#10 Yet again, don't argue! We give advice, feedback, direction. Go ahead, internalize it, write it down, go complain in the privacy of your room on the phone with someone. Be professional. You don't have to take the feedback but be polite. #amagenting #querytip

#9 Avoid saying "I don't want to waste your time" in your pitch. That immediately brings negative context into the room. Smile, say nice to meet you, and then dive into the pitch. Leave no room to put yourself down! #amagenting #querytip

#8 If the agent details problematic areas (or themes they don't read i.e. rape or incest or self harm) don't argue! Don't say "but this is different so you should give it a chance." We have reasons and won't change our mind because you think "it's the best" #amagenting #querytip

#7 Immediately tell us if your title has been self published before. Don't wait until the very end when you're rushing to finish. This could affect the agent's answer depending on if it was recent, still up, or has been completely revised and change #amagenting #querytip

#6 If an agent doesn't request, don't be rude/mutter complaints under your breath. Whether in front of agent OR when leaving the room. Volunteers hear you, and word gets around. We will find out and your pettiness won't be forgotten #amagenting #querytip

#5 Don't pitch someone and then say "This is really for OTHER AGENT at your agency who isn't here, so was hoping you could pass it on." Really? Just query them. Agents aren't there to be your middle man. Plus, you took a spot someone else could've used #amagenting #querytip

#4 Don't start with "You don't rep this, but I figured I'd try anyway." We don't like this in the query box; we don't like it in live pitching. We say what we accept for a reason and you assuming you're "better" than others isn't a good look #amagenting #querytip

#3 Don't start your pitch with "I've never done this, so you guide me." NO. If it's your first time, it's okay to be nervous. Read off a page. Talk with eyes closed. Idc, but tell me the story. Do not tell the agent it's their responsibility to teach you #amagenting #querytip

#2 Don't bring physical objects (pages, actual books, gifts, etc.) for an agent. We don't want to carry things around. If we request, send it digitally, otherwise it'll get lost, ruined, or maybe even thrown away. Don't give us MORE to keep track of. #amagenting #querytip

#1 Don't book a meeting w/ an agent to discuss a rejection they sent you. This is SO awkward and SO rude and definitely not how you want to be remembered.

Also, agents see tons of queries. Don't expect them to remember your exact one. #amagenting #querytip

::surges awake while drifting off to sleep:: I don’t know who needs to hear this #pubtip, but the first paragraph you write when drafting a pitch letter usually should come last in your final, and vice versa. First last! Last first! Remember this alwaaaaaaaayyyzzz 😴

SO MUCH THIS. YOU set the timeframe. YOU take your time to make the choice. The fastest is not always the best for you. The first is not always the best for you. #pubtip

Writers: if an agent is pressuring you to sign with them and pull your book from other agents, think long and hard about why they are doing that and whether it’s in your best interest to do so *before* you agree. #querytip

I'm very, very finicky about the fantasy I'm drawn to...but a good general rule is that if it makes perfect sense for anyone in your manuscript to wear a tunic, it's probably not for me. #querytip

Interpreting Query Rejection Letters youtu.be/ikFbx4QVqwg via @YouTube #QueryTip #PubTip

This is an excellent #querytip. I see this all the time in sample pages and rarely does it work. #amagenting

#Pubtip Make sure to fully know and understand your genre as well as the market. I have been rejecting a lot of authors who seem to have just sat down and wrote something not realizing there is no place out there for that book (even in the self-pub realm).

Vagueness is (almost) never going to work in your favor. It’s difficult—trust me, I UNDERSTAND (I’ve written my own queries, and pitches for clients, I know it’s not fun)—but absolutely necessary to really dig into details to increase your odds of success in the query trenches.

Don’t give me a vague “their world is changed” or “conflict arises”. GIVE ME DETAILS. How are their lives changed? What plot stakes are there? Personal stakes? Tension?

DETAILS ARE YOUR FRIEND. Yes, there is a sweet spot—obviously packing TOO many details in will confuse agents—but you need to have SOME to make your query stand out.