...I read the synopsis. If that shows me I'm excited about where it's going, I request. If I read synopsis & am still unsure, I check comp titles&author bio etc.
At ANY stage of this, I might decide it's not for me.
But by including all, at ANY stage you have a chance to hook me.

Choices that only that character would make because of their specific history/needs/fears/wishes/background. This as true in fantasy novels as in contemporary realistic stories.

It’s happening because of choices that character makes: (“I couldn’t go home that night and face my family after what I’d done that day, so I went to a neighborhood where no one knew me and that’s where I met...” Even more, it’s—

It does not mean a book that is all internal within a character’s head; it does not mean a story without a lot of plot. It means that rather than story happening to and around a character (“we were walking down the street and stumbled across a unicorn!”) —

4. Finally, support authors in and outside your genre. If they’re on social media, learn from, engage with, and boost their signal. Trust me when I tell you literary karma is strong.

3. ID agents & publishers in your category by looking up recent deals on Publishers Marketplace (requires a 1 month $25 subscription). Follow on social media to get a sense of personality & tastes.

2. Make a running list of notable books in your genre. Scan bestseller lists and titles from your dream publishers. You should at least know about if not read your category leaders. This info will feed into your book proposal.

1. Sign up for free e-newsletters at Publishers Weekly to stay current on trends & news. Start with the Sunday Must Read & Global Rights Report. Specialty newsletters also avail.

#QueryTip: I've been corresponding with authors just this week who have been asked for exclusivity by an agent on a query sub, and who have been asked to pay a signing fee to join an agency. These are NOT standard requirements! 🔺Red flag! 🔻

#QueryTip: If you want to pitch an agent, do so through their preferred channels - not off the cuff at a conference, or on social media, or during a lunch date! It's totally appropriate to let someone to know to EXPECT your query, but following protocol keeps us organized!

#querytip about me:

I believe in the power of #revision. Unless a project is outside my expertise and taste (or too close to something I already represent), if I pass, no means not yet, and I encourage #writers to take the time #revise and then return to me.

1/2

I believe good stories sometimes hide behind slow starts. So ask your CPs when they finally “fall into the story,” where they can’t stop reading. Figure out how to start there. Agents don’t have⏰to find that spot when reading samples! Don’t miss opportunity #writetip #querytip

Oh... and follow submission guidelines please. Nothing makes me sadder than an unsolicited query in my inbox that I have to delete because they didn’t follow the rules like all the other authors
#QueryTip #WritingCommunity

Query Tip: Make sure you include a query letter with your submission.

#QueryTip #amquerying #WritingCommunity

The Rules for Resubmitting to Agents #QueryTip youtu.be/f7v1baEQkl0 via @YouTube

I guess this is a #QueryTip, but it applies mostly to me as an agent: Something that will always draw me in is really good food descriptions. It's such a powerful worldbuilding element for me! #WritingCommunity

#QueryTip to #SFFpit peeps: If I am wavering, I check your profile for a link to a site where I might find a sample of your #writing. Listing that link in your bio can be vital.

#querytip: Keep to one email thread! Whether it be correcting a mistake in your query, providing materials an agent replied to request, or updating with an offer, you can change the subject line if necessary, but keep the thread so we have everything in one place 😊

#QueryTip: Know the conventions of the genre that you're pitching in. Don't pitch a fantasy book that doesn't have magic, or a romance book that doesn't have a HEA! This can comes across as you not having done enough industry research. #WritingCommunity

#QueryTip: The slush pile is so competitive! Don't sell yourself short in your query letter! Lots of authors make jokes that portray themselves as unprofessional or inexperienced. I'd rather know what makes you a perfect fit for my list! #WritingCommunity