Crazy villains are the least interesting to me. I like a smart villain with a devious plan that will help him/her reach their ultimate goal. #writingtips #pubtip
Lynn Johnston @lynnjohnstonlit · 2d
#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.
BookEnds Literary Agency @bookendslit · 2d
What is an 'Option' in Book Contracts? youtu.be/cjtEu4jhZq0 via @YouTube #pubtip
Naomi Davis, literary agent @NaomisLitPix · 2d
#querytip Sometimes, there is nothing wrong w/your query or book.
Sometimes, it's just not a book I want to read. Look at a bookstore's genre-specific shelf: you might only decide on one out of 200 books to read. Others might be in your interest range, but just don't grab you.
Tara Gilbert 🔮✨ @Literary_Tara · 3d
Some basic info on what I'm looking for on my query form.
Pitch: Once sentence, high concept, pitch.
Query: 2-3 paragraphs about your character/their goals, their world, stakes, and metadata/bio.
Synopsis: 1-2 page look at your whole book (spoilers included) #querytip
Lynn Johnston @lynnjohnstonlit · 3d
Ryan Foland @ryanfoland
So, I'm at the airport & I go to the bar to wait for my flight.I meet a lady, we make small talk, I mentioned I was in town speaking. She kept asking questions, which led to me to mentioning my book.
I had one on me. She asked to see.
And she bought it.
How cool is that?!🙌 pic.twitter.com/TNS6liZaHZ
This cute story made me think of a #pubtip for authors. When & if your hardcover gets "remaindered" the publisher should give you notice & chance to buy highly discounted copies. Grab all you can afford to give as gifts & for future signings.
Erin Clyburn @erin_clyburn · 3d
Second, my #MSWL says I'm looking for diverse Southern voices. I've gotten a few queries claiming to tell #ownvoices/diverse Southern stories... that are not. I thought this would go without saying, but don't coopt this if you are not a marginalized voice.
#querytip #amquerying
Erin Clyburn @erin_clyburn · 3d
I want to mention two things that are bumming me out lately:
First, I've had a big uptick in queries lately, & the MAJORITY of them are like 1-2 lines long. Total. This makes me want to pull out my hair. If you send me a 1-line query, I will reject it.
#querytip #amquerying
"You are the CEO of your book." I heard this on a podcast yesterday and it stood out to me. Meaning: you know your book best, you have the most at stake, you know the audience and you've got to 'take the reins.' just a #pubtip
If you receive an offer of rep (yay!), please send notice in a new email (without "query" in the subject line) 📚 #querytip
Samantha Wekstein @SWekstein · 4d
Genevieve Gagne-Hawes @genevievejude
Time to sound that ol' "if you're getting offers on your book, let agents who have partials/fulls know so we can accelerate for you!" gong. #querytip pic.twitter.com/4tZB7SHIB9And also agents that you queried! I will hop on something fast if it has an offer, even if it's a query I haven't seen yet! #querytip
Genevieve Gagne-Hawes @genevievejude · 4d
Time to sound that ol' "if you're getting offers on your book, let agents who have partials/fulls know so we can accelerate for you!" gong. #querytip
Happy HollZABÉs ⛄️🌲❄️ @ZREllor · 4d
Handy #querytip—I really prefer a word document submission instead of a PDF for requested material! PDFs are hard to read on my Kindle
Nephele Tempest @NepheleTempest · 4d
Dear Writers: It's lovely to include a small story about why you've chosen to query a specific agent/agency. But be sure to change out that story when you query the NEXT agent. #querytip
Megan Manzano 🇵🇷 🌸 @Megan_Manzano · 4d
I get wanting your book to reach ALL audiences, but first you must target the CORRECT audience. If your book surpasses that reach, then that's great!
But if you don't target an audience at all, there's no readership.
#writingcommunity #writetip #querytip
Megan Manzano 🇵🇷 🌸 @Megan_Manzano · 4d
Correct audience categories matter for:
- Expectations of that market/readership
- Placement in bookstores
- How an agent will pitch and sell your book
#writingcommunity #writetip #querytip
Megan Manzano 🇵🇷 🌸 @Megan_Manzano · 4d
So when I get queries where the protagonists are 25+ but it's classified as young adult or middle grade, it tells me you're not targeting the right audience and aware of what the different audience categories include.
#writingcommunity #writetip #querytip
Megan Manzano 🇵🇷 🌸 @Megan_Manzano · 4d
If you're writing young adult you're ideally writing from the perspective of a character under 19. Adults can also be present here but we should still be getting a younger voice.
#writingcommunity #writetip #querytip
Megan Manzano 🇵🇷 🌸 @Megan_Manzano · 4d
If you're writing middle grade, you're ideally writing from the perspective of a character under 13. Adults can be present, of course, but we should be getting a younger voice.
#writingcommunity #writetip #querytip
Megan Manzano 🇵🇷 🌸 @Megan_Manzano · 4d
I've seen a handful of queries lately where a story is classified as MG or YA despite having a cast of adult characters.
And this highlights a distinction between expectations of an audience category versus who you think your book is for.
#writingcommunity #writetip #querytip