Patricia Nelson
Literary Agent
Marsal Lyon Literary Agency
Literary Agent at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, representing YA & MG fiction (all genres), women's fiction & romance. She/her.
Literary Agent
Kate McKean @kate_mckean
What does it mean when an editor or agent says ~I just didn't fall in love with it~~ in a rejection?katemckean.substack.com/p/what-does-i-…
#amwriting #amquerying #literaryagent #WritingCommunity
Writers, this is a really great explanation of the "I just didn't fall in love" pass on submissions. A "no" doesn't mean you did something wrong or your book is bad... it just means it wasn't exactly right for that particular agent or editor. #querytip
Literary Agent
Tricia Skinner @4triciaskinner
#querytip: If your query reads like soundbites from movie trailers, you're doing it wrong. While a "non-stop thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat & leaving you gasping for more" may work for the @Avengers, it doesn't make me want to read your mss.This is such a good #querytip! Trying to create your own hype like this tends to ring false. Just tell us about the story -- a compelling premise will speak for itself.
Literary Agent
PSA for querying writers: please make sure you don't have your anti-spam settings up so high it's impossible to get to you! If my query reply gets rejected bc I'm not on an "approved contacts" list or similar, you just won't hear from me. 😟 #querytip
Literary Agent
I'm continually surprised at the frequency with which I get queries starting with an overly familiar address. "Hey Pat!" "Hi Patty!" I... don't go by those names. Remember: treat it like a business letter. The classic "Dear Patricia" is just fine. #querytip
Literary Agent
Barlow Adams @BarlowAdams
My weirdest rejection was when I was shopping a novella I wrote and this small press run by two joint-publishers requested a full MS, and disagreed so passionately about whether to pick it up that the two split and the press disbanded. My bad writing ended a literary marriage.Amazing/hilarious example of "publishing is a subjective business." (I know that may sometimes sound like BS agent-speak, but you guys, IT'S TRUE.) #querytip
Literary Agent
#querytip If you're setting your YA/MG in the recent past, you need to have a really good plot reason & compelling worldbuilding. Kids/teens don't have any inherent nostalgia for the 1950s or even the 1990s -- they weren't even alive in the twentieth century (!).
Literary Agent
I've said it before & I'll say it again: there is NO REASON spend time trashing other books in your query. "My book is good unlike those frivolous pieces of crap The Hunger Games & 50 Shades so obvi you should rep it" is... not an enticing pitch. #querytip
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Tara Sim 🌟 CHAINBREAKER RELEASES JAN 2! @EachStarAWorld
When you're writing second world fantasy, it's really easy to fall into the trap of overwhelming the reader with info/names.Thread! Great explanation of a very common problem in YA fantasy first pages. #querytip
Literary Agent
Still noticing the query trend of VERY long MG novels: 70K, 80K, 90K (!!) Cut these down, folks. This is too long for an MG debut. #querytip
Literary Agent
Gentle reminder to queriers that a query is a business letter. Aim for professional (not informal) & confident (but not arrogant). #querytip
Literary Agent
#querytip When sending req'd materials, name the file "Your Name - Book Title" Many of us read mss on a Kindle &that way we know what it is!
Literary Agent
Getting a lot of queries lately for 80K+ (!) middle grade novels. Lovely queriers, that is almost always TOO LONG for MG. #querytip
Literary Agent
Periodic PSA that I do NOT rep adult sci-fi/fantasy--for SFF, I'm YA/MG only. Anything online that says otherwise is lying to you! #querytip
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
#querytip Don't comp to classics (unless it's as "a modern retelling of...") or books YOU read as a kid. Show you know the current market.
Literary Agent
Dahlia Adler @MissDahlELama
Gonna share this opinion but tell you I'm super not here to argue about it:Don't query your stuff as NA. Go up, go down, or self-pub.
Co-signed from the agent side. This is advice you want to listen to. #querytip
Literary Agent
Have seen multiple queries this week w/ a typo in the book's title. Oof. I'm forgiving of the occasional mistake, but...proofread! #querytip
Literary Agent
#querytip: no need to tell me in your query that other agents have req'd fulls. I req based on my own taste, not others' interest. Really!
Literary Agent
Today's oddest query touts the novel's "brand integration" potential for Chili's Restaurants. This... does not inspire confidence. #querytip