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

If any of your previous work has been published, let us know in your query letter! We would love to check it out! #QueryTip

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

Can't sleep so here's a #writetip #querytip
🧵
Something that often slows me down in reading is a tendency to overwrite movement, blow-by-blow. It may feel monotonous/flat in the writing itself.
Example + a potential fix (imagine a character wakes up after night out drinking):

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

Lynn Jones Johnston @lynnjohnstonlit

If you're working on a NF book proposal, you're prob focused on editorial. Fair enough, but don't skimp on the publishing side. 3 Qs to answer:
Who's going to buy your book
Will they buy a book on the topic
How will they know about your book

These questions translate into the following sections
Readership
Comp Books
Platform/Marketing

Create separate sections, combine them, or integrate them into your overview. It's up to you as long as you address the Qs somewhere. #amwriting #pubtip

Kim Lindman
@kim_lindman
Literary Agent
lit agent + smm @StonesongNYC repping cookbooks, nonfiction + select fiction! (send me yours ⬇️) tweets about books/food/life/#adopteevoices *opinions mine*
60 MSWL
9 Tips

nonfiction #querytip: if you mention your substack/newsletter, the number of subscribers is an extremely helpful metric to include

Eric Williams
@eric5310pub
Editor
Publisher at @5310publishing spreading happiness every day through books. I'm changing the world, one book at a time! 😁 I'm a bottomless pit of information!
29 MSWL
7 AskAgent
26 Tips

The synopsis is arguably the most important element when querying (with me) #querytip

Victoria Marini
@LitAgentMarini
Literary Agent
Literary Agent Not tall, just loud. Wants Books in which Things Happen
116 MSWL
45 Tips

I know the constant rejection can feel demoralizing, but please don't insult agents who reject you. I often request new MSs from people whose previous queries I rejected. But if you call me nasty names or insult me, I'm just going to ask you not contact me again. #QueryTip

Eric Williams
@eric5310pub
Editor
Publisher at @5310publishing spreading happiness every day through books. I'm changing the world, one book at a time! 😁 I'm a bottomless pit of information!
29 MSWL
7 AskAgent
26 Tips

"How do I know a publisher/agent is right for me and my books before I query with them?"

Read the "about us" page and look at their current catalogue. Do they publish books you would compare to yours? Same genre and target audience? Are they active on social media? #querytip

Eric Williams
@eric5310pub
Editor
Publisher at @5310publishing spreading happiness every day through books. I'm changing the world, one book at a time! 😁 I'm a bottomless pit of information!
29 MSWL
7 AskAgent
26 Tips

Tip to write a great synopsis: write a couple of sentences for each chapter, don’t worry about writing big paragraphs for your entire book; it’s easier to break it down per chapter and then merge it. #writingtip #querytip

Elana Roth Parker
@ElanaRoth
Literary Agent
Kidlit agent w/ @LDLiterary . @aalitagents communications committee. Avid quilter. Still not Elena. Open to queries. She/her.
103 MSWL
3 AskAgent
196 Tips

For those following along at home, I'm at 730 queries so far in the month of March. I've answered everything through March 16th (over 600). About 100 or so are unread—the influx has slowed to a more normal pace, thankfully. #WritingCommunity #querytip

Shannon Snow
@ssnow_lit_agent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Audio Subrights Manager at CMA. Mom of adult kids, owned by 4 chihuahuas, wife to a homemade soapmaker hubby, lover of books & their creators!
18 MSWL
5 Tips

Query tip: Economy of words in a small space. Remove unnecessary passive voice from your query summary so that every word contributes to relaying your story & your sentences have a nice, tight flow. #WritingCommnunity #writingadvice #writers #amquerying #amediting #querytip

Samantha Wekstein
@SWekstein
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @TL_Agency . She/Her, Terp🐢, ENFJ, dog lover. Illustrators: wekstein-illustrators.weebly.com. Pitch to QueryManager.com/SamanthaWekste…
140 MSWL
124 Queries
88 Tips

Vagueness is the enemy in a query letter. If you bring up obstacles, tell us what they are, if you make bold statements, clarify them with details. We have to read letters so swiftly, and it's easier to comprehend if you are specific. #querytip

Stacey Graham
@staceyigraham
Literary Agent
Literary agent and author whose reviews include "ok" and "arrived in great condition." Moonlights in antiques. she/her threeseasagency.com
100 MSWL
14 AskAgent
20 Queries
27 Tips

Quick #querytip: When sending requested materials, save the file name similar to LastName_DOCUMENTNAME_Full so I can find it in my files. Names like 10pgs.doc may get shuffled in the mix and overlooked if I can't find your last name on my ereader. Kthxbai

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

R_adineh @R_Adineh

@LisaGreenEdito2 What are the features of the first chapter of the book that attracts you to the book?

So this question deserves an entire workshop. I have one on this LOL, but the biggest thing I can say in a tweet is to make sure you've edited, had other eyes on it, and it's well written and relevant/necessary to the story. It's a promise to the reader #querytip #asktheeditor

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

Lynn Jones Johnston @lynnjohnstonlit

A project I placed last year with a mid-6-figure advance at 5-bidder auction got 11 passes. Another project with a healthy 6-figure advance in a 4-bidder auction had 13 passes. Some projects get 1-2 bidders. No project pleases everyone.

Many factors contribute: They like it but don't love it. It's too similar to something else they publish. Someone on the team isn't into it. My point is, you're going to get rejections. Lots of them. Prepare yourself. Ultimately you only need ONE. #pubtip

Leslie Truex
@ltruex
Literary Agent
Ideaphoric lit agent w/@blueridgeagency, President @VaWritersClub author, speaker, online entrepreneur, planner/notebook fanatic, fueled by coffee & chocolate.
2 MSWL
1 Tips

I frequently get queries in which the author doesn't understand genres, especially the romance genre. Reedsy does a good job explaining many genres. Anyone wanting to pitch their book should check it out. #getpublished #PubTip
blog.reedsy.com/book-genres/

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Perhaps start thinking of querying as "query and pages" instead of just query letter. I'm seeing some writers only referring to the query and acting like it's the end all be all and, for many agents, it's not
#amquerying #querytip

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Noticing some interesting writer thoughts today so to clarify a couple things:

Querying works. End of day, it's the most dependable

Querying isn't always just a query. Many ask for some sample pgs and/or synopsis

#amquerying #querytip

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Check out the @belcastr YouTube for our newest video: Agent Expectations - What Can an Agent Do or Not Do?
youtube.com/watch?v=wq9mx7…

Big thanks to @annmrose and @evascalzo for joining in and answering questions!
#amagenting #querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity #amwriting

James McGowan
@jmcgowanbks
Literary Agent
Literary agent, author, sitcom enthusiast, professional snacker... @bookendslit (he/him)
115 MSWL
18 AskAgent
7 Tips

I've been catching up on queries and submissions this evening. One thing I'm noticing a lot of is queries without an actual blurb. Tell us what's *happening* in the book, not what the themes or takeaways are. Not sure how? Read the jacket copy of your favorites #QueryTip

Corvisiero Agency
@CorvisieroLit
Literary Agency
New York City Boutique Literary Agency where Amazing Authors find Professional Literary Representation.
42 MSWL
16 Tips

Always make sure to query in batches and to keep a positive mindset. Success doesn’t come overnight!✨
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#writingtip #editing #editingtip #literature #reading #book #books #authors #Writingcommunity #WritingLife #query #querytip #querymotivation