Cecilia Lyra

Head over to my Instagram (@ cece_lyra_agent) for an #askagent session 😊

Head over to my Instagram for an #askagent --- I'll be answering the top questions in future posts! 📚✍🏽

Head over to my Instagram for an #askagent about hooks! #WritingCommunity

instagram.com/cece_lyra_agen…

Confession time: this is the second best part of being an agent. #WritingCommunity #askagent

And the 🏆 for the Best #QueryOfTheDay goes to...

"(Also, your dog has the best name ever, and my first cat's name was Lyra. Neither of which have anything to do with this pitch.)"

Ok, I agree. It's irrelevant. But it's also really cool. 😎 #WritingCommunity #askagent

And keep in mind that nonfiction is usually sold on proposal. I've seen great proposals run between 20k--30k words. #WritingCommunity #askagent

In all seriousness, publishers might prefer 50k (bc it's short) or 90k (bc it's more meaty) or whatever else (bc trend), but a good writer can get away with ANY word count if all the other elements are there. #WritingCommunity #askagent

For me, the ideal word count is: good writing. 😊

For nonfiction, having a platform is also, sadly (imo), really important. Almost essential.

#WritingCommunity #askagent

Lucky. People misspell my name in about 30--40% of the queries I get. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Cecelia❌ Cecily❌ Cecile❌ Lira❌ Lyrics❌ sometimes it's an entirely NEW names: Cindy❌ Cynthia❌
#askagent #WritingCommunity
You know what, though? I don't mind. Give me good writing and I'm happy! 😊

Are there brilliant novels that don't follow this advice? Of course! Exceptions always exist, and authors are allowed to do anything they want as long as it's intentional. But a good writer should be able to create a good scene, even if she chooses not to use it. #askagent 🍀

The advice still holds. 😊 Scene is the framework that allows writers to include setting, description, characters, dialogue, and stream of thought --- all while grounding and these elements in something the reader can clearly visualize. #WritingCommunity #askagent #amwriting

Absolutely, yes! I consider writers located anywhere in the world regardless of the citizenship(s) they hold. #askagent #WritingCommunity

It counts. Anything that can be measured objectively counts. That being said (and I don't like this reality), social media platforms are more easily recognizable and, therefore, appealing. #WritingCommunity #askagent

Yes! Include it all --- we are looking for specific numbers of followers on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook; subscribers on YouTube; and/or blog traffic. #askagent #WritingCommunity

As a reader, these labels annoy me because labels are limits and I don't like pigeonholing art. As an agent, I recognize that they are very important to SELL BOOKS. Whether I like it or not, genres are a thing—it's best to educate oneself on them. #askagent #WritingCommunity 3/3

Yes — the writing style can also help inform the genre. A subjective indicator, but as a reader I can usually tell the difference between the two.
Yes — in some instances, a work can be both commercial and literary.
Yes — I represent both genres.
#WritingCommunity #askagent
2/3

The first few pages of your novel shouldn't be used to convey information. Instead, they should be use to immerse the reader in a scene. These are not the same — a good writer knows this. #askagent #WritingCommunity

As a general rule, I don't represent fantasy or magical realism, but my colleague @VictoriaLoder_ does — and she's awesome! #askagent #Writing Community

#WritingCommunity — how high are the stakes in your novel? What is its central conflict? Knowing the answer to these questions is essential for those of you who are #amquerying — Remember: as authors, you can do whatever you want, but it should be intentional. #askagent

The most important thing in a query is.... GOOD WRITING. #WritingCommunity #askagent