So if agents are telling you your work is not ready, know that we mean it not to insult you but to DO YOUR CAREER A FAVOR. You have a better chance of making the perfect impression if we refused to send something out that wasn't high enough quality to stick. 4

If your 1st book goes out to publishers in a sub-par state, all it takes is a quick search of the inbox to make an editor question their initial impression of your NEXT, BETTER BOOK. They go from "I love this author!" to "Hm. The author's work is not consistent" in a few clicks.

In this digital age, searching my inbox to see if I have communicated with a writer or not take me 2 seconds. So if I like your book, I DO check to see if I have rejected you before and why. Editors have this ability too. The reason this matters...2

#PubTip = a book's cover should be evocative if not, necessarily, literal.

Great question from #DCC2018 last weekend = "what if I don't like the contract a publishing house offers?"

Answer = agent doesn't accept any offer without permission of the author. An author should understand the offer and have the time to say yes/no!

#agenting #pubtip

Hang in there! Keep working at it. #persevere #querytip #pubtip

#PubTip- Get comfortable with hearing the word "no."

Summer as a lit agent is the best! Time to focus on submissions, client mss, and editorial to gear up for big pitches this fall! #pubtip #agentlife

"Moving forward" is a good life lesson you will continue to be faced with when you are a published author. #pubtip

New Blog Post: 5 Things To Know When Negotiating a Deal Sheet
“If you want a terrific contract, you’ll have to negotiate one.” - Richard Curtis #pubtip #writers #authors #amwriting... saritzahernandez.blogspot.com/2018/06/5-thin…

Also, writers, if the book of your heart isn't the first book of yours that sells, it could still sell later. Or in another form. So don't give up on what gives you the feels. #pubtip

Synopsis tips:

*Save editors' eyes. Double space.
*5-7 pages is ideal length. Avoid more than 10.
*Keep back story to a minimum & focus on what actually happens in the book.
*Make sure to give the entire story. Don't hold back on spoilers. We need to see all twists.

#pubtip

A book is about more than "two people have an adventure." Know the thematic elements of your book. #PubTip

#PubTip = high level thematic elements of your book make great talking points. Example, THE LAST SUN by @KDEdwards_NC is about loyalty.

#PubTip = high level thematic elements of your book make great talking points. Example, THE DOOR TO THE LOST by @JaleighJohnson is about overcoming prejudice.

#PubTip = high level thematic elements of your book make great talking points. Example, THE ONE YOU CAN'T FORGET by @RoniLoren is about hope.

A reminder about reviews...

Publisher pitches our book to reviewers (PW, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, etc.).

The reviewer chooses which books to review.

The reviewer chooses *how* to review those books.
#pubtip

We know that it's sometimes tempting to not query and just self-publish, but remember that agents can offer invaluable advice for planning a career in both print & e-book, and can help you move forward. Send those queries! #pubtip

...And he who has a "why" to read can bear almost any filler paragraph. Writers, particularly of nonfiction: there's no more important thing you can do to sell your work than explicitly tell your reader why it matters. #pubtip

Just a reminder that world-building is something you should pay attention to in all fiction, including contemporary. Everyone experiences life differently—give me an idea of characters' home, culture, inner world, etc. #pubtip #submissions