meeting slots available in November and would love to chat with you about your work!
Agent & Editor Meetings go live TODAY at 3pm ET for members, and Friday at 3pm ET for non-members.
We have a really fun month of events! Check them out here: manuscriptacademy.com/calendar
And we got so many lovely notes for last month! One of our favorites, below. 😃
We have a really fun month of events! Check them out here: manuscriptacademy.com/calendar
And we got so many lovely notes for last month! One of our favorites, below. 😃
November 5, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I've got meeting slots available in November and would love to chat with you about your work!
So true
baseball is so good when you have zero rooting interest
November 2, 2025 at 4:05 AM
So true
Reposted by Kelly Van Sant
DVpit #querying Tip: As you scroll the feed make note of which agents like pitches in similar categories/genres as yours & add them to your general querying list! The feed is so busy, they might've missed yours, but if they're liking similar stories that means it's something they want in their inbox
October 8, 2025 at 8:45 PM
DVpit #querying Tip: As you scroll the feed make note of which agents like pitches in similar categories/genres as yours & add them to your general querying list! The feed is so busy, they might've missed yours, but if they're liking similar stories that means it's something they want in their inbox
My apologies for the broken query link! If I like your #DVPit pitch, please query me at a working link here: querytracker.net/query/kellyv...
October 8, 2025 at 8:15 PM
My apologies for the broken query link! If I like your #DVPit pitch, please query me at a working link here: querytracker.net/query/kellyv...
I'm popping in to #DVPit and I'm so excited! If I like your pitch, I would love it if you could submit your materials here: querytracker.net/query/kellyv...
And there is no possible way for me to see everything, so if you think we'd be a good fit please do query me when I reopen generally on Nov 1
And there is no possible way for me to see everything, so if you think we'd be a good fit please do query me when I reopen generally on Nov 1
Query
querytracker.net
October 8, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I'm popping in to #DVPit and I'm so excited! If I like your pitch, I would love it if you could submit your materials here: querytracker.net/query/kellyv...
And there is no possible way for me to see everything, so if you think we'd be a good fit please do query me when I reopen generally on Nov 1
And there is no possible way for me to see everything, so if you think we'd be a good fit please do query me when I reopen generally on Nov 1
I’ve got meeting slots available this month!
1:1 Agent Consultations are now live for non-members!
If you're not sure why you're getting rejected--if you'd like "Try the following to improve your odds" advice--or if you just want to make sure your work is agent-ready before you send, we are here to help.
manuscriptacademy.com/consultations
If you're not sure why you're getting rejected--if you'd like "Try the following to improve your odds" advice--or if you just want to make sure your work is agent-ready before you send, we are here to help.
manuscriptacademy.com/consultations
October 7, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I’ve got meeting slots available this month!
The only Life of a Showgirl take I am going to share publicly is that when I heard Ruin the Friendship the ONLY thing I could think about is this clip from When Harry Met Sally. And that’s wild.
October 7, 2025 at 6:49 PM
The only Life of a Showgirl take I am going to share publicly is that when I heard Ruin the Friendship the ONLY thing I could think about is this clip from When Harry Met Sally. And that’s wild.
remember when reading comprehension was a basic life skill?
October 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
remember when reading comprehension was a basic life skill?
Reposted by Kelly Van Sant
Today is DAY 1 of #DVparty, a community event to talk up projects that Diverse Creators plan to pitch during #DVpit! Since it's our inaugural year on Bluesky, we'd like to invite any diverse creator to participate! Share about your beautiful work & let's build a #writercommunity here! #writersky
October 2, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Today is DAY 1 of #DVparty, a community event to talk up projects that Diverse Creators plan to pitch during #DVpit! Since it's our inaugural year on Bluesky, we'd like to invite any diverse creator to participate! Share about your beautiful work & let's build a #writercommunity here! #writersky
I'm going to consensually and compassionately go through a sample inbox of queries sent in to @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social and narrate my thoughts as I go, to show you what one agent's (mine, specifically) process looks like when considering queries.
Okay, one thing I'm particularly excited for is the #YourQueries event next Wednesday with agent @agentkellyvansant.bsky.social!
Kelly will go through member queries at inbox speed--and (kindly!) narrate her thoughts and honest impressions as she goes.
Can't want to see what she thinks! ☕️
Kelly will go through member queries at inbox speed--and (kindly!) narrate her thoughts and honest impressions as she goes.
Can't want to see what she thinks! ☕️
September 22, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I'm going to consensually and compassionately go through a sample inbox of queries sent in to @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social and narrate my thoughts as I go, to show you what one agent's (mine, specifically) process looks like when considering queries.
Reposted by Kelly Van Sant
My latest cartoon for @theguardian.com books
August 18, 2025 at 8:22 AM
My latest cartoon for @theguardian.com books
I am having a full on From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler summer, by which I mean I am teaching at a week long writers retreat and locked myself out of my room and there’s no onsite staff overnight so I’m just frolicking through conference rooms after hours in the dark.
June 27, 2025 at 5:22 AM
I am having a full on From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler summer, by which I mean I am teaching at a week long writers retreat and locked myself out of my room and there’s no onsite staff overnight so I’m just frolicking through conference rooms after hours in the dark.
There are twelve spots left in my online From Page to Publication class through @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social this summer! This thread explains more about what we’ll be covering (hint: everything!) loft.org/classes/8-we...
June 19, 2025 at 11:51 PM
There are twelve spots left in my online From Page to Publication class through @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social this summer! This thread explains more about what we’ll be covering (hint: everything!) loft.org/classes/8-we...
Reposted by Kelly Van Sant
courts don't decide whether we love the trans people in our lives or whether we're willing to do whatever it takes to get them what they need.
June 18, 2025 at 2:30 PM
courts don't decide whether we love the trans people in our lives or whether we're willing to do whatever it takes to get them what they need.
Reposted by Kelly Van Sant
I decided to share songs that fit the vibe of my YA historical fantasy, Blood and Breath!
All you have is your fire/ and the place you need to reach/don't you ever tame your demon/but always keep them on a leash -Arsonist Lullaby
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-brea...
All you have is your fire/ and the place you need to reach/don't you ever tame your demon/but always keep them on a leash -Arsonist Lullaby
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-brea...
June 10, 2025 at 12:33 PM
I decided to share songs that fit the vibe of my YA historical fantasy, Blood and Breath!
All you have is your fire/ and the place you need to reach/don't you ever tame your demon/but always keep them on a leash -Arsonist Lullaby
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-brea...
All you have is your fire/ and the place you need to reach/don't you ever tame your demon/but always keep them on a leash -Arsonist Lullaby
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-brea...
Innocuously used the word "generating" in an internal email this morning and then immediately emailed a second time to say, "make that 'creating' not 'generating'" because that word has so much gross AI baggage now and I don't want even the faintest implication that that's what I'm talking about!
June 3, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Innocuously used the word "generating" in an internal email this morning and then immediately emailed a second time to say, "make that 'creating' not 'generating'" because that word has so much gross AI baggage now and I don't want even the faintest implication that that's what I'm talking about!
The more I think about the AI fake summer reading list the more violently I swing between fury and despair.
May 20, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The more I think about the AI fake summer reading list the more violently I swing between fury and despair.
Reposted by Kelly Van Sant
I spoke to the person who AI-generated the Chicago Sun-Times reading list. Says he's very embarrassed. This was part of a generic package inserted into newspapers and other publications, so likely to run elsewhere. He didn't know it'd be in Chicago Sun-Times
www.404media.co/chicago-sun-...
www.404media.co/chicago-sun-...
Chicago Sun-Times Prints AI-Generated Summer Reading List With Books That Don't Exist
"I can't believe I missed it because it's so obvious. No excuses," the writer said. "I'm completely embarrassed."
www.404media.co
May 20, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I spoke to the person who AI-generated the Chicago Sun-Times reading list. Says he's very embarrassed. This was part of a generic package inserted into newspapers and other publications, so likely to run elsewhere. He didn't know it'd be in Chicago Sun-Times
www.404media.co/chicago-sun-...
www.404media.co/chicago-sun-...
I have a ton of admin work I need to do today and my reward for finishing it all will be binge-watching the final episodes of Devil's Plan that came out today, because I am absolutely obsessed with it.
May 20, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I have a ton of admin work I need to do today and my reward for finishing it all will be binge-watching the final episodes of Devil's Plan that came out today, because I am absolutely obsessed with it.
Reposted by Kelly Van Sant
CHAT GPT IS NOT A SEARCH ENGINE. AI does not know how to THINK. If you use AI to do your homework for you, you are an idiot!
This was just posted by @tbretc.bsky.social on another platform. The Chicago Sun-Times obviously gets ChatGPT to write a ‘summer reads’ feature almost entirely made up of real authors but completely fake books. What are we coming to?
May 20, 2025 at 12:17 PM
CHAT GPT IS NOT A SEARCH ENGINE. AI does not know how to THINK. If you use AI to do your homework for you, you are an idiot!
Reposted by Kelly Van Sant
Every pitch for AI boils down to “thinking hurts and I would like to do less of it”
May 16, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Every pitch for AI boils down to “thinking hurts and I would like to do less of it”
Reposted by Kelly Van Sant
if you did the real, hard work of writing a book, even if that book is not very good, you are a real writer and you have earned our respect
using AI to “write” your book isn’t about the book, it’s about YOU WANTING TO BE TREATED AS AN AUTHOR despite doing none of what the rest of us did to get here
using AI to “write” your book isn’t about the book, it’s about YOU WANTING TO BE TREATED AS AN AUTHOR despite doing none of what the rest of us did to get here
May 15, 2025 at 11:11 PM
if you did the real, hard work of writing a book, even if that book is not very good, you are a real writer and you have earned our respect
using AI to “write” your book isn’t about the book, it’s about YOU WANTING TO BE TREATED AS AN AUTHOR despite doing none of what the rest of us did to get here
using AI to “write” your book isn’t about the book, it’s about YOU WANTING TO BE TREATED AS AN AUTHOR despite doing none of what the rest of us did to get here
Reposted by Kelly Van Sant
I think it says a lot about how people have romanticized the idea of being a writer for so long that it leads people to pursue it as a career even though they can't actually do the one thing you need to be able to do as a writer. It's like deciding to be a fire fighter and refusing to fight fires.
Caught another writer using AI & they were promptly let go.
I can not stress this enough: Any editor worth anything can AND WILL catch you if you're using AI to write. It's not slick, it's not subtle, & so many behavioral patterns beyond the writing are dead giveaways.
Do the work or get out.
I can not stress this enough: Any editor worth anything can AND WILL catch you if you're using AI to write. It's not slick, it's not subtle, & so many behavioral patterns beyond the writing are dead giveaways.
Do the work or get out.
May 15, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I think it says a lot about how people have romanticized the idea of being a writer for so long that it leads people to pursue it as a career even though they can't actually do the one thing you need to be able to do as a writer. It's like deciding to be a fire fighter and refusing to fight fires.
Reposted by Kelly Van Sant
Happy book release day to this extraordinary queer tarot anthology!! 🎉 There’s an essay on the court cards as interstitial elements by me, alongside writing by a host of your favorite queer tarot ppl! TYSM to @mxcassandrasnow.bsky.social for bringing this together!
bookshop.org/a/101472/978...
bookshop.org/a/101472/978...
Tarot in Other Words: An Essential Anthology by Leading Queer Tarot Writers
An Essential Anthology by Leading Queer Tarot Writers
bookshop.org
May 6, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Happy book release day to this extraordinary queer tarot anthology!! 🎉 There’s an essay on the court cards as interstitial elements by me, alongside writing by a host of your favorite queer tarot ppl! TYSM to @mxcassandrasnow.bsky.social for bringing this together!
bookshop.org/a/101472/978...
bookshop.org/a/101472/978...
I'm teaching an 8 week online course this summer through @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social called From Page to Publication. Registration is open now, and I'd love to tell you a little more about it! loft.org/classes/8-we...
8-Week: From Page to Publication | The Loft Literary Center
loft.org
May 1, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I'm teaching an 8 week online course this summer through @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social called From Page to Publication. Registration is open now, and I'd love to tell you a little more about it! loft.org/classes/8-we...