Lynn Jones Johnston

Literary Agent

Lynn Johnston Literary

#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips
Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

The About the Author section in book proposals can be in 1st or 3rd person. If your proposal is mostly impersonal, switch to 1st in the ATA. If a memoir or contains personal stories, try 3rd. The goal is to convey you're credible & relatable. #pubtip

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

3) When can I start promoting the book? Ppl tend to be more motivated closer to pub date. In the meantime, ask them to sign up to be notified. Tip: offer free content e.g. presentation handouts in exchange for their email. Good luck!

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

2a) Should I create a separate social media handle for my book? No. Use your existing SM handle. 2b) On which SM platform should I push my book? Focus on the one you have the most engaged followers & push that content to other platforms.

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

Lynn Jones Johnston @lynnjohnstonlit

During a call today, I realized my author had 3 basic questions in prepping for the launch of her book. Passing along in case others need the info.#pubtip #authortip

1) Do I need a separate website for my book? No. If you have a website, create a page for your book & highlight it on the home page. Also, your publisher will have a landing page for your book you can link to. (Please don't just link to Amazon.)

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

Michelle Tessler @tessleragency

Best Sellers Sell the Best Because They’re Best Sellers nytimes.com/2020/09/19/boo…

When clients ask how to get their book into Target, Walmart & Costco, my answer is to make it a bestseller. Books at these outlets are managed like other inventory like electronics & toys, requiring steady demand. #pubtip

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

Lynn Jones Johnston @lynnjohnstonlit

When I get a query, after the topic the next thing I scan for is credentials. With NF, the person is as important because books aren't fact-checked like magazine & newspaper articles. Publishers must trust the author. Degrees, awards, jobs count.

I realize this can be unfair to those who don't have the same access. If you don't, show your lived experience. Get endorsements from experts on the topic. Get published by outlets known for rigor. Prove you can be trusted to tell the story. #pubtip

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

Given potential delays, authors should make sure the publishing contract specifies the on-pub $ is paid at least 12 months after acceptance of the manuscript even if the book hasn’t published. #pubtip nytimes.com/2020/08/27/boo…

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

Bethany C. Morrow @BCMorrow

Friendly reminder: if you're tweeting in support, it's always a capital B.

#Pubtip: since it’s non-standard (for now), make sure your publisher knows in advance to keep “Black” capitalized in copyediting. This came up as an issue on a book I rep.

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips
Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

Anne Tibbets @AnneTibbets

Great article about literary agents and how they help clients avoid contract pitfalls - in Forbes >>> forbes.com/sites/rachelkr…

Contract terms I see a lot now that are my pet peeves:
-Charging index fees against the advance instead of royalties
-Next book option tied to publication instead of D&A
#pubtip

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

I've changed a straight title to one more literary & vice versa; elevated a chapter title to the book title; cherry-picked a line from the ms; even took my then-4th grader's suggestion. Titles can come from anywhere.

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

Q: How important is the title when pitching to publishers?

A: Don't overlook the value of a great title You don't always need it but the right title can orient readers, stake your proposition on a crowded shelf & establish your voice.

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

Q: Why are there fewer books now with one-word titles like Quiet and Blink.

A: You want a SEO-friendly title for Google & Amazon, which is hard with one word. Better to find a title that gets your book as a top result.

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

Q: Will the publisher change the title of my book?

A: Sometimes. If you love the title you pitched, make sure your editor knows this. Ask upfront what the publishing team thought of it. You often can get mutual approval for the title in the contract.

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips
Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

#Pubtip If you need more time (life happens), ask for an extension asap so the publisher can adjust the schedule. If you don't get more time, aim to turn in even a rough draft. You likely will have another pass after the editor reviews it.

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips
Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

Authors have options beyond the traditional or self publishing:
-Indie publishing
-Hybrid publishing
-E-book only
-Original audiobook
-Podcasting
#pubtip

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips