Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

Advice for querying writers: Write short, professional emails to agents you respect. Copy the language, style & format of backcover copy. Then: keep writing, reading, critiquing. #keepon #querytip

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

#QueryTip: Don't lead with "I have not been published." Don't get me wrong, debuts are very attractive! But if you're going to start with bio, make it relevant. However, I always like queries that jump right into the story.

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips
Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

Me if you compare your #MG novel to Harry Potter in your query letter: #querytip

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips
Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

I would prefer not to read query letters written in the voice of your novel's main character. I would prefer not to. #querytip

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

J. R. N. Martin @africanraingod

#TMGTalks What needs to go in a good query letter?

Model your query letter off of the backcover copy of your favorite books. It should be succinct, alluring, and very easy to digest. Use attention-grabbing words. Read it aloud to find the flow. Tell us a story we'll beg to hear more of. #TMGTalks #querytip

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

A #query letter that claims their book could be sold as either YA or NA, tells me this writer is not reading enough. #querytip

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

Sometimes I get a voicemail like, "Hello Alex, my name is [ ], call me back." Please query me instead. I'm not going to call you. #querytip

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips
Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips
Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

#querytip: Rather than repeat lines directly from my bio or #MSWL, use your query to show how your project will connect with my tastes.

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

Published before? Nice! But if you're querying a new project, put the old titles at the end. Hook me with your new story first. #querytip

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

Go to the bookstore. Vast majority of backcover copy, esp YA, is 5-7 sentences long, or shorter. Can your query work at that size? #querytip

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

Lydia Davis, on love/publishing... #querytip https://t.co/ZUyDmA40Mc

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips
Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

I read a lot of queries, and I think some new writers would be shocked if they knew about the communities social media can offer. #querytip

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
129 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

For some reason I just love queries that start off in the 2nd person. I guess it makes it feel more immediate. #querytip