Lynnette Novak

Writing is hard. Revisions are hard. Rejections are hard. But, you can do this. Because YOU are STRONG. #writers #amwriting #pubtip

To those #amquerying, if an agent rejects your current project, you can still query him/her with another project. Don't think the door is closed forever. All it takes is the right project with the right agent at the right time. Don't give up! #amagenting #pubtip

Love this!!! #pubtip #amagenting

Please don't say you've met me, when I KNOW we haven't met because I've never been to the place where you said we'd met. #pubtip #amquerying #amwriting

When #amquerying, don't mention you researched an agent & chose her because of A, B, & C, unless A, B, & C are actually true. Kinda defeats the purpose otherwise. Just sayin'... Don't make stuff up to impress. Don't use form "personalized" queries. We see through them. #pubtip

Guys, if you send me a query as an attachment, I'll delete it without opening it. ☹️ Please don't send attachments unless agents ask for them. If you're not sure, go to their website for submission guidelines. THANKS! 😁 #amquerying #pubtip #writers

#truth #amquerying #pubtip

Reminder... Rejections aren't about YOU. Could be the story, the writing of that story, the premise, bad timing, wrong fit, etc. But, agents aren't rejecting YOU. Push past the sting of rejection and keep plugging away. #perseverance #amquerying #pubtip #amagenting

Who's your main character? What's his goal? What's keeping him from his goal? What's at stake if he doesn't get it? INCLUDE ALL THIS. PALEEEEZE. Even better if you can do so with the same tone as your MS and if you can show your voice. #pubtip 4/4 THANKS!!!!

I want to have an idea if it's in the average WC range or not. Then, I'll watch for where we could expand or tighten the story. If you don't include your WC, I wonder if you think you have to hide it. 🧐 It's also nice to know your title, even if it might change. #pubtip 3/?

I want to know the genre and category. If I don't represent it, there's no sense reading the query. Sorry, but no matter how amazing it is, if I don't rep it, I don't rep it. Period. What's your word count? If it's too high or too low, it's not an auto R. #pubtip 2/?

I get it. Writing queries is hard, but you still need to tell me about your story. And I don't mean saying it's different, special, or the next Harry Potter. Telling me NOTHING about your MS and just adding your pages to the email doesn't do anything for either of us. #pubtip 1/?

Don't compare your journey to what others have experienced. Everyone has their own path. Enjoy yours! #persevere #amquerying #pubtip

This thread! #pubtip #amquerying #amwriting

TRUTH! #amwriting #pubtip #writerslife

Yes! That and no conflict, so nothing is happening to advance the plot, or no scene goal, so the story lacks direction. #pubtip #writingtip #amwriting

Remember, agents aren't rejecting YOU. We're simply looking for the right project for our list. I rejected the first MS a client sent me, but I signed her with another project. Don't take rejections personally. Keep writing & querying! #amquerying #writerslife #pubtip #amagenting

A query should tell me who the story is about. What does he/she NEED to achieve by the end of the story? What’s keeping him/her from attaining that goal? What’s at stake if he/she doesn’t succeed? #amquerying #writetip #pubtip 5/5

When querying, have a bio, but it’s essential to show what the story is about. You’re selling your story, not yourself. I won’t sign an author based on his/her bio. I need to love the story, the characters, the author’s voice, and the writing. #amquerying #writetip #pubtip 4/5

A query should read like the blurb on the back cover of a book (not the one-line teasers in between the blurb). It’s NOT an info dump about the cool world you’ve built. It’s not a description of all the characters on the protagonist’s team. #amquerying #writetip #pubtip 3/5