Alexandra Machinist

I’m gonna take this most excellent policy and institute it myself. #pubtip

Ask yourself honestly--is your email REALLY TRULY in need of a red exclamation point? #pubtip

Many a worthy #pubtip here

True #pubtip

Word count matters. Sure, a fantasy novel or a historical sagas get dispensation from the 100,000 average. But your YA thriller’s just got to be under 100,000 words. 200,000 does not a YA thriller make. #pubtip

Let this be the annual day I remind everyone that a novel is by definition fictional and thus "fictional novel" is redundant. It also earns an automatic neg in a query letter. #pubtip

Wise. Applies equally well to querying authors. #pubtip

The power of perseverance never wanes. Keep trying, would-be authors. Gina is proof that it’s worth it! #pubtip #authorstats

I love knowing that you have many novel ideas...but I always think wisest to query one only. And choose your strongest! #pubtip #amquerying

And never think that if I passed once, I wouldn't want to see a future query. I would! #pubtip #amquerying

If I haven't responded to your query, send me a note. I've responded to all (that I know of!) through 3/31. Know too that if I am silent, I didn't get it and would always appreciate a gentle re-send. #pubtip #amquerying

This text from a good friend who hopes to be a debut author says it all...and my reply is, no it doesn’t get easier, but it gets more and more worth it! Persevere, writers. And know you’re not alone in the difficulty. #pubtip

Queriers, I see your name in the "from" line of your email and your signature. No need to tell me it as your opener. #pubtip #queries

Authors, baseline assumption is querying multiple agents. So if you are querying exclusively, you must say so. #pubtip

Calling me Alexander is a direct query delete. #pubtip

15,000 words does not a novel make. Typical adult commercial novel word count is 80-100k. #pubtip

The most difficult reaction an agent can have to a manuscript is not dislike or even hate but ambivalence. #pubtip #amreading

If I haven't read in a couple months, email nicely inquiring. Don't send hostile email assuming I passed bc silence for a few weeks. #pubtip

It can take me months to get to reading a submission. Please don't assume silence is a pass. Just means I haven't read yet. #pubtip

You guys, googling titles to make sure they aren't already taken is a very good idea. #pubtip