Elana Roth Parker

Let’s just go ahead and ban the word “bildungsroman” from query letters, k? Glad we agree there. #querytip

FYI: "Following years of rejection, I’m longer concerned about submitting the perfect entreaty” is the wrong takeaway/first line of a query. #querytip

I have been reading queries for the last two hours. The theme of tonight’s session has been: Tiny Fonts and Too Many Words. Think about eyeballs, dear queriers. Be kind. #querytip

It’s cool to reference which of my clients' books you enjoy reading, but don’t waste precious word count in your query comparing your book to theirs. Just be your own thing. #querytip #pubtip

K, so…looks like 50+ queries came in before 8/1 (you guys… *headdesk*), and about 50 have come in today so far. I’m a little rusty, but that seems like a lot for one day… #querytip

Well, it’s August 1st. I’m officially open to queries. Here comes the flood… #querytip #amagenting

In case you wanted to read my #WriteOnCon2018 blog post: Reading the Rejection Tea Leaves: writeoncon.org/reading-the-re… #querytip #pubtip

Also, the reply emails that ask me to recommend other agents? I get a lot of those. Those don’t get answered. That’s your homework. Not mine. #querytip

Just…sign the darn letter with your real name. Thanks. #querytip

Alright! Officially closed to queries. The 102 people who queried at the tail end of January are the last ones I’ll read until after I’m back from maternity leave. And I am still reviewing requested material. #querytip #amagenting

And it’s NOT a permanent closure! Just a “gotta have a baby and then take time to get my brain back” break. Will reopen sometime this summer (date TBD). #querytip

Just realized that February 1st is next week. Meaning, I’m closing to queries VERY SOON. #querytip

People who make direct references to details in my bio, but still query me in categories I don’t rep: I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU. #querytip

Cosigned. But I do like to know that work has happened, since I like having the full picture. #querytip

This whole thread, but mostly this. Read the damn instructions. #querytip

So much this! I pass on queries and then see them come back in WITHIN MINUTES to another agent. Give yourself an opportunity to fix and strategize. #querytip

I should really set up an email filter for Elena and see how many queries she gets in a month. #querytip

Just read 3 queries in a row (a row!) that told me they were attaching files despite directions because there was no other way to submit their book. *headdesk* #querytip

No query letter whose subject line begins with “Fwd:” ends well. #querytip

A story in contrasts: I read queries today for YA novels with both 23k and 173k words. #querytip