Alexandra Penfold

@AgentPenfold

Literary Agent

Upstart Crow Literary

Literary agent, NY Times Bestselling children's book author, maker of donuts + pies, lover of coffee.

upstartcrowliterary.com/agent/alexandra-penfold

querytracker.net/agent.php?agent=5060

· 1 Feb 2019

Maggie Smith @maggiesmithpoet

Today’s goal: Accept that sometimes dismantling has to happen before you can build. As you look at the mess of life’s pieces around you, know that the materials you need are there. Start sorting: Which can go? Which should stay? How will you use them? Start now. Keep moving.

Authors: this applies to your writing, too. #pubtip

· 30 Jan 2019

Delilah S. Dawson @DelilahSDawson

For today's #TenThings, let's talk about MARKETING YOUR BOOK, especially as a debut.
1. There's
2. Nothing
3. In
4. Your
5. Power
6. That
7. Will
8. Make it a
9. Bestseller
10. Write the best possible book you can
Just kidding. Kinda? Let's talk about it.

Must read thread. 👇#pubtip

· 23 Oct 2018

Andria Rosenbaum @Andriawrose

If someone asked me what's the most important thing I've learned from mentor texts about writing pictures books it would be:
Keep the core Kid-Centric.
You?

Solid advice! #pubtip #kidlit

· 24 Aug 2018

Carol Hinz @CarolCHinz

I’ve been thinking lately about the meaning of what success means for a book and the fact that there’s no one path to success. In fact, what success looks like can be very different from one book to the next.

Such an important thread. Thank you for taking the time to share this, @CarolCHinz. #pubtip

· 14 Aug 2018

Saba Sulaiman @agentsaba

recently i’ve been thinking a lot about how to advise people who’ve approached me about whether or not they should pursue a career as a professional creative.

An excellent thread by @agentsaba. Thank you for taking the time to put this together! #pubtip #WritingLife

· 8 Aug 2018

Julie Falatko @JulieFalatko

In this months newsletter: bison, geysers, my recent agent-related drama, and what to do when something is standing in the way of your creativity. mailchi.mp/c3706539803a/s… pic.twitter.com/ZmnIY2IxCy

Love this! "You're strong. You don't need a special coffee shop or a conference or class or three hours of free time in a row to create." #kidlit #pubtip #WritingLife

· 3 Aug 2018

This week has been fantastic for publishing biz real talk reads. If you haven't already, check this one out by @LeilaSalesBooks. Thanks for speaking all of our truths, Leila! #kidlit #pubtip #amwriting publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/ch…

· 2 Aug 2018

Molly O'Neill @molly_oneill

A thread! In the wake of the Lupine Grove fiasco, I am seeing a lot of “compare notes with other clients of your agent to keep tabs on your agent”-type posts. And I get the impulse. HOWEVER. Maybe don't start from a place of doubt?

This is SUCH A GOOD THREAD. Thank you for laying this out there, @molly_oneill. #pubtip #kidlit

· 11 May 2018

Sarah Guan @Sarah_Guan

The majority of character descriptions I see are static & visual: clothing, hair, facial features, body type, &c. There are many other ways to physically describe someone!
For starters:
- gait
- posture
- sounds/speech patterns
- smell (if you get close)
- hand gestures
#writetip

Yes, yes, yes! #pubtip

· 3 May 2018

Justina Ireland-Hiatus? Maybe. @justinaireland

One of my favorite Spring events is watching that year’s debut authors begin to melt down.

So here is a thread for all you baby authors.

All of these things. #pubtip #publishing

· 27 Apr 2018

Julie Falatko @JulieFalatko

Yes! Agents are busy! I don't send mine anything unless it's already been through several revision rounds. (I DO run concepts by her, to see if there's one project I should focus on first.) twitter.com/laurenspieller…

All of this is true! 👇#pubtip

· 19 Apr 2018

Cate Berry @cberrywriter

Feeling my mentor’s words today: Writing fixes all your writing problems. Just keep writing through blocks, sales, rejections, good news/bad news, whatever. It’s the one-stop cure all. #amwriting #picturebooks #kidlit

Truth.❤️#pubtip

· 13 Apr 2018

Andy (aka Michael) @cupcakeandy

Honestly, sending rude emails to an editor, especially when they're not in charge of or in control of the thing you're being rude about, is just Not a Good Look.

· 19 Mar 2018

Julie C. Dao @jules_writes

I don’t have much to add to the debut conversation because many wiser authors have spoken. But I’ve spoken to many friends with whom I debuted and we all agreed that the most important thing for mental health and longevity seems to be to recalibrate your definition of success.

Writers...this is a wonderful thread. Must read. #pubtip

· 7 Mar 2018

Mandy Hubbard @MandyHubbard

I tell my clients that they all have a stash of "diva chips." Chips they can cash in when something is really important to them and they want to fight for it. But if they're out of chips and they keep doing it, they've entered diva territory. twitter.com/AlyssaJennette…

Terrific publishing real talk from @MandyHubbard. Authors take note! #pubtip

· 25 Feb 2018

Stephanie Lurie @SOLurie

@colbysharp Just to echo what others have said here:
—Preorders increase an author’s sales rank on Amazon
—Preorders may increase a book’s first print run
—Preorders increase a title’s visibility among customers
—Preorders count toward first week sales

ALL OF THESE THINGS. 👇#pubtip

· 18 Feb 2018

Jess Keating @Jess_Keating

I hear a lot of writers/artists say they need more motivation.

Motivation comes and goes, dropping in when it feels like it. Enjoy it, but instead develop discipline.

Discipline will be there for you every day if you grow it, and it's how *every* project gets done.💙

TRUTH. #pubtip #amwriting

· 6 Feb 2018

Jessica Sinsheimer @jsinsheim

So it's very common for writers to ask why agents don't give feedback. The answer, usually, is that we're busy--but that's hard to grasp on a concrete level. Today, the lovely and talented @BenFaulknerEd mentioned reading tons, and out of curiosity, I did the math to compare.

This is a really great thread. 👇#pubtip #querytip

· 3 Feb 2018

Martha Brockenbrough @mbrockenbrough

“Come here and listen. Don’t come here with an ego. Come like a blank slate wanting to absorb like a sponge.” —Dan Santat #ny18scbwi

THIS. 👇 #pubtip

· 13 Jan 2018

Molly Ker Hawn @mollykh

It’s usually so obvious which queries are from people who have read widely in their genre/age category. I always say this on panels, and I’ll say it again now: if you want to write, then read, read, read.

This is a terrific thread on submissions. #pubtip