Thinking of submitting to me when I open to #queries again soon? Read some of my authors' work to see what I like. @AuthorWren It's a Wonderful Lie comes out 12/9 and you can pre-order now. @LeslieSulliRose Pink Guitars and Falling Stars comes out 1/6! #querytip #asktheeditor

Almost every time I edit a MS for an emerging author, I have to address problems in the balance of narrative, action, and dialogue. This isn't a dealbreaker for me, since it's an easy lesson to learn for most authors - but something to revise for! #QueryTip

Hey all! I got a TON of queries when I reopened, so I am closing until Jan 1. I don't send rejections in Dec, so I'll be going through and taking notes so I can get everything done first thing of 2022. ❤️
#amagenting #querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity

Your friendly reminder that your story likely does NOT need to start with your character waking up.
Consider finding a more interesting dropping in point.
#querytip #amwriting #writingadvice

Note to #NaNoWriMo21 writers: please don't query it yet. EDIT AND GET BETA READERS AND EDIT AGAIN!

I'd really love to not have first drafts in my inbox tomorrow ❤️
#WritingCommunity #amquerying #querytip

something cropping up in recent queries is a whole slew of comp titles (like, 5-10 in some cases). A comp is so good and useful, but more than three (IMO) tends to muddy the waters and make it seem like the book is trying to be everything rather than what it is #querytip

#querytip 1) Please don’t send me an email without the proper submission materials that are listed on my agency’s guidelines (query, synopsis, chapters in email’s body, etc). It shows me you actually did your research & that tells me so much about your character with just that.

Writers, if you contact me saying you've got an offer and then give me ten days to review your manuscript, I am passing.

Even WITHOUT a holiday smack dab in the midst of those ten days, it's not enough time to completely redo my schedule to fit you in
#querytip #amquerying

In case I haven't screamed it lately, #amwriting family:

• The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
• Craft In The Real World by Matthew Salesses
• Story Genius by Lisa Cron

Are all powerful writing tools for your toolkit!
#writetip #querytip #NaNoWriMo21

"OK but what's the hook?" is something you should ask yourself with every single manuscript. A summary is not a hook. Emotions are not a hook. #querytip #writetip #WritingCommunity

PSA: Dears, You don't need to tell me your protagonist's first and last name in the very first paragraph. You have no idea how many submissions start like that. #writetip #querytip #WritingCommunity

A query letter shouldn't tell me things I already know, like that you're seeking representation (I know, lol), or quote lines from my wishlist. Instead, tell me what's intriguing about your project. Show your enthusiasm. Explain what will resonate with readers and me. #querytip

...and that's all I have time for today! I hope that this insight is helpful to some of you as you prepare your queries for 2022! #QueryTip - a lot of folks are SWAMPED from now until the end of the year - hold off on sending your new queries until January!!

Please don't think professional editing is mandatory! If you can afford it, great. If not, we DO NOT expect you to go broke for it! Being able to hire a freelance editor is a privilege not a necessity
#amquerying #querytip

I know everyone is excited about nanowrimo and stuff, but it’s really not a good time to query with any agent. It’s the end of the year, most agents are triple busy and don’t have time to read any submissions. #querytip

#querytip checking in constantly on the status of your submission is a great way to get an agent to respond to you faster, as they'll go right to your query, reject it, and move along with their day

#AboutEditor: Present tense just isn't my jam. If you submit a ms written in present tense to me, your chances of an offer are about 5%. Some of my other editors love it, though, so don't despair! #MysticOwlBooks #querytip

I'm not here to bash those wanting to be agents. But I am here to say this is why we MUST have internships, apprenticeships, true mentorships, etc. We should also have BEEN an agent elsewhere before opening our own solo practice
(4/4)
#amquerying #querytip #writingcommunity

W/o this level of mentorship, the initial clients will no doubt suffer through bad contract negotiations and more due to the agent needing to "learn as they go" rather than having that background BEFORE accepting their own clients
(3/?)
#amquerying #querytip #writingcommunity

This means working with their clients, reading manuscripts for more than reviews (I.e. how to edit them, how to sell them, marketability, etc.), going through contracts with said mentor, learning about subrights and royalty statements
(2/?)
#amquerying #querytip #writingcommunity