Erin Clyburn
Literary Agent
Howland Literary
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
Literary Agent
Writers, if you see that there's a new agency open to queries & the agent(s) has no current clients, no past sales, & no real bio or experience listed, your red flag should go up. If something feels wrong or shady, it almost certainly is.
#amquerying #querytip
Literary Agent
I hope this offers some context. I'm doing, quite literally, all I can.
It's a new month, & as always, I'm very excited to read every query that I'm sent! Please keep 'em comin'. 7/7
#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity
Literary Agent
(& I still have to do things like eat & sleep & spend time with my family & not stare at the computer for so long I get ocular migraines. 6/)
#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity
Literary Agent
& on top of that, a day job. Much of this is done outside of regular work hours.
I'd love to be able to give feedback on every query, but if I spent even five extra minutes on each query, that would be 44 extra hours per month. 5/
#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity
Literary Agent
Not counting reading requested subs, which is many hours. & the hours spent on my clients' work, which always comes first: reading manuscripts, editing, writing sub letters, making sub lists, talking to editors, etc. This is many hours. 4/
#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity
Literary Agent
Let's say I spent just five minutes with each query, that's 44 hours spent reading queries in April. 3/
#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity
Literary Agent
Erin Clyburn @erin_clyburn
I thought I'd do a lil thread of query stats for April, particularly because I've gotten a lot of follow-up messages from authors asking me to reconsider their rejections/give feedback/ask me to recommend other agents they could query. 1/#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity
I hope putting some numbers out here will show how much time agents are already putting into this process.
Queries received in April: 527
Rejected: 498
Undecided/unread: 27
Requested fulls/partials: 2
Offers made: 1
#querytip #amquerying #WritingCommunity
2/
Literary Agent
Second, my #MSWL says I'm looking for diverse Southern voices. I've gotten a few queries claiming to tell #ownvoices/diverse Southern stories... that are not. I thought this would go without saying, but don't coopt this if you are not a marginalized voice.
#querytip #amquerying
Literary Agent
I want to mention two things that are bumming me out lately:
First, I've had a big uptick in queries lately, & the MAJORITY of them are like 1-2 lines long. Total. This makes me want to pull out my hair. If you send me a 1-line query, I will reject it.
#querytip #amquerying
Literary Agent
Carly Watters @carlywatters
Need logline help? "The protagonist + what they want + what they need to do (plot) + irony in the story (to hook) + main antagonist/conflict preventing them from getting what they want (power divide) + the global value scale driving your story (purpose)." abigailkperry.com/post/the-ow-lo…This is SO IMPORTANT. A common mistake I see is that instead of outlining clear stakes, the author writes, "The protagonist must face a series of obstacles. Will they X or X?" Don't speak in generalities; give us the most specific logline you can. #querytip
Literary Agent
Erin Clyburn @erin_clyburn
your synopsis should spoil the ending.your synopsis should spoil the ending.
your synopsis should spoil the ending.
your synopsis should spoil the ending.
your synopsis should spoil the ending.
your synopsis should spoil the ending.
#querytip
After spending some time in my query box this morning, looks like it's time for a retweet. #amquerying #querytip
Literary Agent
Last night, I read ~10 queries in a row with prologues, none of which needed a prologue. Not saying that prologues NEVER work, but if you have one in your MS, really look at the purpose it serves. A short thread:
#querytip #amquerying
Literary Agent
Generally, a rejection is a rejection unless we've asked to see the project again after a revision. Unless it's undergone a major overhaul (which generally does not happen in a week), please do not resend. #querytip 2/2
Literary Agent
I'm seeing a lot of quick repeat queries lately. As in, one of our agents rejects a project, & the author resubmits within a few days/weeks that they have done a fast edit based on the rejection feedback. Please pay attention to sub guidelines on agency sites. #querytip 1/2
Literary Agent
It is never a good look to slide into an agent’s DMs to pitch your work, even if your DM admits “I know you said not to do this.” This has happened to me five times in the past three days. Don’t do it. Use the proper channels. #amquerying #querytip
Literary Agent
Maria Heater @mariatheheater
"This isn't your typical YA""You won't find any vampires or werewolves here"
"This is different from other epic fantasies"
Friends, don't waste your very limited query space on what your story ISN'T. If your story is totally unique, it'll be obvious from your pitch #querytip
When I gave a talk on queries last week, this was the main thing I stressed: Describe your story in a way that no other story could be described. Be specific. Pitch me on what makes it YOURS, not in general terms, or by saying what it isn't. #querytip