Literary Agent
#WritingCommunity, the average length of time from acquisition of a book to pub is 18 months. Most agents take a few months to consider queries. If your concept is time-sensitive, you need to bear in mind that trad pub is a 2 year+ process for a new author. #QueryTip
Editor
Always write a query letter. #querytip
Editor
Thinking of submitting to me when I open to #queries again soon? Read some of my authors' work to see what I like. @AuthorWren It's a Wonderful Lie comes out 12/9 and you can pre-order now. @LeslieSulliRose Pink Guitars and Falling Stars comes out 1/6! #querytip #asktheeditor
Literary Agent
Almost every time I edit a MS for an emerging author, I have to address problems in the balance of narrative, action, and dialogue. This isn't a dealbreaker for me, since it's an easy lesson to learn for most authors - but something to revise for! #QueryTip
Literary Agent
Hey all! I got a TON of queries when I reopened, so I am closing until Jan 1. I don't send rejections in Dec, so I'll be going through and taking notes so I can get everything done first thing of 2022. ❤️
#amagenting #querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity
Literary Agent
Your friendly reminder that your story likely does NOT need to start with your character waking up.
Consider finding a more interesting dropping in point.
#querytip #amwriting #writingadvice
Literary Agent
Note to #NaNoWriMo21 writers: please don't query it yet. EDIT AND GET BETA READERS AND EDIT AGAIN!
I'd really love to not have first drafts in my inbox tomorrow ❤️
#WritingCommunity #amquerying #querytip
Literary Agent
A #pubtip that's getting increasingly relevant in the work-from-home era: if agents do not clearly welcome submissions by mail or list an address on their website, *absolutely do not go to creepy lengths to look up their home address and send them a physical sub that way.*
Literary Agent
I'm closed to submissions until early Jan as are many other agents. #Pubtip it's a good habit to check agency websites/SM before querying but esp over the holidays. In the meantime, here's what you can do while waiting:
Literary Agent
Lynn Jones Johnston @lynnjohnstonlit
I passed on a well-written proposal with a promising premise. The issue has to do with familiarity editors feel when considering projects. On many topics, the editor has probably seen some version in dozens of proposals & even books she's edited.The challenge is to stand out. You don't have to present totally new ground BUT you do have to present a fresh take. Do you have a new way to tell the story? Is your conclusion counterintuitive? Highlight the freshest, most unexpected aspects. #pubtip
Editor
something cropping up in recent queries is a whole slew of comp titles (like, 5-10 in some cases). A comp is so good and useful, but more than three (IMO) tends to muddy the waters and make it seem like the book is trying to be everything rather than what it is #querytip
Literary Agent
#querytip 1) Please don’t send me an email without the proper submission materials that are listed on my agency’s guidelines (query, synopsis, chapters in email’s body, etc). It shows me you actually did your research & that tells me so much about your character with just that.
Literary Agent
A felow agent recently tweeted about an agent's job: It's straight-commission self-employment, with no union or benefits. Well, the same goes for book authors: You only eat what you kill, and no one owes you anything. Get used to it. #pubtip
Literary Agent
May I gently suggest that writers hold off sending queries to agents until after Thanksgiving. You are more likely to get our attention. #publishing, #pubtip
Literary Agent
Writers, if you contact me saying you've got an offer and then give me ten days to review your manuscript, I am passing.
Even WITHOUT a holiday smack dab in the midst of those ten days, it's not enough time to completely redo my schedule to fit you in
#querytip #amquerying
Literary Agent
In case I haven't screamed it lately, #amwriting family:
• The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
• Craft In The Real World by Matthew Salesses
• Story Genius by Lisa Cron
Are all powerful writing tools for your toolkit!
#writetip #querytip #NaNoWriMo21
Literary Agent
"OK but what's the hook?" is something you should ask yourself with every single manuscript. A summary is not a hook. Emotions are not a hook. #querytip #writetip #WritingCommunity
Literary Agent
PSA: Dears, You don't need to tell me your protagonist's first and last name in the very first paragraph. You have no idea how many submissions start like that. #writetip #querytip #WritingCommunity
Literary Agent
A query letter shouldn't tell me things I already know, like that you're seeking representation (I know, lol), or quote lines from my wishlist. Instead, tell me what's intriguing about your project. Show your enthusiasm. Explain what will resonate with readers and me. #querytip
Literary Agent
Lynn Jones Johnston @lynnjohnstonlit
Authors, if you see a rival book being published, hope with all your heart for its success. I recently submitted a project to an editor whom I thought would love it. She did. But her group published last year a book with overlapping themes that didn’t sell…Meaning my submission was a non starter there. The lesson is a good seller hurts no one & as a comp, paves the way for similar books, whereas a poor seller can wreck the category for everyone. TLDR: Wish other authors well. #pubtip