#querytip Diving right into the query ("Grace's mother kept secrets") > starting with "I" statements ("I have written a novel about Grace")

#QueryTip = here is the original query letter for THE WEIGHT OF ZERO by @KarenFortunati (she NAILED it!) writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/g…

Don't open a query with, "you've never seen anything like this before!" #querytip #pubtip

I've said it countless times, yet I still get queries of this nature in my inbox, so it bodes repeating: We do NOT publish YA. #querytip

Author: wanna read my manuscript?
Me: depends-- what's it about?
Author: argh, I hate synopses...
Me: 👀

#querytip write the query.

Include your personalization at the top of your query so the agent sees it right away. #querytip

Successful Queries: Agent Jessica Watterson and “The Heir and the Spare” bit.ly/2eFJvWI via @WritersDigest #amquerying #querytip

Submitting writers. Page numbers please. I know everything is electronic, but they are still necessary, especially beyond 10 pgs! #querytip

Illustrators, if you draw people, please include non-white people in your portfolio! I always look for this. #kidlit #querytip

Your query doesn't have to be perfect, but if you have run-on sentences/poor grammar, it's not a good sign... #querytip #triadatip

#querytip: Rather than repeat lines directly from my bio or #MSWL, use your query to show how your project will connect with my tastes.

Plz always let agents you've queried know if you have an offer of rep! It's sad learning the MS we stayed up reading is now rep'd #querytip

Don't query agents at their main emails if they have a seperate query email! All they are going to do is forward it anyways #querytip

Query pet peeve: opening with "Hey Stephanie." As my made-up grandpa would say, hey is for horses (& overly casual queriers) #querytip

Book marketing facts are something the agent should know. #querytip. How you see market for your book (comparisons) is a better idea.

If you need to tell me the buying market for your genre (women ages 18-40) I'm probably not the right agent for this project. #querytip

I will not read included sample pages if your query doesn't grab me. Always make sure that query blurb sings. #querytip

Don't take rejections personally. Even if I LOVED 100 queries per week, I could not take on 100 projects a week.Because logistics. #querytip

Signing w/ an agent is like entering into any relationship: make sure you're on the same page about your needs & expectations. #querytip

If a line out of your query can be inserted into another pitch, eg "must make a choice before time runs out," then it's too vague. #querytip