Alexandra Machinist
Literary Agent
ICM Partners
Literary agent at ICM. Sybarite. Lefty (both kinds). Feminist. My patronus is a fox. Must have plot.
Literary Agent
Kate McKean @kate_mckean
It takes me exactly three clicks to make sure all your future emails skips my inbox forever and I will officially be doing that from now on if you send me a snarky, rude, or angry response to a rejection.I’m gonna take this most excellent policy and institute it myself. #pubtip
Literary Agent
Ask yourself honestly--is your email REALLY TRULY in need of a red exclamation point? #pubtip
Literary Agent
Jonny Geller @JonnyGeller
Reduce chances of ms being rejected by following some easy steps:- target your submission
- send best possible draft
- be confident, brief, clear
- don’t distract by trying to over pitch
- entice by leaving us wanting to know more
- share a clue as to who you are
#publishing
Many a worthy #pubtip here
Literary Agent
Caroline Eisenmann @CarolineMEisen
Authors: when you receive an offer of representation for a project while others are still considering, it's generally acceptable/in your interest to alert the agents who still have the manuscript & set a deadline for your decision. You don't have to accept the offer right away!True #pubtip
Literary Agent
Word count matters. Sure, a fantasy novel or a historical sagas get dispensation from the 100,000 average. But your YA thriller’s just got to be under 100,000 words. 200,000 does not a YA thriller make. #pubtip
Literary Agent
Let this be the annual day I remind everyone that a novel is by definition fictional and thus "fictional novel" is redundant. It also earns an automatic neg in a query letter. #pubtip
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Gina Guadagnino @mymarginalia
#authorstats part the third2017 (still): 180 rejections later, sign with agent @amachinist. Dance happy dance! Do minor revision. Offer from @trishtodd at @TouchstoneBooks. More happy dancing!
2018: Edits! Most joyful editing I've ever done! So much happy dancing!
The power of perseverance never wanes. Keep trying, would-be authors. Gina is proof that it’s worth it! #pubtip #authorstats
Literary Agent
I love knowing that you have many novel ideas...but I always think wisest to query one only. And choose your strongest! #pubtip #amquerying
Literary Agent
And never think that if I passed once, I wouldn't want to see a future query. I would! #pubtip #amquerying
Literary Agent
If I haven't responded to your query, send me a note. I've responded to all (that I know of!) through 3/31. Know too that if I am silent, I didn't get it and would always appreciate a gentle re-send. #pubtip #amquerying
Literary Agent
This text from a good friend who hopes to be a debut author says it all...and my reply is, no it doesn’t get easier, but it gets more and more worth it! Persevere, writers. And know you’re not alone in the difficulty. #pubtip
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Authors, baseline assumption is querying multiple agents. So if you are querying exclusively, you must say so. #pubtip
Literary Agent
Calling me Alexander is a direct query delete. #pubtip
Literary Agent
15,000 words does not a novel make. Typical adult commercial novel word count is 80-100k. #pubtip
Literary Agent
The most difficult reaction an agent can have to a manuscript is not dislike or even hate but ambivalence. #pubtip #amreading
Literary Agent
If I haven't read in a couple months, email nicely inquiring. Don't send hostile email assuming I passed bc silence for a few weeks. #pubtip
Literary Agent
It can take me months to get to reading a submission. Please don't assume silence is a pass. Just means I haven't read yet. #pubtip
Literary Agent
You guys, googling titles to make sure they aren't already taken is a very good idea. #pubtip