Eric Williams

Just a quick #QueryTip: Make sure to personalize your pitch to each agent/editor/publisher you're querying. Research who they are, what they currently have in their catalog, and what they're looking for. A little extra effort can go a long way in standing out from the crowd! ❤️

Don't take rejections personally. It's part of the process, and every writer faces it at some point. You’re being redirected to someone who will actually care about you, your story, and your writing career. Patience is key to find the right publisher for your book! #querytip

Editing your book before querying not only increases your chances of getting picked, but also speeds up the publishing process, since the in-house editor and author won’t have as much to revise compared to an unpolished manuscript. #querytip #writingadvice

When querying, avoid mentioning other manuscripts sitting in your drawer, asking an agent or publisher to choose which one they want to read. Send only the best and strongest manuscript you have. #querytip

Who came up with this myth that you can only query one publisher/agent at a time? That’s not true. You can and should query with as many as you want! Your chances of getting picked are higher the more people you contact. #querytip

If you're asked what your target audience is, "everyone" is not an acceptable answer. #querytip

When querying, you should already be writing your next book. Never wait for a book to be picked up before starting your next one. Published or not, the best way to sell your book is by writing your next one. #querytip

Always follow the publisher’s or agent’s guidelines when querying your manuscript. They are there for a reason. #querytip

“Show, don’t tell” applies to query letters too! #querytip

When writing, don’t try to please everyone. You must have a target audience, and your betas and editor must be part of that target audience.
#amwriting #querytip

Friendly reminder that if you are querying, wait at least 6 months before deciding to self-publish… and if you do, follow up with the agents or publishers you queried with to withdraw your application before you self-publish in case one of them is interested. #querytip

The synopsis is arguably the most important element when querying (with me) #querytip

"How do I know a publisher/agent is right for me and my books before I query with them?"

Read the "about us" page and look at their current catalogue. Do they publish books you would compare to yours? Same genre and target audience? Are they active on social media? #querytip

Tip to write a great synopsis: write a couple of sentences for each chapter, don’t worry about writing big paragraphs for your entire book; it’s easier to break it down per chapter and then merge it. #writingtip #querytip

Make sure your query letter has no typos. It can be very distracting. I found myself editing a query letter, which makes me think: how much editing will the manuscript need? #QueryEric #querytip

Even though I am sharing query tips today, you should ALWAYS check the publisher’s and agent’s guidelines before you query with them. Every agent is different, many have different requirements #QueryEric #QueryTip

Here's a great #querytip: Include the title, word count, genre, who would read, and your comparables in the first couple of lines of your letter. It's what hooks agents/publishers right away. Everything else is extra information, so keep your first paragraph simple. #QueryEric

If you read your work outloud before submitting it, you are more likely to notice omitted words. #querytip #amediting

If you have a friend who got a publishing deal, ask to see their query letter. #querytip

You can only improve if you have something (or someone) you can compare yourself to.

Always write a query letter. #querytip