I think this one gets shouted a lot on Twitter, but it's so impt: if you have an offer on the table, take the time to explore your options (within a reasonable time frame) before jumping in. Pressure to rush the decision isn't great. #querytip #amquerying

When I see the phrase “spanning the years of...” in a query I automatically assume the story isn’t framed correctly. #querytip

Reminder to querying authors: Make sure you delete all the comments left by critique partners/beta readers. Not that I don't find them interesting, I do, but you probably don't want me reading those instead of your MS & they are way too tempting for me not to look at. #querytip

Writers on submission (particularly those participating in Twitter pitches): I cannot stress how helpful it is to have a link in your bio to a site where we can read samples of your #writing. #querytip #WritersRoad

Here's the Critique Party video! Thank you to all the authors that participated in the first page panel. We look forward to bringing you more videos. #amwriting #amquerying #writingcommunity #querytip youtube.com/channel/UCZ5yR…

Trying to craft your query letter? Check out @ericsmithrocks website for a whole collection of client query letters complete with commentary on why they were successful: bit.ly/35ugy9r #amquerying #querytip

You have all worked incredibly hard to write a book, give that book the best chance it has by prepping it correctly instead of rushing it out! #querytip

Don't give away the ending of your book in a query. Especially not in the very first line of the email. 😭 #querytip #triadatip

Quarantine #querytip: Don’t leave your synopsis open-ended. If we ask for a synopsis, we want to know how the story ends! Your *pitch* gets our attention, your synopsis tells us the plot - don’t use it to add drama. A synopsis should have spoilers!

Don't email my personal account to notify me you went a query.

Don't tag me to randomly pitch your book.

Don't send me links of your bio/work on LinkedIn.

FOLLOW GUIDELINES!!! #amagenting #querytip #amquerying

Oh yes. I won't "disqualify" a query for most things. The one that really matters more than anything is the blurb. If the query says "I have written a novel" but doesn't tell me what it's about, it's VERY hard for me to go further with it.

Our experience/connections tend to give authors an inflated sense of what our opinions mean. Just because *I* don't know how to sell a book doesn't mean its unsellable. A car salesperson is not the right person to sell your house, after all.
We are people, readers. Nothing more.

My reading preferences DO NOT SAY ANYTHING about your value as a creator or the value of your work. Put your best out there. That's all you can do. Never criticize yourself or base your own personal value on an agent's opinion. We are just readers, just people. 2/

Either works! More specific is better in my opinion, but don't stretch too far for a comp. Comps set up my expectations, and when they are not quite honest in order to chase a trend or whatever, it frustrates me.

• Unprofessional bio. ("Me? Well I'm no one special and I highly doubt you'll even read this..." - you know what? It's my job to read it. Don't insult me. Self deprecation is not attractive in a query.)

As always, just my opinion! Send me Q that EXCITES me!
#WritingCommunity

Don't cont:
• Slow voice and infodump. If your character doesn't need to think about it in the scene, then I don't need to know it yet.
• Heavy dialogue tags and adverbs. Show instead of telling.
• No comp titles - you may feel your bk is unique, but who will read it? Market!

Don't cont:
• Too many characters and stakes. Who is your MAIN character showing plot? That's who I need to know about.
• Abstract genre placement. ("This book doesn't fall into one clear genre..." or "This book is a genre of its own" - well, that makes it hard for me to sell.)

Don't:
• Many Proper Nouns, be they names, surnames, locations, titles. Keep to the min necessary to accomplish the above
• Long or abstract descriptions ("This book is about family, & journey to love oneself in spite of etc etc"). Tell me the PLOT. The rest shows on its own.

Do cont:
• Smart and sparse use of dialogue tags in writing sample (show, vs tells)
• Comp titles that tell me something concise and specific about the audience (movies are fine)
• Clear, professional bio paragraph with relevant history and current activity like social media

Some things that DO and DON'T grab my attn in queries, and recommendations on how to resolve the Don'ts:
DO:
• Clear blurb of the plot
• Concise description of character stakes
• Clear, unique setting
• Clear genre placement
• Sharp, quick-moving voice in sample
#querytip