Elana Roth Parker
Literary Agent
Laura Dail Literary Agency
Kidlit agent w/ @LDLiterary . @aalitagents communications committee. Avid quilter. Still not Elena. Open to queries. She/her.
Literary Agent
Sigh. It’s so sad to read a query for a book that’s been subbed to 11 publishers before. It’s hard to let go, but probably better to start fresh. #querytip
Literary Agent
You know something you never need to send me in a query? Your headshot. Not that kind of agent. #querytip
Literary Agent
Kiki Nguyen @kianangu
I'm going to talk about something I often see writers struggling w/on my TL or in Twitter Pitch, or in queries that needs to be discussed: shelve the book that's draining you.This is also a good #querytip thread of truth today. I see many of these writers over and over.
Literary Agent
I’m seeing more and more illustrator queries with Instagram links instead of portfolio websites. Not sure it’s cutting it. #querytip
Literary Agent
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth
Having answered about 60 queries today, the biggest reason for passing is I don’t understand what is happening in your book. #querytipWhen you reduce your book to 200-300 words, you MUST make sure it’s coherent and logical. Get outside readers before you query. #querytip
Literary Agent
Having answered about 60 queries today, the biggest reason for passing is I don’t understand what is happening in your book. #querytip
Literary Agent
September queries have all been answered. Making a good dent in October now. Ah, catching up feels good. #amagenting #querytip
Literary Agent
I *love* seeing “Dear Sirs” queries to an all-women agency. #querytip
Literary Agent
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth
You know and I know that PB mss are hard to sell. And the money is small. Few agents take text-only. Found an agent who does? … #querytipWhy on earth would you send more than one before getting a yes/no on one? You’ve just exhausted that agent option in one go. #querytip
Literary Agent
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth
Sub issue: I can only assume these are picture book manuscripts, which opens a whole new can of worms. Yeah, they’re short. But… #querytipYou know and I know that PB mss are hard to sell. And the money is small. Few agents take text-only. Found an agent who does? … #querytip
Literary Agent
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth
Issue 4: On the VERY BIG IF all 11 projects are good, what am I supposed to do with with them? I can’t sell them all at once. #querytipSub issue: I can only assume these are picture book manuscripts, which opens a whole new can of worms. Yeah, they’re short. But… #querytip
Literary Agent
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth
If you can’t tell the difference and are just trying everything, then…I’m not sure what kind of client you’d make. So, pass. #querytipIssue 4: On the VERY BIG IF all 11 projects are good, what am I supposed to do with with them? I can’t sell them all at once. #querytip
Literary Agent
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth
Issue 3: Even if something in there is good, what if 10 others aren’t? I’ll assume you can’t tell the difference. #querytipIf you can’t tell the difference and are just trying everything, then…I’m not sure what kind of client you’d make. So, pass. #querytip
Literary Agent
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth
Issue 2: You look unfocused. Throwing spaghetti at the wall. I can only assume none of these projects are refined or ready. #querytipIssue 3: Even if something in there is good, what if 10 others aren’t? I’ll assume you can’t tell the difference. #querytip
Literary Agent
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth
For that reason alone, i.e. you can read, we shouldn’t ever see multiple books in a row in the inbox. Writers should be readers. Nuff said.Issue 2: You look unfocused. Throwing spaghetti at the wall. I can only assume none of these projects are refined or ready. #querytip
Literary Agent
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth
Don’t ask me why I looked on a Sunday morning, but someone just sent 11 queries for 11 individual projects. DON’T DO THAT. #querytipI’ve decided to elaborate on this #querytip issue for new queries out there. Dig in. Issue 1: our submissions guidelines say not to.
Literary Agent
Don’t ask me why I looked on a Sunday morning, but someone just sent 11 queries for 11 individual projects. DON’T DO THAT. #querytip
Literary Agent
I get so many replies just thanking me for responding to queries. That makes me so sad for writers these days. Sorry, guys. #querytip
Literary Agent
Today’s slush pile bombs: a 260k manuscript and a YA with a 32-year-old main character. Guys? #querytip
Literary Agent
Success! I have answered all July queries. One goal complete. #amagenting #querytip