Carly Watters
Literary Agent
P.S. Literary Agency
SVP & Senior Lit Agent @PSLiterary MA in Publishing Studies @CityUniLondon Co-host of @TSNOTYAW VP of Professional Assoc. of Canadian Literary Agents
Literary Agent
#querytip: Had an agent & it didn't work out for various reasons? How to say it: "Formerly represented, but have parted ways amicably."
Literary Agent
ICYMI: "6 Ways To Make Comp Titles Work For You" by @JJohnsonBlalock carlywatters.com/2016/08/08/com #querytip
Literary Agent
"6 Ways To Make Comp Titles Work For You" by @JJohnsonBlalock carlywatters.com/2016/08/08/com… #MondayBlogs #querytip
Literary Agent
Everything from the subject heading to the file name says something about your presentation. #querytip
Literary Agent
Like a resume, it's best to title your manuscript document file with YOUR name, not MY name--and add your book title too please! #querytip
Literary Agent
Bad comp titles can ruin a query. If they're not 100% right, they're very, very wrong. #querytip
Literary Agent
Good question! "What happens AFTER the R&R?" jetreidliterary.blogspot.ca/2016/05/what-h… via @Janet_Reid #querytip
Literary Agent
If you apologize for your 170k novel, you KNOW it's too long! Cut before you query & get to the task you already know you must do #querytip
Literary Agent
Carly Watters @carlywatters
Reading 100+ queries at a time means I get my own agent interests, address & client names repeated back to me again & again.I know my interests. I'm glad you found me. But focus on how your novel fits into that & snag me with YOUR own words, not mine. #querytip
Literary Agent
Happy 1 year agent-versary to @kurestinarmada! Follow her for great #querytip & #pubtip tweets!
Literary Agent
Next week! My Thurs webinar “Find Success with Your Query Letter: Getting Beyond Form Letters” bit.ly/1P0ajuS #querytip
Literary Agent
Next week, 2/11! @WritersDigest webinar on queries & deciphering rejections in order to achieve success: wp.me/p1EorO-1Ea #querytip
Literary Agent
X meets Y, or the "high concept" pitch. Listen and learn: bit.ly/1QuVqTU via @PubCrawlBlog #querytip
Literary Agent
#querytip: Round your word count up or down so it's even (75,500). The exact word count (75,338) looks awkward & give you no room to edit.
Literary Agent
We are closing to queries but just for the holidays. Dec 23 to Jan 3 queries will be deleted. Resend in new year. #querytip @PSLiterary
Literary Agent
I'm getting some great This Is Where I Leave You comps in the slush pile this week! More of this please! All the family drama. #querytip
Literary Agent
#querytip Excessively complimenting agents in your query is awkward because you don't actually know us at all. Just who we are online.
Literary Agent
16 Query Tips From Literary Agents: "Dialogue’s only purpose is to move the story along." wp.me/p4SsOO-md0 via @theryanlanz #querytip
Literary Agent
Catch-all #querytip blog post from @Janet_Reid at @QueryShark. Don't miss this one! bit.ly/1LFr8vs
Literary Agent
#querytip easy requests: personalized intro, genre I rep, 70-90k, hook w/ external conflict, unique characters, author bio w/ career vision.