Advice! Don't email agents like you know us, please, especially if you get our name wrong, and don't assume we know what you're talking about if you ask us a question about the industry with no context. #subtip #querytip

How can you tell the number of times your book has been printed? The answer can usually be found in your book! #BooksByTheNumbers

#SerendipityLit @scbwi #Publishing @ALALibrary #Authors #LiteraryAgent @PublishersWkly #PubTip #Agents #POCinPub #Writers #Books MUA: @FacesbyMadge

"Baggage is okay. It’s good to share it. It’s good for the new person in your life to know what might trigger bad feelings. And it’s good for you and your new relationship to build up a trust that can overcome that baggage." #WednesdayWisdom #PubTip bookendsliterary.com/2019/04/23/the…

#querytip I know agents give out a lot of tips around querying, but honestly, we just want to know you tried. It's ok if your query isn't perfect. Give it your best and it'll show.

Best of luck #amquerying

Y’all.

If you’re going to write a story about the horrific genocide of an entire community

maybe

JUST maybe

don’t write it from the POV of a white character directly involved carrying out said genocide???

#querytip

This has been First Paragraph of a Query Letter 101 with Adria Goetz. Remember to list your basics and nail down your elevator pitch and you’ll be golden! Go get ‘em! You’ve got this! #querytip

Other common querying mistakes: bashing other books in the same age group/genre as yours, word count too high/low, not including the basics, and when it doesn't feel like a professional email. #querytip

This looks like: “My novel is about love and fear and forgiveness and mental health issues and my protagonist overcomes many obstacles to accomplish her goal.”

This doesn't give me any sense for what actually happens in your book! #querytip

Now let’s talk about what you ~shouldn’t~ do in the first paragraph. A common mistake I see is when writers use this precious real estate to list the themes or issues explored in their project. This feels vague and fluffy to me. #querytip

The first paragraph is also the right place to mention any specifics on why you’re querying the agent in question—referred by one of their clients, saw something specific on their MSWL, etc. Keep it professional though! #querytip

I look for the first paragraph of a query letter to include a birdseye view of the project—AKA the basic stats (title + age group + genre + word count), as well as a sentence-long elevator pitch. This grounds the agent in the project + shows that you know your stuff. #querytip

Formatting, font and design matter. Obviously we read with our eyes & if we are reading submissions with poor margins, inconsistent formatting, or a weird font it gives us an impression before we even read a word. #querytip

All of us as readers respond to voices. The writing you create doesn’t have to be full on business mode. Your voice should shine through. #QueryTip youtube.com/watch?v=AYyw78… via @YouTube

#querytip, if the agency policy is that you can only query one agent per MS, please don't query multiple agents. We can see this, and it doesn't look good.

Pitch events are the exception. Or if you have made significant changes to the MS. Thank you!! 😊

LOL at the guy in submissions who just put Susanna, Shana, and Susan in the subject line of this email & began it with, "Gentlemen." 101, kids. Pick ONE person, and research their gender. #subtip #querytip

Think of a query letter like a cover letter. It is your first professional introduction. #querytip

And while we're here: 10 passes on your query is NOTHING. Keep trying! #querytip

I've had an upsurge in people responding to my query passes asking why, and honestly the primary reason is always going to be this: I get about 300-400 queries per month & can only read about 15-20 manuscripts per month, including clients'. The numbers are just hard. #querytip

Lately I've been getting quite a bit of subs with word counts that are way off for their genres, so here's the classic but ever relevant post by @ChuckSambuchino on word count that all querying authors should read. #querytip #writetip twitter.com/WritersDigest/…

Fun fact: I am disturbingly good at Flip Cup. I am good at it because helping authors all day has taught me how valuable it is to take a deep and centering breath before shooting one’s shot. (I am horrifyingly a good shot too.) This is the beginning of a #pubtip!