Sara Megibow

#QueryTip = YES to "my novel is complete" but NO to "I'm thinking of writing and novel and want representation first."

#QueryTip = did we meet at a conference? YES, include that info in your query! you know where my son goes to school? NO, leave that bit out.

#QueryTip = frustrating to ask for sample pages and *then* find out the submission isn't one I'd consider.

#QueryTip = I don't personally rep books that have been previously published but many agents do.

#QueryTip = if you are querying for a novel that has been previously published, please include that info in the query.

#QueryTip = review your fantasy query. Use highlighter to mark every word associated with explaining the world or backstory. Now TRIM!!

#QueryTip = don't do this, "...well, if you've read this far into my query I'm impressed." #agenting #pubtip

#QueryTip = fantasy hook is NOT, "and they had many adventures." #true #queries

#QueryTip example=RADIANT by @ksumnersmith is about a girl who sees ghosts + the ghost of a girl hunted for her power karinasumnersmith.com/novels/radiant/

#QueryTip = in epic fantasy show me the hook in addition to the world.

Submission guidelines say "first 3 pages" = NOT "3 pages from the most exciting part of the book." #QueryTip ktliterary.com/submissions/

#QueryTIp = Avoid saying, "heroine was surprised when..." in query letter. Show the hook, not the response to the hook.

#QueryTip YES! "Per your submission guidelines..." NO! "I read your submission guidelines but my book is different..."

#QueryTip = YES! "I look forward to hearing from you." NO! "I expect your answer this week."

#QueryTip = YES! "The heroine of my novel..." NO!" The heroin of my novel..."

#QueryTip = YES! "Sex positive" NO! "No sexual content in my book at all because that's nasty, filthy stuff that shouldn't be in literature"

Did I catch you on that last one? BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is commercial fiction, not shelved in Romance aisle. #tricky #QueryTip

#QueryTip = YES! "a romance novel like NOTHING BETWEEN US by Roni Loren." NO! "a romance novel like BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY"

#QueryTip = YES! "fully edited." NO! "I edited it again so please delete the copy I sent last week and replace with this one."

#QueryTip = YES! "Here is a short description of my book." NO! "Condensing a 400 pg book into a paragraph is dumb so here's a 5 page blurb."