This is true of the agents you will query too. With hundreds of queries to read through, and hundreds of samples to dive into, the opening line speaks volumes about you and what you’re capable of in the next 60 (give or take a few!) thousand words #querytip. So make those count!

#querystats update (Still closed to new queries until after the new year!) #amagenting instagram.com/p/Bq8UnNpnKT-/…

Writers, be aware of your word count. I’m seeing a lot of 100-160k word manuscripts that really shouldn’t be that long. Research the appropriate word count for your genre and trim accordingly. I know it’s tough, but it often greatly helps your pacing! #querytip

Don't know where to start your proposal? Here: janefriedman.com/start-here-how… #pubtip

A very short proposal can look like you're throwing spaghetti to see what sticks. Are you really that invested in the book? Publishing is a business and I need to see a business plan. #pubtip

Writing a book proposal is for YOU as much as it's for the agents and editors. You need to know exactly what your book is about. Each chapter. Who you're going to interview. Aware of the market. Have a platform/be an expert. Send samples. #pubtip

If you're pitching non fiction your proposal should be longer than 10 pages.

Much longer. #pubtip

Our best advice: DO NOT QUERY in December. Take the time to reread, revise and polish before sending your book to agents #querytip

🚨#querytip make sure to include your NAME and your TITLE! I find that roughly 1/30 queries is missing one or the other! I personally don't like to assume someone's name based only on their email handle and very much like to personalize my rejections. #amquerying #querytrenches

Want to grant me a holiday wish? Please use a reasonably-sized font for emailed query letters and sample pages! These poor eyes already deal with too much screen time; don't make me squint at 8pt font. #querytip

Re the Nora Roberts title mess: authors, if you ever want to serve a publishing beef, bring it to your agent before Twitter, please. Less chance of embarrassing yourself; greater chance of satisfying sympathy rage and behind-the-scenes gossip. #pubtip

Today's #pubtip: You can't copyright a book title.

As a result, lots of books share the same titles.

Sometimes they're obvious, e.g., many romance novels called "Forbidden Love".

Sometimes weird, e.g., Mitchell's CLOUD ATLAS and Callanan's THE CLOUD ATLAS both pubbed in 2004

#PubTip

Say you published 3 romance novels with Penguin Random House from 2015-2018

AND you self published 3 romance novels in those years.

You are a hybrid author and you have TWO publishers = PRH and YOU.

#agenting

A #querytip: if you are earnestly a fan of an agent's author, that's a fantastic thing to include in a query. But it's pretty easy for us to tell when you're just picking random names off our client list to look like you've done your research.

Maybe the next project will snag me or maybe this MS will hook another agent. Don’t give up. You’re almost there!!! #pubtip #amquerying #amagenting 3/3

The sad thing is that means I have to reject many wonderful projects that are truly great but just didn’t wow me. If you’re one of those authors, please know you’re close. #pubtip #amquerying #amagenting 2/3

I’ll admit I request A LOT. I can’t help myself. So many great projects come my way, and I need to see if they’ll hook me to the point of obsession. That’s what it takes. I need to be so in love with the MS that I gush. #pubtip #amquerying #amagenting 1/3

Do not query before you have a) finished writing your book, b) revised your book, c) shown your query to someone unfamiliar with your work who can point out confusing bits. #querytip

New trend alert: Quotes before Ch. 1. (or before all queries)

I've seen this for four queries in a row now. Not sure how this become a common thing? #amquerying #amagenting #querytip

Writers, if you don't see your genre as an option to check when you're querying me, that means I don't rep that genre. Please don't check something "close" and think that will fool me into reading your ms. #querytip