Another good exercise is to write queries/book blurbs for some of your favorite books. (Don't cheat and read the cover copy). It might help you get into the practice of what a blurb is. #askagent #querytip

If the query blurb isn't working, you might need to look at the book. Sometimes the problem isn't getting the query to work, but in the book itself. #askagent #querytip

A reminder about reviews...

Publisher pitches our book to reviewers (PW, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, etc.).

The reviewer chooses which books to review.

The reviewer chooses *how* to review those books.
#pubtip

We know that it's sometimes tempting to not query and just self-publish, but remember that agents can offer invaluable advice for planning a career in both print & e-book, and can help you move forward. Send those queries! #pubtip

My interview for the Romantic Novelists' Association blog romanticnovelistsassociation.org/2018/06/rna-co… #querytip #TuesNews @RNAtweets

When including comps in your #query, do not include books you admit to never reading. It’s likely, they’re not comparable in any way to your work. #querytip

...And he who has a "why" to read can bear almost any filler paragraph. Writers, particularly of nonfiction: there's no more important thing you can do to sell your work than explicitly tell your reader why it matters. #pubtip

Writers, my submission guidelines are here: jdlit.com/marie-lamba #querytip #amwriting #pubtip

ONE THING I wish writers knew and followed: look up #literaryagent guidelines for each agent and FOLLOW THEM PLEASE! You'll see I'll delete attachments, & all the things I'm interested in and NOT interested in. Writers, your time is valuable too. Use it wisely! #querytip

Just a reminder that world-building is something you should pay attention to in all fiction, including contemporary. Everyone experiences life differently—give me an idea of characters' home, culture, inner world, etc. #pubtip #submissions

.@ericsmithrocks breaks down the query letter & life as a literary agent/author on @88cupsoftea #podcast! 88cupsoftea.com/podcast/eric-s… #querytip #pubtip #writetip

#SubTip #QueryTip Twitter #PitchParty tip: #Writers, have a link in your bio to your blog or website, and, have samples of your writing there. We look.

If you’ve trolled and harassed an agent’s client, it’s best that you not query that agent because they will know. #querytip

#querytip When querying fantasy manuscripts, be mindful of how many world-specific words you use. If there are too many unfamiliar words, the query can look like gibberish to someone who doesn't already know what everything means.

I'm seeing lots of great hooks right now in queries. A great hook is a fantastic start, so kudos, writers! For those who want help in that department, one of my favorite craft books for creating marketable premises is @DonMaass Writing the Breakout Novel. #querytip #writetip

Successful Queries: Gia Cribs & The Disappearance of Sloane Sullivan bit.ly/2M5y378 via @WritersDigest #amquerying #querytip

3. If you want to do some light "line-editing" of your own work, read it out loud. So many people don't do this step. When you read it out loud you catch so much at the sentence level that you can fix yourself. #pubtip

2. The best thing an author can do is to learn how to edit their OWN work. Whether they develop that skill through workshop, or working with CP partners, who I am looking for is clients who can go off with my editorial comments & actually do thoughtful & meaningful work. #pubtip

1. Line-editing is a very technical skill. I actually took classes and am trained to line-edit, yet I still don't do it very often. I definitely wouldn't do it for free or in exchange for someone who had no clue what they were doing to attempt it for me. #pubtip

When an agent considers a manuscript, not only are they looking for a great story, but they’re also looking for great POTENTIAL in the writer. If an agent can’t get beyond line edits and see the bigger picture, then they probably aren’t the right fit for you. #pubtip