The first open door is not automatically always the best one to go through. Make sure you do your research on editors, agents and publishers so you can make a wise choice and find a good match.

#pubtip

Whenever someone tells me in their query that they "know this isn't what I represent" I know they will wrongly assume why the query was rejected. Also, they are never correct in their assumptions about what I rep. #querytip

Word counts are all over the place today. Does no one research industry standard anymore? #amquerying #querytip #amagenting

Responding to a nice personalized rejection on a query with arrogance and borderline threat is not the way to make someone reconsider. It is, however, a good way to get blocked. #pubtip

When submitting a MS, please double space your work. It's easier on my eyes and helps me with adding comments/notes that I might what to discuss. Also, you don't have to do any fancy formatting with font and stylizing the pages. It's a MS not a published book. #querytip #pubtip

☕Coffee Time With Kara☕ Five Query Essentials. #QueryTip #AmQuerying #AmWriting #EditorTip #AskanEditor #PubTip #GetPublished #ACFW #MondayBlogs ow.ly/CqZi30kzohs

#querytip

I have really bad eyesight, please use readable fonts at readable sizes. I should not have to zoom to 80% to read your query. Please, I have very bad eyes. Thanks. #querytip #subtip

Please don't say you've met me, when I KNOW we haven't met because I've never been to the place where you said we'd met. #pubtip #amquerying #amwriting

Incomplete sentences make me twitchy. Every now and then for voice or emphasis, I can let them slide, but too many and I get this eye twitch thing going... #querytip

When you write a synopsis for an editor or agent, spoil every single twist and turn. Don't tease.

When you write a review, mention the good and bad without spoiling.

When you write promotional material, book blurbs or back cover copy, tease like crazy but don't spoil.

#pubtip

I love genre bending manuscripts, but if you're using 4 different genres to describe your manuscript it might be too much. #querytip

A great way to ensure I’ll never look at your query is if you send me a 7 day countdown to when you’ll be sending it. #querytip

A #querytip. Never start your query letter by jumping straight into the pitch.

Very seriously. #querytip
tldr: don't be exclusive with an agent unless they ask you to, it doesn't serve you or your work.

Honestly, the number of submissions ELM gets saying they are exclusive, just to our submissions - we are CONSISTENTLY backlogged, & I mostly work from oldest to newest. Other agencies get behind too! It could be MONTHS wherein no eyes are on your ms & then they pass. #querytip

-each other a fair chance. But otherwise? SERVE YOUR WORK. Get it in front of as many people as possible! If no one sees your work? No one will represent your work! Or buy your work! #querytip

ACTUAL thing, hill I will die on, creators #querytip #subtip - do NOT be exclusive with you unless an agent ASKS you to be. And even then, maybe only be exclusive with them if they're actively giving you a lot of notes, and then as a gesture of good faith - you both are giving-

#pubtip To create realistic and compelling characters for your novels, look around you. Let the "real" people around you be your models. You don't have to reinvent the wheel.

So much about publishing is timing. SO. MUCH. #askagent #QueryTip