Kelly Peterson

I've come across quite a few people who believe that 12 is the correct MC age to label their manuscript as YA. Please check again. #querytip

Please don't send me self pubbed manuscripts. It makes me sad I can't represent them. Send me your NEXT manuscript...unpublished. #querytip

I really can't say it enough, "KNOW YOUR APPROPRIATE WORD COUNTS!" A too high or too low word count makes it easier to say "no". #querytip

Still seeing quite a few queries lacking the basics: title, genre, word count. This is very important, peeps. #querytip

Please stop describing the scene for the first pages. Don't tell me about the sun hitting the landscape your MC is staring at. #querytip

I just went through a full query and five pages, only to realize the query isn't even addressed to me or anyone at our agency. 🙄🙈 #querytip

For those of you who don't know me that well, please don't send me manuscripts where a dog dies, gets killed, murdered, etc.. #querytip

I love how I just read through your entire query and still know nothing about your manuscript... I know your achievements though! #querytip

"Hi I'm *insert name* and I'm going to now tell you all about my life and current situation..." *Bangs head on table* #querytip #nogrammar

Make sure you give us the length of your manuscript in word count, NOT pages! Especially because pages differ... #querytip

I have such a love of dogs that if you put a stray in your first few pages and he's NOT being loved/rescued, I can't read it. #querytip

I agree with this! I especially love when your short bio at the end is slightly quirky and shows voice. :) #querytip

Putting critical praise before your query is probably not the best idea... especially when you didn't include the praised pages...#querytip

Varying sentence structure does wonders! ...just in case you weren't quite sure of the impact it could have on your opening... #querytip

In the few queries I've gone through, three of them had been self published before sending out queries. This makes me sad. #querytip

"We're going to publish the next great book of this generation!" ...well, that would be cool and all, but your expectations... #querytip

STOP TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF! Please, for the love of all that is good, tell me about your book in the first line, not your life. #querytip

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people don't put their word count, age range, and/or genre in their query. #querytip

"My book is like nothing else!" Love the enthusiasm. Hate the assumption that you're better than everyone, including my clients. #querytip

I'd like to take bets on how many writers open their books with a scene involving describing the sun... Anyone? 50%? 60%? #querytip