Marlene Stringer

Please proof your Qs before you hit send. One incorrect word can sometimes change the whole meaning of the sentence, and the Q. #pubtip

If you're writing fiction, your Q is supposed to be about your story. Everything else is background. #pubtip

Agents and editors should never be the first reader of a ms. Make sure it's polished & ready to go before you Q. #pubtip

Agents do not give opinions on mss. They consider mss for representation to sell. Opinions come from critique partners or betas. #pubtip

If you get feedback on your story from any reader, critique partner, etc., don't defend. Absorb and consider. #pubtip

Remember in Qs it's important to show the conflict as well as the characters & setting. #pubtip

Unless an agent expresses interest in seeing a revision, don't resubmit. #pubtip

Sometimes a story doesn't work because the writing voice doesn't fit the genre. #pubtip

Writing a thriller & take till chap 9 to get the storyline moving, pacing's way.... too.... slow. #pubtip

Notice that I didn't mention craft. That the craft is there goes without saying. #pubtip

Qs for mss that 'will appeal to everyone who reads every genre.' #pubtip 6/8

Qs for stories that aren't 'market-friendly.' A type of story popular 30 yrs ago but not now. Know your market. #pubtip 5/8

Qs for stories that are overly familiar or derivative of something else out there. #pubtip 4/8

The word count is wrong. E.g., novels are not 11K words, mysteries not 130k. Learn the expectations of your genre. #pubtip 3/8

Qs for genres I don't represent. Doesn't matter how good something is if it's not a genre I work in. #pubtip 2/8

Writers work so hard on their mss, but fail to do basic research before they Q. Here are the main reasons for passing. #pubtip 1/8

Agents not trying to be difficult. We need to manage our workload. #pubtip

If agents ask to see your submission = want to review your work. Send it in the format we req so we can do so in a timely fashion. #pubtip

Worldbuilding is essential in SFF, but not an end in itself. It must allow the story & characters to live within its framework. #pubtip

No one judges work on word count alone. But there are expectations for every genre. #pubtip #PitchSlam