Sharon Belcastro - Agent At Belcastro Agency

#querytip #amquerying tell me your story is high concept without telling me your story is high concept.

#querytip #amquerying it’s good to know WHAT your story is about but more importantly I want to know WHO your story is about.

#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity know your word count 350k words is too long for a memoir.

#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity know your wordcount. 20k words is too short for a YA young adult novel.

#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity Don't send a query in italics. It's way too difficult to read.

#querytip #amquerying I can’t say it enough, know your genre. Especially your word count. I continue to see quite a few submission way under and way over the guidelines.

#querytip #amquerying Don't purposely point out your shortfalls in your author bio. You are more than qualified to write your story with or without a "writing" degree.

#amwriting #querytip I'm seeing a trend of manuscripts way outside the acceptable word counts. Low and High. Learn your genre. This is a good guide. litrejections.com/word-count/

Even if your story is plot driven, let us know who your protagonist is, what it is they desire most and what is at stake if they fail. It’s your character the reader is going to emotionally invest in. #querytip #amquerying

#querytip #amquerying please don’t bash other writers in your market in your query letter. It won’t make you sound better than them, it will make you sound like a jerk to me.

#querytip starting your query by letting me know I won't be able to put your novel down and that you can guarantee it will change my life isn't going to convince me to read it.

#querytip a 340,000 word novel is a bit outside the acceptable word count for any genre.

#querytip Include word count, market and genre in your query letter. Preferably at the open. For example, I wanted to see if you were interested in this 75,000 word young adult fantasy.

#querytip try to give a 1-2 sentence summary of your novel and a short 300 word synopsis. Agents are less likely to read a several page synopsis to find out what your story is about.

#querytip #amquerying Put the title of your manuscript in the the subject line of your query email. Makes it easier to find. Unless of course the agent or editor has other guideline specifics.

Another #querytip from our slush pile this morning. Note the genre and market of your manuscript in your query letter. For instance Contemporary YA. Adult Fantasy.

Going through queries this morning. #querytip Don’t take away from your story by sending query in italics. It’s so hard to read.