Lauren Spieller
Literary Agent
Triada US Literary Agency
Twitter Valkyrie | Literary Agent @TriadaUS | Author of YOUR DESTINATION IS ON THE LEFT + SHE'S THE WORST. I love dogs like it's my job. She/Her.

Literary Agent
#QueryTip: check your spam. I've noticed that my replies--requests and rejections--are occasionally not received, which creates confusion and angst! Make sure you're checking your spam at least once a week!

Literary Agent
I see lots of MG novels that are seemingly about a series of developmental/familial conflicts instead of a central conflict. I understand that friendship break ups and periods and divorce are all important at that age, but I still need you to tell me what the HOOK is. #querytip

Literary Agent
Query Don’ts:
—insult other books
—say your book defies genre
—use negative self talk
—ignore guidelines
Query Do’s:
—Give us the hook/high concept pitch
—Show your summary to someone who hasn’t read the book
—send it to agents individually
—write another book!
#querytip

Literary Agent
Don't give away the ending of your book in a query. Especially not in the very first line of the email. 😭 #querytip #triadatip

Literary Agent
Writers: if an agent is pressuring you to sign with them and pull your book from other agents, think long and hard about why they are doing that and whether it’s in your best interest to do so *before* you agree. #querytip

Literary Agent
I’ve been receiving a lot of emails from writers (very politely!) requesting feedback, referrals, or explanations after I’ve passed on their query. I understand wanting these things but agents receive more than 30 queries a day—we unfortunately don’t have time. #querytip

Literary Agent
Writers— “contemporary” and “realistic” are often used as synonyms when describing genre, but they’re not. Ex: a realistic/real world novel set in 2002? That’s historical. (Gah I know—we are old! 😆) #querytip

Literary Agent
#QueryTip! Don’t query until you get feedback on your pitch from someone who is unfamiliar with your manuscript. They will be able to point out holes that are invisible to you/someone who has read the MS already. #Triadatip

Literary Agent
When you transition from one line to the next in your query summary/pitch, the relationship between those two lines is dictated by how your story unfolds ("But" vs "Therefore"). If you're not sure what I mean, I suggest watching this: youtube.com/watch?v=vGUNqq… #querytip

Literary Agent
Comp titles are there to help agents/editors see how a book will fit on shelves/into the CURRENT market, so it’s important that the ones you provide be both *relevant* and *recent* #querytip

Literary Agent
There seems to be confusion about what an agent “closing to queries” actually means. It does *not* mean that we aren’t responding to the things that are *already* in our inbox! It just means that we are not accepting any new, unsolicited work! #querytip

Literary Agent
Writers, if your book doesn't perfectly fit a specific MSWL item, that's okay! It's better to query because you think the book is a good fit in general than to try to cherry pick elements of a specific mswl to make your book fit. (Example in next tweet) #querytip

Literary Agent
A few #querytip(s):
~ share your query w someone who hasn’t read your book to spot holes
~ don’t ask for permission to query. Just do it.
~don’t respond to form rejections (either to thank us or to ask for an explanation—we unfortunately don’t have time)
~ Don’t give up!!!

Literary Agent
Writers, if you are planning to query an agent, we don’t need to be told in advance. Just email when you’re ready to submit. #querytip

Literary Agent
I get a lot of ‘magic is dying’ or ‘magic is gone,’ queries. What about ‘magic is HERE and it is FLOURISHING and we do NOT know how to use it”?! #querytip

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
Do not query before you have a) finished writing your book, b) revised your book, c) shown your query to someone unfamiliar with your work who can point out confusing bits. #querytip

Literary Agent
Don't forget--I'm closing to queries on December 1st, and won't be opening again until January 15th, 2019! Get those queries in! #querytip

Literary Agent
When you tell me your book is MG/YA, it sends the message that you haven't done enough research. Remember, your book can only sit on one shelf. So which one is it? #querytip

Literary Agent
If you have always wanted to try to write Middle Grade, now is the time. #querytip