And that's the real key to a strong book opening, it doesn't have to be "in the middle of the action" as much as it has to be an active scene. #writingtip #pubtip

We are CLOSED to submissions for the summer. Polish up that manuscript for when our submission window opens on Sept. 4. anaiahpress.wordpress.com/2018/06/19/clo…
#AmWriting #AmEditing #PubTip

#pubtip If your current story is not progressing as fast as you want it to, look at your schedule. How much time daily are you actually writing?

What is a platform? I have a broad definition. It’s anything that makes you more visible as a writer, evidencing an engaged audience. It’s critically important for non-fiction writers to establish and expand their platform prior to pitching an agent. #pubtip #publishing

#pubtip Although meeting authors face to face in a pitch session is great, reading a well put together query, synopsis and partial gives us a better insight without the pressure.

A real winner of an opening line in my query box this AM: "I’m exploring literary agents to see if they are mentally equipped to understand and market my book." Sounds like I'm far too stupid for this one! #pubtip

Knowing when it's time to put a pin in your current MS, put it aside for now, and start working on something new has to be one of the hardest decisions an author can make. Sometimes your debut novel is the 4th or 5th (or 10th) one you write. #pubtip

Less is almost better because your third cousin twice removed cannot be offended #pubtip

#PubTip = to query me, include the word “query” in subject line of email.

Subject line, “Query: Red Hot Love” goes to my inbox.

Subject line, “Red Hot Love” goes to my spam.

#queries

Do not use Mailchimp to send query letters. Seriously. #pubtip

To follow that: Takedown Piracy is a great website you can report pirated books too, and they help shut the pirating sites down. takedownpiracy.com/tips/ #pubtip #bookpiracy

Authors (even traditionally pubbed ones): Set up a Google Alert for the title of your books. That way you discover when they've been pirated and can report the website. #writetip #pubtip #bookpiracy

...but rather because she wants to have the opportunity to take the chance on you with the right book at the right time.
Signing you when you're not ready does you no favors. It only sets you up for greater hardship in the future. END

I don't have any stats or anything about how often this impacts deals. But when I'm considering an author, I do look to see our communicative history. And if an agent turns you down due to writing, it isn't because she isn't willing to take a chance on you...5

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