When reading queries & submissions the best agents never read in order of when the material arrives. Just because your friends heard back doesn't mean yours was lost, it just means something about that query enticed the agent to read it first. #querytip #askagent

In my inbox I'm seeing a lot of queries for superheroes and noir. That's not good or bad one way or the other = I'm just making an observation.

#QueryStats
#agenting

#querytip The act of CHOOSING to ask for a full from the query pile is a big deal. It's an investment in time & a lot of hope on the agent's part for a match. We often LIKE more than we ask for. Our lists can only be so big. So make sure those 1st pages sing, & your query rocks!

Also, I do NOT take on new clients for novellas. #MSWL #querytip

All women's fiction & single-title romance--80,000-100,000 words #querytip #wordcount

All mysteries should be between 80,000-100,000 words #querytip #wordcount Cozy mysteries might be the exception in that they can be as low as 70,000 words

Any suspense/thriller, including psychological, series, domestic.... should be in the range of 80,000-100,000 words #querytip #wordcount

I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but I'm seeing a consistent problem with word count in queries. For every fiction genre I represent (I ONLY represent adult) 50,000 words is too short. #querytip #wordcount #tuesdaythoughts

#querytip if you write MG, 80K words is very much on the long side, especially for a debut. Know your word counts.

Acquiring, writing, editing, or agenting in one genre doesn't mean you can't acquire, write, edit, or agent in another genre. Your skills are transferable; it's unfair to be pigeonholed. So many editors, agents, etc. work across genres - you should be able to, too. #pubtip

You guys, my guidelines can't be any clearer : No attachments with queries. If you query me with attachments, it will be deleted. Just deleted a ton of queries from writers who just aren't reading my guidelines. Frustrating. Guidelines here: jdlit.com/marie-lamba #querytip

#querystats 47 queries and 10 fulls. The oldest query is from April 26th.

Hello! Your friendly Saturday reminder that if a literary agent wants you to pay up front - a reading fee, editing fee, etc - run screaming to another literary agency!
We get paid when you get paid. Full stop. #querytip

#querytip Don't lead with how many agents have rejected you. #justsayin

How (And Whether) to List Your Publishing Credits bit.ly/2uNHlgm via @nathanbransford #querytip #amyquerying

Backstory is acceptable in a query. It just shouldn't dominate. #querytip

"20 years later Megan still hasn't recovered, but now she has a new focus...." This should be the bulk of your blurb. What is her new focus, what is this book about? #querytip

It's okay to tell the backstory, "as a child Megan was traumatized when she watched her mother kill a neighbor" but make it brief. That should be enough. #querytip

Your query should read like back cover copy, I want to know what this book is going to be about. By giving me a long 1-2 paragraphs about the protagonist's childhood & then one paragraph about the character now you leave me confused about the story #querytip

Lately, I've seen a lot of queries that seem heavily focused on backstory. Don't do this. #querytip