Elana Roth Parker

For those following along at home, I'm at 730 queries so far in the month of March. I've answered everything through March 16th (over 600). About 100 or so are unread—the influx has slowed to a more normal pace, thankfully. #WritingCommunity #querytip

Gonna add one more: check spellings on names one last time before hitting send. My name auto-corrects to Elena a lot. It’s not Elena. Just…double-check.

Be patient! There's been a serious slow-down industry-wide in reading time starting at the publishers. The trickle down effect is real.

Do not private message agents (unless invited to) on social media on their personal accounts to ask about querying. The guidelines are almost always out there. Do your own homework. Keep personal spaces personal.

Your book should be complete and you should have a solid query letter before you get started. You're a writer. Do the writing. Which means do the reading. Resources abound on query writing. And the category you're writing in.

Generally, most agents prefer you only submit one project at a time. I could probably do a whole thread on WHY. If you get a pass, go ahead and submit a new project. Personally I find it awkward to get 3 in a row and have to send a form rejection on all 3. It happens.

First, ALWAYS always check the agency website before you hit send. It's the best place to find out how that agent and agency prefer their submissions. A google will get you there if it's not linked in the agent's profile somewhere. No need to ask that question just for yourself.

Back on here to say I'm temporarily closing to queries. I had a number of family emergencies that took up most of my April, and I'm very behind on submissions, queries, and client manuscripts. I'll reopen...soon. #querytip #amagenting

Battling my query box this morning and just…so sorry for all the passes I have to send out. The volume has been overwhelming lately. #querytip

I’ve read at least 3 time travel queries this morning. What’s in the water, guys? Is it just pandemic wishful thinking? #querytip

The better approach is just to be true to who you are and what your book is. Everything else feels disingenuous and a little manipulative. #querytip

Y’all. Word counts. Why is everything in my submissions box 100k+? Like…everything. #querytip

And sorry to say...I am NOT re-opening to picture books. I'm sorry. #pubtip #querytip

What am I supposed to do with this… #querytip

There are also a delightful (read: shocking) number people querying me with PBs (which I am closed to) by just selecting “Middle Grade” in the QueryManager drop down and sending the PB query anyway. *head desk* #querytip

13 years later of doing this job, I still don’t understand people sending queries on behalf of other people. #querytip

I really can't talk about the world anymore, so I'm just going to go back to my classics: queries. Hope that's okay with you guys. Some thoughts as I clean out the Queries email address now that we've moved to Query Manager.

A thread? Yes, a thread.

#querytip #pubtip

I will of course be answering all email queries sent before today. And I’ll do those first. I’m one of those “in the order received” sticklers. #querytip

There’s A LOT going on BUT….

LDLA is switching to QueryManager on 10/15, links forthcoming. All email queries prior to that will be answered via email. All new email queries will get an auto-reply sending them to QM. #querytip #amagenting

Queries update: I’m going to be closing to picture book queries. I’ll still be repping them and signing them—but by referral or my own scouting. I am staying open to graphic novels from author/illustrators! #amagenting #querytip