Another fabulous video from @LiselleSambury! Love that she highlights all the points we discussed on THE CALL. It can be intimidating in the moment, but don't be afraid to ask questions & make sure the offering agent is the right fit for you! #pubtip

How can you tell the number of times your book has been printed? The answer can usually be found in your book! #BooksByTheNumbers

#SerendipityLit @scbwi #Publishing @ALALibrary #Authors #LiteraryAgent @PublishersWkly #PubTip #Agents #POCinPub #Writers #Books MUA: @FacesbyMadge

"Baggage is okay. It’s good to share it. It’s good for the new person in your life to know what might trigger bad feelings. And it’s good for you and your new relationship to build up a trust that can overcome that baggage." #WednesdayWisdom #PubTip bookendsliterary.com/2019/04/23/the…

Fun fact: I am disturbingly good at Flip Cup. I am good at it because helping authors all day has taught me how valuable it is to take a deep and centering breath before shooting one’s shot. (I am horrifyingly a good shot too.) This is the beginning of a #pubtip!

Also, if you are a repeat offender of sending undeniably bad, aggressive, and insulting queries, I set a filter for your name/email and you're automatically sent to the trash. Sorry not sorry. #pubtip

Under no circumstances should you GROUP DM agents to query your work. #pubtip #amquerying

Communication is a two-way street and asking how an agent communicates is a good first step to starting a relationship, but having the ability to discuss what’s working and not working is what forms the strongest relationships. #PubTip #AuthorAgent bookendsliterary.com/2018/04/24/com…

If you're getting form rejections or rejections with no feedback from editors or agents, consider having people critique your query letter and synopsis in addition to the manuscript. It could be that your pitch isn't selling the book.

#pubtip

How many illustrations are in a #PictureBook?

They're not just great for delaying bedtime! #Illustrators work to bring visuals to our favorite #stories & our Lead Agent, Regina Brooks explains how. #BooksByTheNumbers

@scbwi @ALALibrary #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #PubTip #WNDB

Hear what agent @carlywatters has to say about completing your manuscript before seeking representation. #querytip #pubtip

Ask yourself honestly--is your email REALLY TRULY in need of a red exclamation point? #pubtip

There is also a certain type of support professional who concentrates all of their talent on their ability to woo and sign new clients. Before hiring anyone in this field, talk to one of their existing clients to make sure they are still feeling flirted with years down the line.

It's also psychological. A lot of my role is literally just managing my authors' anxiety. (See @kate_mckean's excellent Substack for her thinking on this.) And also engineering the most competitive auction situations possible.😈

The value of a real support professional is relational and alchemic; it's in what we can create in relationship with you, in relationship with editors, etc. We have the creative and market intelligence to elevate work. We know acquiring editors' personalities and desires.

A good agent might not have time to do personalized brain picking with you, but if she wants to connect, she will withhold ZERO information about process, norms, competitive advance ranges and royalties, etc. ZERO. Knowledge of that is not our value add.

This is the mark of a charlatan, whether they're a freelance editor, coach, agent, or whatever. If someone tries to pretend like you need to hire them to get "industry secrets" that you can easily find on google or in a book, such a sample proposal, please avoid that person.

Small #pubtip thread: I was in a coffee shop years ago next to one of those "publishing coaches" doing a paid session with a poor author. As I eavesdropped, he told the woman with great fanfare that he had something very secret and valuable to share: a *real live book proposal.*

Even though manuscripts are turned in electronically, it's still vital for authors to put page numbers in the manuscript.

#pubtip

Please don’t pitch your project directly to agents on Twitter. Query us instead. You can query me at: querylynnette (@) theseymouragency (dot) com. Paste query and 1st 5 pages in body of email. NO attachments unless requested. #WritingCommunity #amquerying #pubtip

Here is another #pubtip I find myself giving almost all clients at one point--perhaps something that would be useful to you as well if you're an author/aspiring author as Very Online as I am. It's about retraining your brain for the rigors and anxiety of a book-writing career.