Katie Shea Boutillier
@AgentShea
Literary Agent
VP/Rights Director & Lit Agent w/ DMLA, specializing in commercial adult fiction & young adult. Open to queries as of 8/15/23 Query email: ksbqueries@gmail.com
17 MSWL
62 Tips

And to mention, I have requested pages from queries that have been sent several months ago. You just never know. #querytip

Katie Shea Boutillier
@AgentShea
Literary Agent
VP/Rights Director & Lit Agent w/ DMLA, specializing in commercial adult fiction & young adult. Open to queries as of 8/15/23 Query email: ksbqueries@gmail.com
17 MSWL
62 Tips

I've been away from my query-inbox for months. Finally answered hundreds of them last night only to be reminded of the negative (and hurtful!) responses you sometimes get from writers.

Let me just say... don't do this! #querytip

Genevieve Gagne-Hawes
@genevievejude
Editor
Book editor at Writers House; manages submissions for Amy Berkower. Ph.D. in English Lit from UBC. She/her. Tweets my own.
28 MSWL
20 Queries
37 Tips

Strive to back up your claims in your query. If you say, "My book will appeal to women" or "My story is sure to be a hit with millennials," explain your reasoning & tell us why -- especially if it's not obvious from the synopsis. #querytip

BookEnds Literary Agency
@bookendslit
Literary Agency
A literary agency repping bestselling, award-winning, & int'l published authors and illustrators for children & adults. Empowering creators to achieve dreams.
66 MSWL
53 AskAgent
127 Tips

The easiest #Querytip: Always read the submission guidelines. They're listed on almost every agent's website. Give them no extra or silly reason to reject your query!

Melissa Edwards
@MelissaLaurenE
Literary Agent
Literary Agent at @stonesongNYC . Lawyer. Lover of TV, movies, and books. Slow runner. Let Bartlet be Bartlet.
217 MSWL
10 Queries
58 Tips

#querytip that not every query tip is universal.

Penny Moore
@literarypenny
Literary Agent
Senior Agent at @AevitasCreative .🇰🇷혼혈. Cat Mom. Opinions are my own. Here’s a resource if you need it: literaryagentsofcolor.com
126 MSWL
80 Tips

When I offer rep on a MS, I love to ask potential clients about other projects they're working on/plan to write. An agent should not only focus on selling your first MS, but also on your industry longevity, helping you build a brand and achieve career goals as a whole. #querytip

Marie Lamba
@marielamba
Literary Agent
Author of GREEN GREEN, A DAY SO GRAY, WHAT I MEANT..., DRAWN, and OVER MY HEAD. Literary Agent at Jennifer De Chiara Literary. My opinions are my own.
43 MSWL
20 Queries
43 Tips

What am I looking for as a #literaryagent ? Check out this interview...Thanks for having me again at Quick Brown Fox! quick-brown-fox-canada.blogspot.com/2017/04/interv…@JDLitAgency @scbwi #kidlit #querytip #amwriting #amquerying #pubtip

Saritza Hernandez
@LitAgentSaritza
Literary Agent
📚 Literary Agent @AndreaBrownLit , 👩🏽‍💻#UCLAAnnex educator, ☕️@aalitagents member #autismparent 🧩 #lgbtparent #queeraf 💖💙💜 she/her/ella 🇵🇷#SarysPosse
132 MSWL
12 AskAgent
39 Queries
98 Tips

Great post from Hannah Fergessen (@HannahFergesen) about the importance of making your sample pages and manuscript strong. It's not just about the query. #querytip publishingcrawl.com/2018/05/18/the…

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
248 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

Why do agents like comp titles in queries? It helps us know where your book could be “shelved” or that something “comparable” has sold. Publishers don’t usually make new shelves. Also, tells us who might like your work, so that you’ve got a segment of potential readers. #querytip

Penny Moore
@literarypenny
Literary Agent
Senior Agent at @AevitasCreative .🇰🇷혼혈. Cat Mom. Opinions are my own. Here’s a resource if you need it: literaryagentsofcolor.com
126 MSWL
80 Tips

It’s okay to take an offer of rep from a less experienced agent as long as they have a reputable agency behind them for support. However, double check to see if it’s an actual agent making the offer. Interns are in no way qualified or should be making offers of rep. #querytip

Christa Heschke
@ChristaHeschke
Literary Agent
Children's Literary Agent, @McIntoshandOtis , movie-fanatic, dreamer, kid-at-heart, #GoPackGo , Western NY born and bred.
79 MSWL
13 Tips

Writers: If I have passed on a project of yours that doesn't mean you can't send a new project to me if you think you have something up my alley! One pass does not equal a pass on other things you've written/future work. #querytip

Susan Graham
@Grahamophones
Literary Agent
would love to be stabbed by Jim, professional hype man (agent at @Einstein_Lit opinions my own) #friendship #teamwork art by @anuanew , pn they/them (agender)
122 MSWL
14 AskAgent
128 Tips

Hi, #subtip #querytip please don't say that you want to work with someone (as an agent, employee, editor, etc) because you share their passion for books. We work in publishing, pals. We all love books. Tell us something that matters, that's unique, that serves you & your work.

BookEnds Literary Agency
@bookendslit
Literary Agency
A literary agency repping bestselling, award-winning, & int'l published authors and illustrators for children & adults. Empowering creators to achieve dreams.
66 MSWL
53 AskAgent
127 Tips
BookEnds Literary Agency
@bookendslit
Literary Agency
A literary agency repping bestselling, award-winning, & int'l published authors and illustrators for children & adults. Empowering creators to achieve dreams.
66 MSWL
53 AskAgent
127 Tips

The best way to develop your characters: figure out what your characters want. #Writetip #Querytip

Jessica Faust
@BookEndsJessica
Literary Agent
President & founder of BookEnds Literary Agency, author advocate, optimist, & professional pain in the ass. Runs on coffee, wine, & kettlebells. She/Her
396 MSWL
574 AskAgent
191 Tips
Natascha Morris
@SoCalledYALife
Literary Agent
Senior Literary Agent at The Tobias Literary Agency.
930 MSWL
31 AskAgent
194 Queries
46 Tips

Tip: if you use the word "Erotic" in your query, it is not middle grade. #querytip

Marie Lamba
@marielamba
Literary Agent
Author of GREEN GREEN, A DAY SO GRAY, WHAT I MEANT..., DRAWN, and OVER MY HEAD. Literary Agent at Jennifer De Chiara Literary. My opinions are my own.
43 MSWL
20 Queries
43 Tips

Writers - please give your manuscript a fair chance and query me by following directions here: jdlit.com/marie-lamba I can't respond to queries sent to my twitter, FB, Linkedin or other emails -- those ones are deleted #amquerying #querytip #amwriting #pubtip

Jennifer March Soloway
@marchsoloway
Literary Agent
Jennifer#4 @AndreaBrownLit | she/her | @MillsMFALit alum | PB+MG+YA+Adult | In love with all things story | ✨Revision is magical!✨
183 MSWL
45 AskAgent
105 Tips

#QueryTip If you wish to send a revision 6+ months after I pass, please revise the entire submission: the pitch, the query letter, and most importantly, the opening pages. (If it reads the same as before, I will sadly pass again.) #amquerying #amrevising

Amy Bishop-Wycisk
@abwycisk
Literary Agent
Pronounced why-zick. NYC. Literary agent at @trellislit . Opinions my own. Cat mom; fast talker; Garamond enthusiast; she/her. @SUNYGeneseo alum.
34 MSWL
8 Tips

Eric Smith @ericsmithrocks

Sigh. My Facebook "message requests" bin is just packed full of pitches and queries and agent questions and-

Facebook is not the place for that, my friends. It's where I post baby photos, keep up with friends, and sometimes learn that some old acquaintance is racist.

Friends: sending your queries/pitches to an agent's personal social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) is not the way to go. Let some facets of our lives be semi-not-work-related! Unless specifically directed, their work e-mail is the way to go. #querytip

Samantha Wekstein
@SWekstein
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @TL_Agency . She/Her, Terp🐢, ENFJ, dog lover. Illustrators: wekstein-illustrators.weebly.com. Pitch to QueryManager.com/SamanthaWekste…
140 MSWL
124 Queries
88 Tips

Getting tired of seeing stories about your grandparents, parents, uncles, cousins, etc. While these stories are hugely important to YOU, unless they are truly incredible and will draw a wide audience, they aren't right for my list. #antimswl #mswl #querytip