Hope this latest blog post helps authors view the process in a different light #querytip #askagent
Literary Agents Query Too: marycmoore.com/index.php/2019…

Hey, peeps. Just a reminder to please read our guidelines before submitting to us. I've been getting quite a few queries without sample pages, when I'd really like to see the first five pages too (pasted, NOT attached). #amquerying #pubtip #writingcommunity

Great conversation here! When to follow up with agents considering your work, and how to go about it.
#amquerying #querytip #WritingCommunity

#querytip: 250 words isn't a lot of space so here's the quick and dirty on things to include:

Word count (check sources to make sure yours is in the ballpark for your genre)
Genre
Main characters
What's at stake
Twist
Your writing bio

Go get 'em, tiger!

PSA for writers: Use an email address with your name for all business communications. Doesn't need to be for biz only, but it should NOT be an email you share with spouse or family w/ multiple names in the header. Be professional from the start. #pubtip

But there's a difference between a query letter pitching a character who grows, and pitching a Hero who then, in the sample pages, unironically views women as prizes. Author Awareness makes a difference. #querytip

Dear Authors,

Please don’t use italics for your query letter.

Signed,
An agent who probably needs glasses

#querytip #SlushInsight

One common mistake I’m seeing in some of my adult SFF submissions is main characters lacking a concrete personal connection to the plot #writetip #querytip

One more #querytip: "start with the action" is popular writing advice & as a result I receive many queries that start in the middle of a fight (or flight) scene.

-looking for other people's clients. And never getting paid. I love you all, I really do, but consider when you're asking for a professional's free labor, please. This is the etiquette part. #subtip #querytip

-about something we very likely can't help you with and which adds to our submissions workload in a way that... uh... won't make us money. Consider submissions is important bc we're looking for clients, but if I regularly do this back & forth, at some pt #subtip #querytip I end-

-people we know, AND we want you to succeed. When you email back to ask us this, you're adding to our submissions inbox. Mine currently has about 3,000 emails in it. Sometimes I get it below 1,000 & two days later it's back over. #subtip #querytip you're asking us to dialogue -

-in addition to our own tastes. If it made sense to recommend you query another agent (or agency, which is what you're really asking us on some level, to send you to our competition), we probably would have done so. We actually do think about our friends #subtip #querytip and-

A baby bit more inbox etiquette! If someone sends a pass on your work, please don't respond asking to recommend you to someone else. This seems rude of me to say, on its face, but imagine an agent already is usually thinking about the market & who would buy it -#subtip #querytip

Aside from that, it’s very frustrating to read a query carefully and reply thoughtfully only to have someone say they already accepted an offer. And that’s just me being really honest with you.

#amquerying #querytip

Please be kind. #querytip

#QueryTip for you. If you reply to your own query to nudge a literary agent, you will move your query to the later date in the queue.

Y’ALL.

If you’re told your query needs to focus on your MC, on their wants and needs, on THEIR conflict and tension (esp if it’s SFF)...

LOOK👏AT👏THIS👏QUERY

#querytip

TL;DR: Don’t throw chances down the drain bc you didn’t do your research, or bc you think industry standards don’t apply to you.

You have to EARN the fans and the reputation that will allow you to break standards.

#querytip

All the established authors you see breaking norms and industry standards?

Most of the time, they’re only able to do that BECAUSE they followed industry standards when they started out. They established a fanbase, a reputation, sales, before they could break standards

#querytip