ooh, this is a great question! you can use number of Amazon or Goodreads reviews and ratings to compare your comps
#querytip

Also, supporting one another should have *nothing* to do with how much publishers paid for your books, or whether you're a lead title, or who your publisher is. #pubtip

As a debut writer, one of the best things you can do is to get to know (and support!) your fellow debuts. You're in this together. #pubtip

#PubTip for authors: Supporting your fellow authors by retweeting is wonderful, vital. But, don't forget to interact as well. And tweeting for your #readers is equally as important.

I LOVE when author/illustrators list a few of their influences in their query. It contextualizes your work! If you mention Eric Carle + Oge Mora, I imagine vibrant collage. If you say Sir Quentin Blake + Peter Reynolds, I imagine loose, playful sketches and watercolor.

#QueryTip

#QueryTip: If you provide a website or author page link in your query, make sure it works, and that the page is up to date!

Do Agents Share Submissions? youtu.be/_8joz2hEWyc via @YouTube #QueryTip

Bonus #QueryTip — if asked for a synopsis in the submission package that isn’t the query. It’s a separate doc that tells the beginning, middle, and end of a book, complete with character arc. Repeating the query is NOT a synopsis, and spoilers are expected in a synopsis

#QueryTip: if you are going to pitch your book as a romance then it MUST end with a HEA (happily ever after) or a HFN (happily for now) if it doesn’t, it’s NOT a romance
#amquerying #Writers #WritingCommunity

I reviewed 35 queries yesterday/today.
Category breakdown by QueryManager:
9 women’s fic
9 commercial fic
8 contemp romance
3 historical fic
2 romantic comedy
1 general romance
1 multicultural fic
1 upmarket fic
1 gothic fic
All passes. Here's why...
#querytip

#QueryTip I always ask prospective clients, "Do you have a critique group?" Beyond beta readers, I think it's helpful to read others' work and reciprocate with feedback, as well as give/get support to weather the highs & lows of publishing. Don't have a group? Get one. #amwriting

How to Start Speaking & Find Speaking Engagements from Susan U. Neal, @SusanNealYoga on @EdieMelson ow.ly/Bv0150GaAPR #speakingtips #writing #pubtip

Avoid making crystal ball predictions in your query letter.

🚫“This book will be a NYT Bestseller.”
🚫“This book will win X award.”

I want to work with people who have their feet on the ground, and realistic expectations for what is a very competitive industry. #querytip

#querytip if you're a previously agented author looking for new representation for a MS that was already out on submission, there likely isn't much a new agent will be able to do with it. We all submit to the same editors, and there are only so many places to send a project.

a basic #querytip: frame the length of your novel in number of words. number of pages isn't very helpful because there are a lot of factors that change the number of words on a page. is font size 10 or 14? single or double space? is it 8.5x11 or other?

Last week was prelude. The fall publishing season truly begins tomorrow. #pubtip #goodluck

Want some tips and tricks on how to write a synopsis? Check out the @belcastr blog's newest article!
#amwriting #WritingCommunity #amquerying #querytip

belcastroagency.com/synopsis-dos-a…

Writers, keep in mind that what's going on in your head might not be what makes it to the page, so having a beta reader or critique group really helps pick up any issues that you think you've covered, but haven't!
#pubtip

#querytip reminder when choosing your genre in the query manager drop-down:

if your book has magic, or paranormal creatures, or is dystopian...

it's not contemporary.

it can be in a contemp setting!! but it isn't *genre* contemporary. make sure to choose the correct genre!

Curious what to ask when on THE CALL? Check out @belcastr's newest video! #amquerying #querytip #WritingCommunity
youtube.com/watch?v=X1CFc-…