Been getting a lot of queries lately for books that sound like fascinating character studies, but don't have a clear story. #querytip #amquerying

Authors, be careful about claiming your ms would make a great movie or mention you’ve already written the screenplay in your query. Totally legit to have visions of Hollywood, but keep it to yourself as it should not be the primary reason you want to publish. #querytip #pubtip

#QueryTip + request as I read submissions late at night:

Please put page numbers on your manuscript or #PB dummy, if you're an author/illustrator. It's helpful for me to review your work, so I can tell you what I like, as well as suggestions, etc.

#amquerying #amwriting

#QueryTip I try to be accessible on Twitter, but sometimes I miss a Tweet or a DM. If you wish to query me, please send a query letter + the first 10 pgs. or PB ms pasted into the email to soloway@andreabrownlit.com. You will get an auto confirmation. Good luck! #amquerying

Query Box update: I am caught up to Aug. 1.

I do also have 21 queries in my Still Thinking box. So if you haven't gotten a response yet, crossed fingers. #amquerying #querytip #amagenting

Biggest issue I see in my queries today: Lots of stories on sub that just follow the meandering path of a typical person's life. Sure, there may be some moral lesson there, but I'm looking for a conflict or story problem to drive the plot. #querytip #writetip

A #querytip: the categories an agent says they do and do not represent ultimately trump the themes and qualities they describe liking. Your romance novel may be about intimacy and obsession, but romance isn't a category that I work in, so I wouldn't be the right agent for it!

Whenever someone tells me in their query that they "know this isn't what I represent" I know they will wrongly assume why the query was rejected. Also, they are never correct in their assumptions about what I rep. #querytip

Word counts are all over the place today. Does no one research industry standard anymore? #amquerying #querytip #amagenting

When submitting a MS, please double space your work. It's easier on my eyes and helps me with adding comments/notes that I might what to discuss. Also, you don't have to do any fancy formatting with font and stylizing the pages. It's a MS not a published book. #querytip #pubtip

☕Coffee Time With Kara☕ Five Query Essentials. #QueryTip #AmQuerying #AmWriting #EditorTip #AskanEditor #PubTip #GetPublished #ACFW #MondayBlogs ow.ly/CqZi30kzohs

#querytip

I have really bad eyesight, please use readable fonts at readable sizes. I should not have to zoom to 80% to read your query. Please, I have very bad eyes. Thanks. #querytip #subtip

Incomplete sentences make me twitchy. Every now and then for voice or emphasis, I can let them slide, but too many and I get this eye twitch thing going... #querytip

I love genre bending manuscripts, but if you're using 4 different genres to describe your manuscript it might be too much. #querytip

A great way to ensure I’ll never look at your query is if you send me a 7 day countdown to when you’ll be sending it. #querytip

A #querytip. Never start your query letter by jumping straight into the pitch.

Very seriously. #querytip
tldr: don't be exclusive with an agent unless they ask you to, it doesn't serve you or your work.

Honestly, the number of submissions ELM gets saying they are exclusive, just to our submissions - we are CONSISTENTLY backlogged, & I mostly work from oldest to newest. Other agencies get behind too! It could be MONTHS wherein no eyes are on your ms & then they pass. #querytip

-each other a fair chance. But otherwise? SERVE YOUR WORK. Get it in front of as many people as possible! If no one sees your work? No one will represent your work! Or buy your work! #querytip