Lucy Carson
@LucyACarson
Literary Agent
Literary Agent at The Friedrich Agency, New Yorker, Anglophile, dog AND cat person, theater nerd, @girlswritenow mentor 📚 she/her
20 MSWL
32 Tips

Author: wanna read my manuscript?
Me: depends-- what's it about?
Author: argh, I hate synopses...
Me: đź‘€

#querytip write the query.

Lauren Spieller
@laurenspieller
Literary Agent
LitAgent @FolioLiterary + @FolioJr - Full Adult + Kidlit wishlist on Pub Marketplace! ~ Author w/ S&S ~ I love dogs like it's my job ~ She/Her
637 MSWL
98 AskAgent
2 Queries
91 Tips

Include your personalization at the top of your query so the agent sees it right away. #querytip

P.S. Literary Agency
@PSLiterary
Literary Agency
Representing a diverse list of internationally published, award-winning, bestselling and debut creators.
2894 MSWL
71 AskAgent
3 Queries
179 Tips

Successful Queries: Agent Jessica Watterson and “The Heir and the Spare” bit.ly/2eFJvWI via @WritersDigest #amquerying #querytip

Jessica Faust
@BookEndsJessica
Literary Agent
President & founder of BookEnds Literary Agency, author advocate, optimist, & professional pain in the ass. Runs on coffee, wine, & kettlebells. She/Her
396 MSWL
574 AskAgent
191 Tips

I ask for a synopsis whenever I request material. So how is it I so often don't have a synopsis to refer to? #queryfail

Mary C. Moore
@Mary_C_Moore
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
110 MSWL
42 AskAgent
222 Tips

Submitting writers. Page numbers please. I know everything is electronic, but they are still necessary, especially beyond 10 pgs! #querytip

Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

Illustrators, if you draw people, please include non-white people in your portfolio! I always look for this. #kidlit #querytip

Lauren Spieller
@laurenspieller
Literary Agent
LitAgent @FolioLiterary + @FolioJr - Full Adult + Kidlit wishlist on Pub Marketplace! ~ Author w/ S&S ~ I love dogs like it's my job ~ She/Her
637 MSWL
98 AskAgent
2 Queries
91 Tips

Your query doesn't have to be perfect, but if you have run-on sentences/poor grammar, it's not a good sign... #querytip #triadatip

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
132 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

#querytip: Rather than repeat lines directly from my bio or #MSWL, use your query to show how your project will connect with my tastes.

Deborah Nemeth
@DebNemeth
Editor
Fey editrix, history geek, armchair sleuth, hobbit matriarch. She/her.
97 MSWL
12 Tips

Please be specific in a synopsis. Avoid generic phrasing such as "secrets that tear them apart." Instead, reveal what the secret is. #pubtip

Carly Watters
@carlywatters
Literary Agent
SVP & Senior Lit Agent @PSLiterary MA in Publishing Studies @CityUniLondon Co-host of @TSNOTYAW VP of Professional Assoc. of Canadian Literary Agents
153 MSWL
229 AskAgent
334 Tips

Debut authors: Nov 10! Sign up for my next webinar. Designed to help YOU stand out in a crowded market: ow.ly/LsnZ304hT9x #pubtip

Laura Zats
@LZats
Literary Agent
Founder & Agent @HeadwaterLit . Host of the award-winning @printrunpodcast . Publishers Weekly industry MVP. She/her & Ms/Mx. Open to queries!
213 MSWL
176 AskAgent
3124 Queries
162 Tips

Laura Zats @LZats

Please note—while you own your text, you don't own the book cover—you and JFP will have to come to an agreement about further use #pubtip
Replying to @LZats

And finally, most of you likely have very similar contracts. Keep lines of communication open to make it easier on everyone! #pubtip

Laura Zats
@LZats
Literary Agent
Founder & Agent @HeadwaterLit . Host of the award-winning @printrunpodcast . Publishers Weekly industry MVP. She/her & Ms/Mx. Open to queries!
213 MSWL
176 AskAgent
3124 Queries
162 Tips
Laura Zats
@LZats
Literary Agent
Founder & Agent @HeadwaterLit . Host of the award-winning @printrunpodcast . Publishers Weekly industry MVP. She/her & Ms/Mx. Open to queries!
213 MSWL
176 AskAgent
3124 Queries
162 Tips

Laura Zats @LZats

Do you need someone by your side for this, or are at the start of the process? Maybe reselling or getting an agent is right for you! #pubtip
Replying to @LZats

Please note—while you own your text, you don't own the book cover—you and JFP will have to come to an agreement about further use #pubtip

Laura Zats
@LZats
Literary Agent
Founder & Agent @HeadwaterLit . Host of the award-winning @printrunpodcast . Publishers Weekly industry MVP. She/her & Ms/Mx. Open to queries!
213 MSWL
176 AskAgent
3124 Queries
162 Tips

Laura Zats @LZats

Are you at the end of a series? Have many waiting fans? Feel comfy with promotion? Maybe self-pub it. #pubtip
Replying to @LZats

Do you need someone by your side for this, or are at the start of the process? Maybe reselling or getting an agent is right for you! #pubtip

Laura Zats
@LZats
Literary Agent
Founder & Agent @HeadwaterLit . Host of the award-winning @printrunpodcast . Publishers Weekly industry MVP. She/her & Ms/Mx. Open to queries!
213 MSWL
176 AskAgent
3124 Queries
162 Tips
Laura Zats
@LZats
Literary Agent
Founder & Agent @HeadwaterLit . Host of the award-winning @printrunpodcast . Publishers Weekly industry MVP. She/her & Ms/Mx. Open to queries!
213 MSWL
176 AskAgent
3124 Queries
162 Tips

Laura Zats @LZats

Please also note that getting rights reverted/sorting subrights will TAKE TIME. Do not make rash decisions #pubrant
Replying to @LZats

Should you try to resell the book? Get an agent? Self-pub it? There is no right answer. Just what's right for you #pubtip

Laura Zats
@LZats
Literary Agent
Founder & Agent @HeadwaterLit . Host of the award-winning @printrunpodcast . Publishers Weekly industry MVP. She/her & Ms/Mx. Open to queries!
213 MSWL
176 AskAgent
3124 Queries
162 Tips

Laura Zats @LZats

With sub rights, you'll need to talk to JFP about what, if any, will still be fulfilled. This includes audio, film, etc #pubrant
Replying to @LZats

If you're looking for an agent, tell us you're dealing with this—many will get to you faster if you have shit to get done #pubtip

Laura Zats
@LZats
Literary Agent
Founder & Agent @HeadwaterLit . Host of the award-winning @printrunpodcast . Publishers Weekly industry MVP. She/her & Ms/Mx. Open to queries!
213 MSWL
176 AskAgent
3124 Queries
162 Tips

Laura Zats @LZats

ALSO look for the clause that talks about your ability to purchase copies. #pubtip
Replying to @LZats

If you have events coming up and you can swing it, see if you can buy your print books to sell at these events #pubtip

Laura Zats
@LZats
Literary Agent
Founder & Agent @HeadwaterLit . Host of the award-winning @printrunpodcast . Publishers Weekly industry MVP. She/her & Ms/Mx. Open to queries!
213 MSWL
176 AskAgent
3124 Queries
162 Tips
Laura Zats
@LZats
Literary Agent
Founder & Agent @HeadwaterLit . Host of the award-winning @printrunpodcast . Publishers Weekly industry MVP. She/her & Ms/Mx. Open to queries!
213 MSWL
176 AskAgent
3124 Queries
162 Tips

Laura Zats @LZats

Now that we have the warm fuzzies for small presses out of the way, let's talk about the options for (unagented) JFP authors #pubtip
Replying to @LZats

First thing: open up your contract. There is a clause in there about what happens if the publisher closes/force majeure happens #pubtip