Naomi Davis

I think all pitching contests are great. I don't always participate in every single one, because there are a lot! I do participate in #dvpit when I can! That said, I get way more clients from queries than pitch contests. #askagent

It's your writing style. It can vary from genre to genre or character from character, but there will always be little quirks to your writing that readers fall in love with. Kind of like how no one has your handwriting but you. #askagent

You absolutely can. It is not necessary, however, for an author to be an illustrator as well. You can be either an author OR an illustrator, OR an author/illustrator who does both. #askagent

I like a bit of personalization, but what matters is the blurb. The meat of the story. I need to know what the story is about way more than I need to know why you chose me... I'll know right away if it's right for me. But it's def nice to get a polite, personal greeting.#askagent

The best way is to query agents when you have complete and polished manuscript! Each agent has submission guidelines on their website. Be sure to follow guidelines for each agent you query. The Bookends YouTube channel has some great videos with advice on how to query. #askagent

I do like to know if a querying author has the intention to write other books in the same or a different genre, but it's also a conversation we can have when I offer representation, too. #askagent

I think the most important thing is to make sure that you continue to communicate with your agent when you need help, even once you're well on your way to publication or already published. We're here to help after the book deal is signed, too. #askagent

I can only speak for me, and it is often part of a form letter. For me, yes it is genuine but also part of a form letter. I NEVER want to miss the opportunity to read something new from an author no matter why I rejected on the 1st place. #askagent

YA vs A comes down to not only age, but the manner in which characters interact with authority and the maturity with which they approach things like conflict, confusion, fear, and doubt. Think of how teens handle these things vs adults. #askagent

Name matters early on, but make sure it is introduced organically. Age can often be subtle and implied by showing activities, setting, or family config. Nothing "told" to the reader in a way that is not organic in the scene. Organic is challenging, but important! #askagent

In general, "upmarket" refers to things with a stronger literary feel vs commercial. Horror itself does seem to be climbing, but I'm not sure I'm qualified to differentiate between upmarket and commercial with respect to that. #askagent

Absolutely there is. The market wants a FRESH take on fantasy stories without relying on Tolkien-esque tropes and worlds that feel generic based on previous saturation in fantasy. Also fresh, never seen before POVs #askagent

Prologues are often a way of telling rather than showing. I'm not personally averse to them, but if the story functions just fine without it, sometimes it's best to get right into the rhythm the reader can expect from the whole book. #askagent

I can only speak for myself.
If you're a debut, a long word count = more expensive book to print = greater financial risk for publisher. If something is 20-50k over word count guides for genre, I might hesitate, but I never rej on that alone. #askagent

Varies agency to agency! In our agency, you may always query multiple agents, but only one at a time. #askagent

I really prefer a text document, double spaced. The content itself matters more than the presentation, to me. #askagent

When I'm reading queries, I encounter a few common barriers in SFF. #querytip #amquerying #askagent
- A mythological twist goes in a very predictable direction. I know you're inspired by other things you've read, but YOUR original twists are what will make your book stand out.

Each agency has it's own policy. At Bookends, we ask you to query one agent at a time but if that agent passes you may query others. Check with each specific agency's website for their query policy! #askagent

I don't mind a drop of humor or personal connection as long as the query does tell me everything I need to know professionally and is clear and concise. What I LOATHE is self deprecating comments in queries. #askagent

I read a bunch of queries on my phone last night lol. Querymanager eliminates many of these issues for me. #askagent