Naomi Davis

But when you crack open the pages of your next manuscript, you'll realize that those first relationships taught you HOW & WHY. Those first plots showed you WHEN, WHAT, & WHERE. That book in the drawer isn't a failed endeavor; it's a steppingstone, a learning process, a class. /4

These books are NOT WASTED TIME. These books are the ones where you more deeply, thoroughly explored your creativity. Where you fell in love w/a character & learned how potent those author-character relationships can be. Of COURSE you want to see every project on the shelves. /3

Some of these books may get requested & rejected, or never requested, or represented and then shelved when they fail to sell, or published and sell an unimpressive number of copies no matter what you try to do to make it fly. You wonder why? & it's so very hard to move on. /2

Dear #amwriting #amquerying authors THREAD #querytip
There will be books that you write&love,that you poured your soul into through every late night writing&painful slash of the editing pen,that do not ever see publication. It's hard to swallow this, I know. You love this book.1/

1more reminder: only include character description relevant to scene. Nestle it in moment that matters.

Do: "Mom pointed to the twisting tornado touching down way too close, my long, black hair whipping in the violent wind."

Don't: "I had long, black hair."
#amwriting #querytip

A reminder: bored characters make for bored readers. Characters need DIRECTION, even if story dramatically changes that.
Catalyst for action MUST be something more engaging than "Character was bored to death so an interesting plot started happening to him." #amwriting #querytip

What is your favorite outlining tool? I often recommend the One Page Synopsis guide (on publishing crawl website) by Susan Dennard, and Story Genius by Lisa Cron. What other tools do you find instrumental when plotting a new novel? #amwriting #querytip #askagent

Hi Hattie! Unfortunately I have very limited experience with 3rd omniscient, as it's not my reading preference. I hope there are other #askagent agents hanging around that can answer this! #querytip

To answer an #askagent question more broadly - Yes, you absolutely can comp characters/settings in addition to full titles: "If Harry Potter were thrust into the patriarchal world of The Handmaid's Tale..." when showing us your book's hook in a query. #querytip

I truly despise it when there are like 500 proper nouns for me to keep straight in a query. Focus it down to the hook: What is the story about? Tell me that, using the characters who matter around that hook. #askagent #querytip

#querytip using too many proper nouns like names of ppl & places muddles a query. No matter how creative your names are,they aren't what makes me request. Show me plot. Show me stakes. Show me relationships & arc. Make me need the STORY - I may ask you2 change names later anyway.

Here's how I see showing vs telling. THREAD
Tell: "He felt defeated."
Incompletely shown: "His shoulders sagged."
Shown and immersed: "His shoulders sagged in defeat."
#amwriting #amediting #querytip

A great example of what makes "voice" stand out in a manuscript. Give a character personality through narrative. It doesn't have to be funny (tho it can be, as in this example), just FULL OF PERSONALITY. #querytip

I see. Well,I don't speak for other agents, but I would not request a 400k word book subbed to me. I need word count of the book I will ask to read: bk 1, if a series. I don't need total series wordcount in query, nor all requested books sent at once b4 I've read first. #querytip

High word count doesn't deter me from requesting manuscripts unless it's over 200k, but it's pretty easy to see in 1st 3 chapt if words are used wisely. #querytip

A #querytip re: evolving equality in fantasy:
Plz don't send me evil creatures w/defining feature of "black."There are so many ways to represent evil w/o resorting to features readers associate w/society's perception of dark color=evil/dangerous. Readers of color deserve better.

#amwriting #amediting #amquerying #querytip thread cuz apparently I don't know how hashtagging works ;-)

I truly love it when a query tells me the personal connection that drove you to write the book. Just one (seriously: 1) line telling me why you care about the story, or where the idea came from. It helps me see what you wanted to accomplish,&if I can help you reach that #querytip

I am open for queries! Please see what I'm looking for here:
bookendsliterary.com/submissions/
#querytip #amquerying #amwriting
Submit to me here:
QueryMe.Online/NaomiDavis

On a serious note, #querytip - I get even more excited to read your book when you mention which Hogwarts House you are in.