Lynnette Novak

Literary Agent

The Seymour Agency

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

Writing is hard. Revisions are hard. Rejections are hard. But, you can do this. Because YOU are STRONG. #writers #amwriting #pubtip

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

To those #amquerying, if an agent rejects your current project, you can still query him/her with another project. Don't think the door is closed forever. All it takes is the right project with the right agent at the right time. Don't give up! #amagenting #pubtip

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

Please don't say you've met me, when I KNOW we haven't met because I've never been to the place where you said we'd met. #pubtip #amquerying #amwriting

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

When #amquerying, don't mention you researched an agent & chose her because of A, B, & C, unless A, B, & C are actually true. Kinda defeats the purpose otherwise. Just sayin'... Don't make stuff up to impress. Don't use form "personalized" queries. We see through them. #pubtip

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

Guys, if you send me a query as an attachment, I'll delete it without opening it. ☹️ Please don't send attachments unless agents ask for them. If you're not sure, go to their website for submission guidelines. THANKS! 😁 #amquerying #pubtip #writers

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

Reminder... Rejections aren't about YOU. Could be the story, the writing of that story, the premise, bad timing, wrong fit, etc. But, agents aren't rejecting YOU. Push past the sting of rejection and keep plugging away. #perseverance #amquerying #pubtip #amagenting

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

Who's your main character? What's his goal? What's keeping him from his goal? What's at stake if he doesn't get it? INCLUDE ALL THIS. PALEEEEZE. Even better if you can do so with the same tone as your MS and if you can show your voice. #pubtip 4/4 THANKS!!!!

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

I want to have an idea if it's in the average WC range or not. Then, I'll watch for where we could expand or tighten the story. If you don't include your WC, I wonder if you think you have to hide it. 🧐 It's also nice to know your title, even if it might change. #pubtip 3/?

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

I want to know the genre and category. If I don't represent it, there's no sense reading the query. Sorry, but no matter how amazing it is, if I don't rep it, I don't rep it. Period. What's your word count? If it's too high or too low, it's not an auto R. #pubtip 2/?

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

I get it. Writing queries is hard, but you still need to tell me about your story. And I don't mean saying it's different, special, or the next Harry Potter. Telling me NOTHING about your MS and just adding your pages to the email doesn't do anything for either of us. #pubtip 1/?

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

Don't compare your journey to what others have experienced. Everyone has their own path. Enjoy yours! #persevere #amquerying #pubtip

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips
Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

Remember, agents aren't rejecting YOU. We're simply looking for the right project for our list. I rejected the first MS a client sent me, but I signed her with another project. Don't take rejections personally. Keep writing & querying! #amquerying #writerslife #pubtip #amagenting

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

A query should tell me who the story is about. What does he/she NEED to achieve by the end of the story? What’s keeping him/her from attaining that goal? What’s at stake if he/she doesn’t succeed? #amquerying #writetip #pubtip 5/5

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

When querying, have a bio, but it’s essential to show what the story is about. You’re selling your story, not yourself. I won’t sign an author based on his/her bio. I need to love the story, the characters, the author’s voice, and the writing. #amquerying #writetip #pubtip 4/5

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
181 MSWL
68 Tips

A query should read like the blurb on the back cover of a book (not the one-line teasers in between the blurb). It’s NOT an info dump about the cool world you’ve built. It’s not a description of all the characters on the protagonist’s team. #amquerying #writetip #pubtip 3/5