Annie Bomke Literary Agency

Authors, if there are certain genre keywords the agent you're querying is really into, use them. It makes a huge difference. #pubtip

Nonfiction writers, instead of asking other authors/experts to write a blurb for your book, ask them to promote your book to their followers in some way. Blurbs are a passive form of promotion that do very little to make readers aware of a new author. #pubtip

If you open your book w/ a description of a landscape, infuse it w/ the voice of your protag, or else it will be flat & meaningless. #pubtip

If you self-published your book and are now looking for an agent, make sure you include your sales figures in your query. #pubtip

If an agency doesn't have anything on their website about being closed to queries, you can assume they're open to them. #pubtip

Querying is a lot like applying for a job. You show your professionalism by giving the agent everything they ask for upfront. #pubtip

For example, describing a wolf's teeth as lupine isn't interesting, because it doesn't add depth or nuance to its wolfness. #pubtip

Use adjectives that bring nuance and depth to a noun, and surprise the reader. #pubtip

Watch your prepositional phrases. You don't need to have your character move away from something & towards something else. #pubtip

Be mindful of your use of adjectives & adverbs. If you use them too much (with almost every noun/verb) they slow down your writing. #pubtip

If you're writing in a genre you're unfamiliar with, make sure you research the norms and expectations for that genre. #pubtip

Another way you can build your platform is by becoming active on the blogs of others. Build relationships w/ your fellow bloggers. #pubtip

The easiest way to draw followers to your FB page, Twitter page or blog is to provide something of value to them. #pubtip

Agents assume that you're querying other agents. Unless an agent asks for an exclusive, you don't need to give them one. #pubtip

Which is just another reason that you should never write to trends. The trend will be over before you've finished your book. #pubtip

If you don't know and like the genre you're writing in, it will show in your writing. #pubtip

This should go without saying, but you should like the genre you’re writing in. You should be an avid reader of that genre. #pubtip

In any marketing plan, the #1 thing I'm looking for is numbers. How many people will each part of the plan reach. #pubtip

Also, YA novels are usually written in 1st person present tense, as this gives a great sense of immediacy to the MC's voice. #pubtip

#pubtip YA novels should be told from the POV of a teen between the ages of 14-18. If your MC is not in that age range, your book is not YA.