🧼 Lauren Spieller 🖐

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

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

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

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

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

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

#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

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

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

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

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

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!!!

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

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

I totally forgot that I did this but hey it holds up #querytip

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

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

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

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

#querytip: if your book is a mystery, or has a mystery at the center, don't reveal the answer in your query. It not only undermines the hook in the query itself, but means I can't experience the book the way an editor/reader will. It also sucks the fun out of reading the story!