Literary Gaygent Naomi Davis (they/them/she/her)

If you're wondering about genre numbers #querytip #amquerying - I'm working through mid-September queries right now. I have 368 to read, and 227 of them are adult SFF.
So THANK YOU!! Because I LOVE having so many queries!!!
But that's why sometimes it takes a while to get reply.

#amwriting #writetip #amediting #querytip Filter words are a common problem in self editing. Look thru your MS for "felt, realized, thought, decided, understood, knew, saw," etc. Replace w/stronger verbs & vivid description to reduce distance between reader & character. Example:

Seeing tweets abt "Bending query rules" to"get your foot in the door" w/agents.
Just don't, okay?
Because agents have to know writers CAN respect boundaries, like,for publisher contracts&stuff.
We establish boundaries to manage our work efficiently.We have that right. #querytip

Just your friendly neighborhood reminder that your query letter needs to tell me what your book is about, not just how you thought of it!

See the BookEnds YouTube channel for discussions on this 😁
#amquerying #querytip #writetip #amwriting

Psst... #amwriting #amediting #amquerying authors. I would like you read this thread, and then I would like you to make every effort to lift up another creative person who might be struggling today in this challenging, competitive industry. #querytip #writetip

For the evening crowd: please enjoy this video of me roasting my early writing.
We all start somewhere. Keep at it! #amwriting #QueryTip

So, we all start somewhere.
Here's a new video, in which I roast my early writing for you.
Spoiler alert: IT'S BAD. 😂
Enjoy.
#amwriting #querytip #amediting

youtu.be/oJ7DlC0CyWw

If it's really a problem and the book needs to be split in two or something, I'll recommend that. But I will never reject solely based on word count.
That said, it's pretty easy for me to tell on pg1 if those words are all used wisely. Make it sharp. #askagent #querytip

So I read queries on the treadmill most often.
Here's a sample of thoughts I have while reading actual queries.
#querytip #writetip #askagent #amquerying
youtube.com/watch?v=svsOny…

It's 11pm where I am, and I've just put my 12 yr old to bed after a long and enthusiastic conversation about the books they are reading and loving. What I've learned is GOLD for those #amwriting #amediting #amquerying Middle Grade. #writetip #querytip A #thread of quotes:

And please PLEASE look me up on #MSWL &keep me in mind for your next queries if you are newly agent-less. I promise transparency in everything in our working relationship, I promise integrity, & dedication to you&your career. #querytip #askagent #writetip
youtu.be/oF52BxpbztQ

#querytip #askagent "Does it look bad in my query if I've been previously repped but we parted ways?"
NO it does not. Someone before me saw your talent. This is a good thing.
Sometimes agent/client relationships break down. This is sometimes no fault, or fault of one party. 1/

Hello! Your friendly Saturday reminder that if a literary agent wants you to pay up front - a reading fee, editing fee, etc - run screaming to another literary agency!
We get paid when you get paid. Full stop. #querytip

Kate Brauning drops some really helpful truths here. #querytip #writetip

My point is: if you’ve received this/other feedback &it stung, I don’t mean to be cruel, but get used to it. Take it as armor&strap it on. There’s more coming even once you “make it.” Have to learn to constantly improve, besting your own best to dodge the feedback of “familiar.”

This may make you think: THIS INDUSTRY IS SO HARD. And yep. Yep it is. Even once you nail this and land representation, authors get this feedback from publishers. And then from reviewers. And then from readers of their next book, always held in their own shadow for comparison.

Not one of these elements, alone, is enough to push a book to greatness. It really needs a balance of all these things: originality in world, voice, plot structure, trope twist, motivation, backstory, stakes, relationships, emotional arc, etc etc etc. The list goes on.

But no matter how original and intricate your twist on something is, nor how unique your worldbuilding, if the voice doesn’t stand out as a unique character with a unique perspective on the world, it still falls into that “too familiar” feel.

Take that established system you love and think: how can you make this the book where readers say “What the EFF! I never would have thought of it like THIS!” How can you make this the book where readers say “I loved X but THIS book does things so differently!”

Fact is: readers always want something NEW. So even if you feel you’ve accomplished something familiar in a unique way, HOW familiar it is to an established readership is a very fine line to walk. Too familiar = boring. Not familiar enough = unclear readership.