Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips

A query should tell me who the story is about. What does he/she NEED to achieve by the end of the story? What’s keeping him/her from attaining that goal? What’s at stake if he/she doesn’t succeed? #amquerying #writetip #pubtip 5/5

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips

When querying, have a bio, but it’s essential to show what the story is about. You’re selling your story, not yourself. I won’t sign an author based on his/her bio. I need to love the story, the characters, the author’s voice, and the writing. #amquerying #writetip #pubtip 4/5

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips

A query should read like the blurb on the back cover of a book (not the one-line teasers in between the blurb). It’s NOT an info dump about the cool world you’ve built. It’s not a description of all the characters on the protagonist’s team. #amquerying #writetip #pubtip 3/5

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips

Show me what makes your story unique. How will this manuscript stand out? I need to know enough about the story to see this, but don’t give away the ending. #amquerying #writetip #pubtip 2/5

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips

In a query, it’s nice to learn about cool characters, but what’s most important is for you to tell me what the STORY is about. What’s at stake? What's the protagonist’s story goal? What’s the conflict keeping him/her from that goal? #amquerying #writetip #pubtip 1/5

Alexandra Penfold
@AgentPenfold
Literary Agent
Literary agent, NY Times Bestselling children's book author, maker of donuts + pies, lover of coffee.
8 AskAgent
80 Tips
Susan Litman
@susan_litman
Editor
Editor for Harlequin Special Edition. Entertainment junkie, cookbook & 80's music addict. Where's my coffee?! Follow me on Instagram @NYC_Editor_Life #MPC2020
1 MSWL
12 Tips
Elana Roth Parker
@ElanaRoth
Literary Agent
Kidlit agent w/ @LDLiterary . @aalitagents communications committee. Avid quilter. Still not Elena. Open to queries. She/her.
107 MSWL
3 AskAgent
196 Tips

Stop DMing me links to your self-published books to pitch me. I report you as spam and block you. Find a better way. #pubtip #querytip

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

Just a reminder: I’m closed to queries starting TOMORROW. Everything sent in January will get read. Starting tomorrow, nope. I’ll reopen sometime this summer TBD. #pubtip #amagenting #querytip #mswl

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips

Replying to a rejection with a bitter comment doesn't put you in my good books. Just sayin'. It confirms I made the right decision. Come on, peeps. Keep it professional. Agents have to love the work they represent. It's as simple as that. #writetip #pubtip #amquerying

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips

The scene goal is a goal for THAT scene, but it should be tied to the story goal in some way. Many different scenes goals (in many different scenes) are like baby steps bringing the character closer and closer to attaining his/her story goal. 8/8 #writetip #pubtip #amwriting

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips

This also forces the character to be an ACTIVE participant instead of REACTING to things that happen. Torture your characters. Make them fight for what they want and sometimes fail in pursuit of it until they grow enough to attain their goal. 7/? #writetip #pubtip #amwriting

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips

When a character causes his/her own conflict, it's much stronger because he/she has to own that. He/she has to learn from it and grow from his/her mistakes. 6/? #writetip #pubtip #amwriting

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips

Basically, I want to see a character pursuing something. ALWAYS. Even if that something changes. I want to see things get in the way, but mostly because of a character flaw (internal or external issue). 5/? #writetip #pubtip #amwriting

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips

Scene conflict can be internal, external, or both. But, you need conflict. The best kind of conflict? Something that the POV character causes because of something he/she said or didn't say, did or didn't do. 4/? #writetip #pubtip #amwriting

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips

But, it doesn't stop there. If you have a story goal without conflict to interfere with or disrupt the pursuit of that goal, life becomes too easy for the character. Easy character life = boring. 3/? #writetip #pubtip #amwriting

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips
Lucienne Diver
@LucienneDiver
Literary Agent
Literary agent with The Knight Agency, author, family gal, travel junkie. She/her. Opinions my own. knightagency.net luciennediver.com
3 MSWL
15 AskAgent
13 Tips

Things that should not have to be said: if you sign with an agent, let the others considering your material know so that they can move on to work by their clients or others who still want/need their time and attention. #pubtip

Sara Megibow
@SaraMegibow
Literary Agent
she/her Literary Agent at KT Literary. Reading, parenting, table top gaming, baking challah, hiking and wine tasting. Always LGBTQIA+ friendly!
17 MSWL
13 AskAgent
298 Queries
525 Tips

Example of strong opening in a manuscript:
"well, that couldn't have gone much worse."

Example of weak opening:
"Francoise, don't come out of hiding because, as you probably remember, your mother is waiting to punish you for stealing the crown jewels."

#pubtip #queries

Lynnette Novak
@Lynnette_Novak
Literary Agent
Literary agent at The Seymour Agency. See my pinned tweet for deets. (she/her)
195 MSWL
68 Tips

Reminder to querying folks: If you don't spell my name correctly in my email address, I won't get it. Two Ns in Lynnette. Sanks! #amquerying #amagenting #pubtip