Lucy Carson

Querying writers! In an effort to help guide your submissions, we at The Friedrich Agency have just posted newly expanded bios for our whole team-- these showcase not just what we're looking for, but who we are. Hope to hear from you! 💙 #querytip friedrichagency.com/about

In this moment of home office chaos, many of us (or is it just me?) are struggling to stay organized, so if you're sending in a submission, make sure the word "query" appears somewhere in your message. This way we can easily search for it! #querytip

Hey Morgan, great question. I think that a busy moment is as good as any other. Better, perhaps, to query during a busy moment than, for example, holidays or weekends when it could be overlooked. It won't be significantly easier to get attn during another month, IMO.

And GOOD LUCK! This is a perfect time to query, as so many of us are feeling renewed by the time spent out of office, and eager to find and cultivate exciting new literary voices for the year ahead. You are WANTED, so take the time you need to craft a thoughtful approach. 💕

Lastly, I know it can be tempting to include disclaimers that denigrate the process (i.e. "I don't really have time to research agents because I'm busy writing, but here's my manuscript") but that tone isn't serving you. Respect your own work by communicating respect for others.

Seeing a lot of queries that are lists of multiple (in some cases, a dozen!) available manuscripts from one author. It's overwhelming to review, and begs a plethora of logistical questions. Truly best to choose one, and lead with your strongest work.

Even if you have an incredible cover letter, I (and MANY other agents) won't open it if you just attach it to a blank email and provide zero context. It saddens me that so many authors still do this, and it's so easy to avoid with a quick copy & paste into the body of the email.

It may sound obvious to many, but a glance at the inbox confirms this is worth typing out: please make sure that the agent you are querying actually represents the category and genre of your project (The # of screenwriters I hear from is truly baffling-- I can't help ya! 🥴)

General #querytip give the agent everything they need to know about your project in the body of the email. Sending a blank email with links to a website, google docs and/or unsolicited attachments creates extra work and hinders the review process.

Couldn't agree more. #querytip Skip me for these, please.

Me, reading a query that starts enticingly... until the author refers to their own work as a "masterpiece". #querytip There's a fine line between a hard sell and an unappealing ego reveal.

There's a first time for everything... And today was my first time getting pitched via Instagram 🙄 #PleaseNo #querytip

If you're the kind of person who replies to polite pass w some form of "you'll regret this" then you've accomplished the opposite. #querytip

Author: wanna read my manuscript?
Me: depends-- what's it about?
Author: argh, I hate synopses...
Me: 👀

#querytip write the query.

If you plan to reference the "research" you did about an agent's interests, be sure your statements are accurate #querytip

#querytip If you find yourself thinking, "I'll use this super FUN font!"...resist the impulse.

You can enjoy and appreciate a book without feeling compelled to recommend it vehemently. Agents need the latter to offer rep. #querytip

#querytip Maybe don't open with "I'd like to offer you 51 novels and 33 short stories..." #lessismore

#querytip If you mention that your manuscript is "similar in style to X and Y" make sure X and Y aren't completely different styles...

For the record: "exclusive submission" means you are ONLY sending to that ONE agent. Exclusive has no other meaning here. #querytip