Helen Heller

Literary Agent

The Helen Heller Agency

Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

We ask for the 1st 3 chapters with every submission. We never ask for material just based on a query letter. #querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

When we say ‘include a synopsis & the 1st 3 chapters’ we mean it…#querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips
Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips
Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

If you want to query us *please* read the guidelines on thehelenhelleragency.com!
We need to see the first 3 chapters. A synopsis alone won’t help at all. #querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

Folks (™️Doug Ford) when we say please send us the 1st 3 chapters of your ms with your inquiry we mean it. No matter how cute your letter, no matter how great the idea, we won’t consider you without ‘em.
#querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

Please don’t send pandemic thrillers to me. #querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

Please don't submit to me via #Facebook! You won't get a good response. Try good old-fashioned email...
#querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

Xmas #querytip: when I see the words 'fiction novel' in a query, that's the moment when I hit 'delete'.

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

Please please don't think you'll attract my attention by being cute in a query-letter. 'Dear You' is not a good start.
#querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

Please don't send us screenplays! We don't handle them. We do mention that on the website...
#querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

Here's an query tip: spell the agent's name correctly! Seriously.
#querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

If you query an agent, just send one email. Please don't send that email over and over. You'll just get fast-tracked to spam.
#querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

If you have self-published your book via e-book platforms or paid for a print-run, that does not make you a 'published author'!
#querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

Please guys if your book's a thriller about CIA/arms-dealers/rogue army guys/international geo-political whatever it's not for me!
#querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

One thing we don't represent: weird racist rants disguised as book proposals. You got one. Don't send it to us please.
#querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

Please no spy thrillers/action-adventure-thrillers/techno-thrillers. They just aren't my thing.
#querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

Also 'I have written a fiction novel' won't work either unless you are Truman Capote...
#querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

"The title of my book is called" is not a phrase designed to get a literary agent to pay attention to your excellent writing!
#querytip

Helen Heller
@helenheller
Literary Agent
Terrifyingly blunt expat Geordie literary agent who loves good writing, great stories & fashion.
36 Tips

Please check the website guidelines. No snail mail couriers or phone calls please! Really. We mean it!
#querytip