Ann Rose
@annmrose
Literary Agent
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
207 MSWL
448 AskAgent
11 Queries
127 Tips

Unfortunately it seems like this needs to be repeated: but writers if your female character needs to suffer a trauma to forward the plot of your male character, then it likely isn’t the best match for me.
#querytip #amquerying #WritingCommunity

Paige Wheeler
@pwheeler_agent
Literary Agent
Lit Agent, wine lover, reluctant runner, book reader, recovering Luddite, badass, mom
7 MSWL
31 Tips

Your query should just highlight the best of your manuscript, it shouldn’t be a complete synopsis. #QueryTip #amwriting

Greyhaus Literary Agency
@greyhausagency
Literary Agency
Literary Agent with the Greyhaus Literary Agency in the Puget Sound Area. Representing exlusively romance and women's fiction!
64 MSWL
83 Tips

#Pubtip DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT send a submission claiming it was "Requested Material" when it was not. Sorry, but we don't work with people who try to sneak in with this approach. We want honest authors.

Masha Gunic
@masha_gunic
Literary Agent
Associate Agent at Azantian Literary Agency / Open to queries / Always looking for new experiences
49 MSWL
10 Tips

When reading a query I want to know who your character is and what they want. Also what is standing in their way? What will they have to do in order to overcome this obstacle? Is there a flaw they need to overcome? And what will happen if they don't reach their goal?

#querytip

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub 💛🤍💜🖤
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips

Since I've seen several instances of this the past few weeks:

There is no need to notify agents if you have received requests from other agents. You only need to notify when an agent makes an offer of representation.

#querytip #WritingCommunity

Paige Wheeler
@pwheeler_agent
Literary Agent
Lit Agent, wine lover, reluctant runner, book reader, recovering Luddite, badass, mom
7 MSWL
31 Tips

I've state this often: When writing your query, include two or three comparable book titles that are similar to the tone, theme, or subject matter of your manuscript so we can get a better idea of what we are about to read! #QueryTip

Alec Shane
@alecdshane
Literary Agent
Literary Agent at Writers House, LLC. Wannabe Patriots sportswriter. ashane@writershouse.com
100 MSWL
1 AskAgent
346 Queries
122 Tips

#pubtip Having no agent is significantly better for your career than having an agent who isn't the right fit. Don't anchor yourself to a relationship that isn't doing it for you anymore because you're worried you'll never find rep again.

Paige Wheeler
@pwheeler_agent
Literary Agent
Lit Agent, wine lover, reluctant runner, book reader, recovering Luddite, badass, mom
7 MSWL
31 Tips

#Querytip Your query is like a job application, so treat it with that same level of respect!

Carly Watters
@carlywatters
Literary Agent
SVP & Senior Lit Agent @PSLiterary MA in Publishing Studies @CityUniLondon Co-host of @TSNOTYAW VP of Professional Assoc. of Canadian Literary Agents
153 MSWL
229 AskAgent
334 Tips

Talking about content warnings in query letters over here today: instagram.com/p/CZbu8v0rChb/… #querytip

Why you might want/need one and why adding one is NOT a spoiler.

Naomi Davis
@NaomisLitPix
Literary Agent
Eternally optimistic Literary Agent at @Bookendslit Genderqueer 🏳️‍🌈 ND; I laugh & love relentlessly. Repped by the phenomenal @4triciaskinner
208 MSWL
214 AskAgent
183 Tips

Comp titles tell us where a book sits on a sales shelf. It doesn't have to be a similar storyline. So: "For readers who love the wild creativity in NOPHEK GLOSS and the intimate character arcs of PLANETFALL..."
#querytip #amquerying
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Naomi Davis
@NaomisLitPix
Literary Agent
Eternally optimistic Literary Agent at @Bookendslit Genderqueer 🏳️‍🌈 ND; I laugh & love relentlessly. Repped by the phenomenal @4triciaskinner
208 MSWL
214 AskAgent
183 Tips

Tl;dr -
Intro your book. Hook me. Comp it. Get quickly, concisely, and powerfully into the story. Choose best words. Close it with genuine info about you so I'm excited to work with you. Boom!
/END #querytip thread

Roma Panganiban
@romapancake
Literary Assistant
Reading for a living @janklownesbit , tweeting for free. Constantly mortified by the ordeal of being known. Don't buy books from Amazon. she/her
28 MSWL
2 Tips

Teeny #querytip: don't apologize to agents for sending an unsolicited query! If they're open to queries, they want to hear from you, and you should share your work with pride and excitement. (If they're closed to queries and you send anyway, then you should be sorry. Don't.)

Masha Gunic
@masha_gunic
Literary Agent
Associate Agent at Azantian Literary Agency / Open to queries / Always looking for new experiences
49 MSWL
10 Tips

When I'm reading manuscripts I always want to see what does your character want vs what do they need in order to change.

These are usually different but try to make sure your MC (and even secondary ones) have both!

#amagenting #querytip

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips

Tara Parker-Pope @taraparkerpope

@maudnewton @CaitlinKellyNYC I much prefer non fiction/memoir audio books read by the author -- it feels weird otherwise.

Hey #authors, if you want to narrate your audiobook, let your publisher know when you negotiate the contract. If they don't agree outright, ask that you be given the opportunity to do a test narration of a few pages. #pubtip

Masha Gunic
@masha_gunic
Literary Agent
Associate Agent at Azantian Literary Agency / Open to queries / Always looking for new experiences
49 MSWL
10 Tips

Authors, please try to not make your query letters too long (or short)!

The best ones I've received were usually under about 350 words and above 250.

I want to get to your sample as soon as possible, and I'm personally not a fast reader. 🙂📖 #querytip

Paige Wheeler
@pwheeler_agent
Literary Agent
Lit Agent, wine lover, reluctant runner, book reader, recovering Luddite, badass, mom
7 MSWL
31 Tips

Be as specific as possible in your pitch. Anything vague usually means it’s been done before. Stand out! #QueryTip

Anna Sproul-Latimer
@annasproul
Literary Agent
Founding Partner, Neon Literary. Get in, loser, we’re making it art. neonliterary.com
28 MSWL
95 Tips

Something I’ve realized in coming up on two decades of proposal editing: authors almost ever need to divide their chapters into Part I, Part II etc. I.m.e. this is most often an unconscious attempt to end-run the hard work of developing a strong central argument. #pubtip

Lynn Jones Johnston
@lynnjohnstonlit
Literary Agent
#LiteraryAgent repping journalists, teachers, healers, thought leaders, fire breathers & all-around good people. Board @aalitagents . She/Her
26 MSWL
118 Tips
Kate McKean
@kate_mckean
Literary Agent
CLOSED TO QUERIES. VP at Morhaim Literary. Daughter of the Fifth House, holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, heir to the Holy Rings. Rep’d by @Michaelbourret
78 MSWL
35 AskAgent
115 Tips

Today's tip in Agents & Books is TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR BOOK IN YOUR QUERY LETTER.

katemckean.substack.com/p/tell-me-abou…

#WritingCommunity #amquerying #pubtip

Lisa Green
@LisaGreenEdito2
Editor
She/Her Editor for the Mystic Owl line & City Owl Press. Adult only F/SF R querymanager.com/query/lisagree…
72 MSWL
17 Tips

#querytip When you write the letter, PERSONALIZE it. DON'T: Say I'm seeking representation when querying an editor (possibly the majority of my queries). I'm not an agent. DO: mention something that let's me know you know who you're #querying. #asktheeditor