Courtney Miller-Callihan

Just a thought: maybe don't badmouth a genre the agent specializes in when you query them? #querytip

Fridays are usually query days, but that seems cruel today, whether it's a yes or a no. I'll also be side-eyeing anything new, so. #querytip

#querytip: You don't need credentials to write fiction. If you stretch to include, it tends to look amateurish. Just write a good story!

#querytip: a great q letter tends 2 read like the back cover descrip of the novel. Model yr q after yr faves. What gives them their appeal?

Related #querytip: having someone's email address is not the same as having permission to add them to a newsletter list. This is spam.

Regular #querytip reminder: don't try to sell copies of your self-published book to the agents that turned it down.

#querytip that is really a pet peeve: if I pass on your manuscript, please do not try to sell me a copy when you self-pub it later.

#querytip: pick ONE genre for your work. What shelf does it best fit on @ yr local bookstore? ("Defies classification" is a bad thing, fyi.)

#querytip: I'm looking for books I can't stop reading. Query should make me want to dive in ASAP.

#querytip: don't explain why you're looking for an agent. I know what I bring to the process, & if you're in my inbox, I assume you do too!

#querytip: SP may be a great option for you, but it's not a stepping stone! More difficult to sell to a trad pub than unpublished work. 2/2

#querytip: Here's your regular reminder that self-publishing a book is not the first step to getting the work traditionally published. 1/2

#querytip: citing only MAJOR bestsellers (Twilight, 50SOG, Gone Girl) may send message that you don't read much/don't know category well.

#querytip: if you choose to compare yr work to others', make sure examples are recently pubbed (no more than 5 years old). Trends do change!

#querytip: things I won't do before reviewing your proposal (which came in via the query inbox): sign a non-disclosure agreement. *headdesk*

#querytip: don't get meta. You're right: I HAVE seen it all...except your book. Tell me about your book, not about how boring queries are!

Make the font bigger. At least 12 point. My eyes are not getting any younger. #querytip

Same goes for word count, interestingly; if a novel is unusually long or short vs. others in genre, it's usually a story problem. #querytip

I ask for a synopsis not just b/c it's quicker to read; it's also a great indication of whether author grasps genre expectations. #querytip

Goal of a query: to put yourself and your work in the best possible light. Don't ever apologize for your writing or your bio! #querytip