Marlene Stringer

Writers - If the project Q'ied is 30-40k words off target for the market, it's asking for rejection. Learn the market before you Q! #pubtip

Writers ~ not a good idea to write your Qs from the POV of your protagonist. #pubtip

Writers ~ set up a separate email for your writing. A cutesy or family email or one with a day job auto-response = not professional.#pubtip

Writers ~ you do not need to pay an intermediary for an "introduction" to a legitimate literary agent. Ck guidelines & send a Q. #pubtip

Writers - write your own Qs! Don't rely on a third party or a service. #pubtip

Writers - do not have someone else send out your Q. You don't need an agent to query an agent! #pubtip

Can you risk opening your Q with a question if the answer may be no and an immediate turnoff? Something to consider. #pubtip

Writers - don't take months to send a req ms. By the time it arrives, it may no longer be what agent or editor is looking for. #pubtip

Writers - don't talk about yourselves in third person in a Q. #pubtip

Writers - The same holds true for con pitches. Don't make an editor or agent wait mos. for your submission. Needs change. #pubtip

Writers - don't pitch until you're ready to submit your ms. #pubtip

Writers ~ avoid unnecessary rejection. Read what agents represent (and DON"T represent) before you Q! #pubtip

Writers~don't query before your ms is completed and polished. Also, an agent should not be your 1st read.#pubtip

Writers ~ Sending out Qs? Don't use an address that req registration for response. Use a separate address. #pubtip

It's really obvious if a writer tries to write a genre they don't read. Don't do this. #pubtip

If you Q via a mass mailing of agents, don't be surprised at the lack of response.#pubtip

A novel Q w/more stats on the potential readership than info on the story doesn't work for me. Tell me something I don't know-STORY! #pubtip

Writers - it's not ok to borrow elements (characters, etc.)from other writers' works without permission. #pubtip

Not the best idea to include in your Q that you've had no interest on other Qs sent.
#pubtip

When sending pages in a Q, don't send a scene in the middle of the ms. Send the opening pages. #pubtip