Caitlin McDonald
Literary Agent
Donald Maass Literary Agency
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN β’ she/her β’ queer β’ ADHD β’ intensely editorial π #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights

Literary Agent
#querytip Google your book title before you get too attached! Try to avoid titles already in print: you want people to be able to find YOUR book when they search for it, not get confused & buy somebody else's by mistake. Ditto for the author name you want to use!

Literary Agent
Hey y'all, #querytip: Don't call agents to cold pitch your query over the phone. Really, please don't. And especially don't call multiple times in a row if they don't pick up. This is the opposite of making a good impression.

Literary Agent
#querytip thread: Genre and age range do not count as personalization! Personalization isn't just to prove that you've researched an agent; it's also to MAKE YOUR QUERY STAND OUT. Be as specific and targeted as possible.

Literary Agent
#querytip: If an agent requests an R&R, don't rush it! We're not expecting it back within a short deadline, and tbh if you resubmit it in less than a month, that doesn't inspire confidence that you've completed the depth of revision we want to see.

Literary Agent
Here it is, the biggest #querytip of the year: READ π IN π YOUR π GENRE π
I honestly cannot stress this enough! It's good to read outside it as well, but it is crucial to READ the types of books you want to write!!

Literary Agent
#querytip: A cool pitch only works if it's accurate! Be careful not to set false expectations of what your book is about. For ex: don't pitch your query as a battle of wits against a murderer if it's actually a romance with a man falsely accused--those are very different books!

Literary Agent
#querytip time! It's great for aspiring authors to start building a mailing list early, if you can.
It's NOT great for querying authors to add potential agents to their mailing list without consent.

Literary Agent
Caitlin McDonald @literallycait
I have NOT caught on up requested fulls, however, so I must beg your patience a little longer. I'm doing my best.Also I've added a few new questions to my FAQ page, so be sure to read that if you're thinking of querying me or are waiting on a response. #querytip literallycait.tumblr.com/FAQ

Literary Agent
#querytip: Industry standard is to give agents 2 weeks notice when you receive an offer of representation. I've been seeing/hearing of a lot of one-week notices lately & that's not enough time for most agents to read, given our other commitments to our clients!

Literary Agent
Friendly reminder to please NOT pitch agents directly on Twitter, FB, DMs or any social media unless they specifically ask you to do so. Agents have FORMAL CHANNELS for submitting your work--please use those instead. Don't clog up our mentions with pitches. Thank you! #querytip

Literary Agent

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
Cristal is mostly on hiatusπ΄ @onaredhorse
The problem with querying the first book in a series is you can't mention the disaster wlw who show up in later books. lol Though to be fair, #QueerDisasterSwagger is my brand regardless of gender. :D twitter.com/literallycait/β¦Speaking only for myself and not all agents, but honestly if you know an agent wants something specific that shows up in later books, I think it's fine to mention that in the query letter! Certainly I would love to know. #querytip

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
Caitlin McDonald @literallycait
A Note: I understand the opening pages may not reflect your protagonist at their best. I understand about character arcs. In fact, I love seeing difficult characters grow into less shitty people! I even prefer them to Always Morally Upright Characters, bless their hearts.But there's a difference between a query letter pitching a character who grows, and pitching a Hero who then, in the sample pages, unironically views women as prizes. Author Awareness makes a difference. #querytip

Literary Agent
One more #querytip: "start with the action" is popular writing advice & as a result I receive many queries that start in the middle of a fight (or flight) scene.

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
Reminder that Saturday is your last day to get query submissions to me before I close for a few months! #querytip

Literary Agent
I just received four queries in a row that didn't include any greeting. Guys, I cannot emphasize what a HUGE difference it makes to address agents by name. It takes two seconds, shows courtesy and professionalism, and proves that you didn't just BCC 500 people. #querytip

Literary Agent
Another #querytip: though I love a query that indicates a clear knowledge of my interests and what I'm looking for, you shouldn't literally quote me. Use your limited word count more wisely.