A Monday morning #QueryTip to get you motivated early. Make this your week #MondayMotivation.
We’ll answer any of your query questions in the comments all day today. Drop em if you have em! 👇 instagram.com/p/B9PB5aSA2QY/…

#querytip For the love of god, don’t write your fiction query like a cover letter.

I see so many “let me introduce myself” queries with NO description about the book. The biggest thing an agent needs in a query is the description of the BOOK

I've already requested three full manuscripts today (and the day's not over yet). Y'all are just so amazing! I can't help myself.
#Querytip #SlushInsight #WritingCommunity

#querytip Sometimes, there is nothing wrong w/your query or book.
Sometimes, it's just not a book I want to read. Look at a bookstore's genre-specific shelf: you might only decide on one out of 200 books to read. Others might be in your interest range, but just don't grab you.

Some basic info on what I'm looking for on my query form.
Pitch: Once sentence, high concept, pitch.
Query: 2-3 paragraphs about your character/their goals, their world, stakes, and metadata/bio.
Synopsis: 1-2 page look at your whole book (spoilers included) #querytip

Second, my #MSWL says I'm looking for diverse Southern voices. I've gotten a few queries claiming to tell #ownvoices/diverse Southern stories... that are not. I thought this would go without saying, but don't coopt this if you are not a marginalized voice.

#querytip #amquerying

I want to mention two things that are bumming me out lately:

First, I've had a big uptick in queries lately, & the MAJORITY of them are like 1-2 lines long. Total. This makes me want to pull out my hair. If you send me a 1-line query, I will reject it.

#querytip #amquerying

If you receive an offer of rep (yay!), please send notice in a new email (without "query" in the subject line) 📚 #querytip

And also agents that you queried! I will hop on something fast if it has an offer, even if it's a query I haven't seen yet! #querytip

Time to sound that ol' "if you're getting offers on your book, let agents who have partials/fulls know so we can accelerate for you!" gong. #querytip

Handy #querytip—I really prefer a word document submission instead of a PDF for requested material! PDFs are hard to read on my Kindle

Dear Writers: It's lovely to include a small story about why you've chosen to query a specific agent/agency. But be sure to change out that story when you query the NEXT agent. #querytip

#writingtip: You don't have to tell us a character nods their head. They can just nod. It's not like they can nod their knees, or elbows.

In case this isn't clear:

Bob nodded his head.
vs.
Bob nodded.

#querytip #amwriting

If your manuscript is not complete, or if it's the first draft, DON'T SEND IT TO AN AGENT. Finish the manuscript. Revise the manuscript. POLISH the manuscript. You get one shot to make a first impression. Don't blow it. #querytip #pubtip

#querytip If you are going to put that someone referred you to me in your letter, be sure that it is someone I've actually interacted with/heard of. If it's someone I respect, it can help, if it's someone I don't know, then how can I judge?

#querytip: If an agent requests an R&R, don't rush it! We're not expecting it back within a short deadline, and tbh if you resubmit it in less than a month, that doesn't inspire confidence that you've completed the depth of revision we want to see.

When you're querying an agent, don't insult other genres that seem "beneath you". You won't get anywhere by alienating yourself & that agent might be a big fan of the genre you just insulted.Automatic pass. Talk about your book. Talk about you. There's no need to insult #querytip

Writers: If you set up your document correctly when you start writing you should never have to use the tab key to indent your paragraphs. If you don't know this trick, google it and figure it out now. Your future agent and editor will thank you.
#querytip #writingtip

Choosing the Right Agent for YOU! youtu.be/o9nbMJKA46U via @YouTube #PubTip #QueryTip

#QueryTip
Don’t give an agent an excuse to say no. Make sure your query echos your writing style as much as possible. This is their first look at your work. Make those few paragraphs pack a punch.