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
I'm updating my @WritersDigest webinar as we speak. You still have an hour to sign up! writersdigestshop.com/how-to-get-an-… #askagent #querytip
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Read the first line of a partial manuscript & had to have the full. Sometimes one line is all it takes. #querytip
Literary Agent
ICYMI: last week's #MondayBlogs: 5 Reasons for “Quick Pass” on a Query Letter bit.ly/2g89Fpq #querytip
Literary Agent
5 Reasons Agents “Quick Pass” on a Query Letter carlywatters.com/2016/11/07/qui… #MondayBlogs #querytip
Literary Agent
Quick pass: manuscripts that date themselves fast (i.e. hook that's dependent on social media, reality TV, time sensitive etc.) #querytip
Literary Agent
Remember: don't repeat an agent's interests back to them word-for-word (we know our own #MSWL!) instead SHOW us how yours fits.
Literary Agent
ICYMI: 10 simple ways to personalize your query to agents & set your book apart: carlywatters.com/2016/10/03/per… #querytip
Literary Agent
Successful queries focus on what happens with the plot--not how the book is supposed to make us feel. Themes don't sell books. #querytip
Literary Agent
ICYMI: 10 Ways To Personalize Your Query to Agents carlywatters.com/2016/10/03/per… #MondayBlogs #querytip
Literary Agent
10 Ways To Personalize Your Query to Agents: bit.ly/2dMmq4p #mondayblogs #querytip
Literary Agent
I've been getting lots of YA queries lately. I'm definitely open to coming-of-age for adult audience, but no YA/MG/kidlit. #querytip
Literary Agent
A query letter is a symbol of so much more. Writing skills, professionalism, ability to market/pitch yourself, self awareness. #querytip
Literary Agent
Think about what we MUST know & focus on that. We don't sell a book on theme, we sell it on hook/plot/stakes. #querytip
Literary Agent
It's hard when your book baby is going out into the world for the first time, but believe me--less is more.
Truly.
Self-edit.
#querytip
Literary Agent
Remember that the whole point of a query is to pique our interest & get us to request more--not explain every detail. #querytip
Literary Agent
I have an aversion to the word bildungsroman in a query. I know what you're getting at but it just sounds so pretentious. #querytip
Literary Agent
#querytip: Self-pubbed but want trad future? How to say it: "Previously self-published, but looking for a traditional deal with new ms."
Literary Agent
#querytip Querying your 1st ms & have 0 bylines or publications? How to say it: "This is my debut novel & I'm hard at work on my second."
Literary Agent
#querytip Writing or have written a series but are pitching book 1? How to say it: "This is the first book in a planned series."