Susan Graham

#querytip #subtip - Agents don't market your book or sell your book to bookstores. We aren't publicists. That's not what we do, loves.

Hello! #subtip #querytip - if you query an agent & say someone recommended them or it's a referral, make sure that that person & the agent actually... have met or know who each other are.

I would actually rather you contact me here on twitter for submissions questions than calling me (but of course I would REALLY prefer you read our submissions guidelines and use our email as requested & outlined on our website). #subtip #querytip

A trend in submissions I am noticing today: middle grade protagonists named Charlie. I have read 5 queries about boys named Charlie. No girls named Charlie though. #subtip #querytip

To be clear. This does not mean do not follow up or nudge them politely. I am talking about long, angry, yelling emails, or spamming that gets increasingly passive aggressive. That sort of thing. #subtip #querytip - please feel free to follow up and nudge us.

Don't spam agents with your queries. Don't spam agents with your queries. Don't spam agents with your queries. Don't spam agents with your queries. Don't spam agents with your queries. This is a huge red flag for lots of agents. #subtip #querytip

Your best bet is to be specific about whom you're querying with their name, and please use correct pronouns and honorifics where applicable - if they have any online presence, you'll find their pronouns. #querytip #subtip

#querytip #subtip You can query "dear sir or madam" if you want, "mr. or ms." but it tells me you didn't do your research. If you just query "dear sir" & there are no men working at the agency, you didn't do your research and are misogynist both. Throwing it out there.

#querytip Hi, if agents ask you to query them at submissions, please query them at submissions - don't get their emails from random places & spam them. Thanks. #subtip

I have really bad eyesight, please use readable fonts at readable sizes. I should not have to zoom to 80% to read your query. Please, I have very bad eyes. Thanks. #querytip #subtip

Very seriously. #querytip
tldr: don't be exclusive with an agent unless they ask you to, it doesn't serve you or your work.

Honestly, the number of submissions ELM gets saying they are exclusive, just to our submissions - we are CONSISTENTLY backlogged, & I mostly work from oldest to newest. Other agencies get behind too! It could be MONTHS wherein no eyes are on your ms & then they pass. #querytip

-each other a fair chance. But otherwise? SERVE YOUR WORK. Get it in front of as many people as possible! If no one sees your work? No one will represent your work! Or buy your work! #querytip

ACTUAL thing, hill I will die on, creators #querytip #subtip - do NOT be exclusive with you unless an agent ASKS you to be. And even then, maybe only be exclusive with them if they're actively giving you a lot of notes, and then as a gesture of good faith - you both are giving-

#subtip #querytip - your synopsis of your book shouldn't be longer than the excerpt of your work in your query. I really don't want to read ten pages of synopsis, you can usually do that in a paragraph or two, unless it's a graphic novel or similar.

I've now gotten six submissions from different folks in the past few days addressed to David - there is no David at ELM. If somebody named David is telling people he's an agent at @Einstein_Lit, he... is not. Small PSA. #subtip #querytip

Hi, if you can help it AT ALL, please be aware of the size of your font as well as space on the screen. If it's too small and smooshed, my world weary eyes can't read it very well. Lots of folks (like me, hi) have bad eyesight, let's make it easy on them please! #querytip #subtip

#querytip - Please do not address your query Dear (Agent's Name) or Dear Agent. If you can google our submissions address, you can presumably also google (at least one of) our names. Do your research & put in the effort. Why should we care about your book if it seems you don't?

Heeeey #querytip, don't send us an unaddressed query, tell us how great our agency is, tell us your book isn't selling so you need an agent, and then not tell us who you are? Don't query anonymously AND generally? Serve your work; be specific & transparent. #subtip

Hi, #subtip #querytip please don't say that you want to work with someone (as an agent, employee, editor, etc) because you share their passion for books. We work in publishing, pals. We all love books. Tell us something that matters, that's unique, that serves you & your work.