Lane Heymont

Fantasy doesn't need fairies, talking dogs or wizards shooting talking dogs at people to be fantastic. The best fantasy is realism #querytip

Oops! I mean does NOT need fairies, etc. #querytip

(Hero)ines are made, not born. No real growth if your MC is destined to be the Holy Defender. Success is guaranteed and no fun. #querytip

Make your world stand out by avoiding tropes. But, don’t be pretentious @ it. Using Tolkien elves as "Forest Walkers" is lame. #querytip

The first page is the most important in your manuscript. The query is as important. You don’t wing your finals. Don’t wing this. #querytip

Flawed characters are real/relatable. Readers love a heroine/hero they can relate to. For every strength, give a weakness. #querytip

Character deaths need a purpose. Give a character a bad death, expect anger from readers. Give them a good death and expect cheers #querytip

Your first book should be self-contained. Trilogies aren't guaranteed. Agents want to read a book with a satisfying end. #querytip

Pitch one book at a time. Don’t send an agent three stories and tell them to pick the one they like. Just don’t. #querytip

Also, I am not an agent. I am a writer. I write, because I must write. Thus, I repeat, I am not an agent. You’ve been warned. #querytip

I like the word “that” within reason, but adverbs are like drugs. Addictive & bad for you. Not really, but you get my point. #querytip

Being "old", white, male and writing speculative fiction is not auto-advantageous. Don't think that. AT LEAST, don't tell us! #querytip

Bid on one of our wonderful donations to help the The Seymour Agency fundraiser for #LiteracyMatters! #querytip seymouragency.blogspot.com

Include your genre. Include your genre. Include your genre. #querytip #NeedsRepeating

Your query is NOT a synopsis, so don’t spell out what happens. You’re giving us the hook or the blurb on the back of the book. OK? #querytip

In the name of bubblegum, there is no such thing as a “fiction novel”. Just like there is no such thing as “college university”. #querytip

I find this mostly with MG/YAs. Is someone out there saying tell us how diverse of a journey your MC’s is? We assume it will be. #querytip

Don't tell us how long it's taken to write your book. It can only hurt you. Ten years for one book isn't bragging material. #querytip

You'll never get published if u don't query. You'll never query if u don't write. You'll never write unless u sit in that chair! #querytip

Use logic. If ur writing a scifi based in our world, there are REAL sciences you can use. Read @Discovery for ideas. #querytip #Realism