Today's lunchtime #pubtip thread is on the most important habit authors (/all of us) should cultivate as we move through the industry, whether we're crafting a book proposal, problem-solving with colleagues, etc.: ENERGIZE OTHERS; DO NOT EXHAUST THEM.

Babies, ILY, but when you send queries to the info email, I delete them. If you found our info address, you went to our website where you will ALSO SEE our submissions address. Please follow submissions guidelines. Thank! #subtip #querytip

I hate rejecting manuscripts, especially those that are really good, but not right for me. I know how hard writers work on them and it makes me sad to have to pass. But, you must have the right person for you and your work. #pubtip #writetip

Author/artist followers, please read this excerpt from @RachelFriedman's new book, AND THEN WE GREW UP. It's about the nonlinearity of success, the myth of "making it," and the reality that you're probably never going to feel like you can relax. #pubtip

forge.medium.com/theres-no-ladd…

If you query me & misgender me I delete it! 😀😀#querytip #subtip psa!

25% of the queries I looked at this morning started with the character waking up.

Authors - You can do better. I promise.

#querytip #SlushInsight

10% had interesting pitches, but the pages didn’t connect with me. These are completely subjective passes

5% weren't for me—good manuscripts but not subjects I cared about, or styles I didn’t know how to represent

50% of queries were auto-rejects. Incorrect formatting, no sense of market.

30% were good, but not great. Authors needed further development and practice to produce publishable work. Not ready for representation yet

#querytip The number one reason I pass on SFF queries is a lack of a unique hook. I’ve read SO much SFF—if your pitch doesn’t bring something new to the table, it won’t draw me in

#querytip #amquerying #amwriting

Year in review

Our first video of 2020: 10 Things Literary Agents Look for in an Author youtu.be/gYqaF4l1t3w via @YouTube #pubtip

Same here. I know it's the new year, but agents took off a lot of time to ensure we didn't send rejections on Xmas or other holidays. New year and we've got to jump back on the work train #amagenting #querytip #amquerying

A quick reminder that if you want to query me, please don’t DM me to ask if I’m interested!

That’s the whole idea of querying—sending your pitch and pages to an agent in the hopes that they’re interested.

So I’ll let you know either way when you query! :) #querytip

#querytip #amquerying Don't purposely point out your shortfalls in your author bio. You are more than qualified to write your story with or without a "writing" degree.

#amwriting #querytip I'm seeing a trend of manuscripts way outside the acceptable word counts. Low and High. Learn your genre. This is a good guide. litrejections.com/word-count/

☕Coffee Time With Kara☕ Five Query Essentials. #QueryTip #AmQuerying #AmWriting #EditorTip #AskanEditor #PubTip #GetPublished #ACFW ow.ly/t6kR30n5fiL

Not in Little Women’s time but now, as soon as you write or type your manuscript, you create a copyright of it. No need to register anywhere until the book is published and then publisher will do so in your name. #pubtip

Y'all.

You should be w/pubbed books in your genre. Common tropes and themes, what'll make your story fit into that genre and what'll make it unique.

Not having comps & using "I'm not familiar w/the genre" as an excuse IMMEDIATELY sets off red flags.

#querytip

#querytip a trend I'm seeing in my box a lot lately:

Any and all books with fae being compared to either Holly Black or SJ Maas.

And for some books they're great!!!

But for some, it's like comparing HP with LOTR bc they both have wizards in them.

Choose your comps wisely!

A query should be written in present tense. #querytip