If anyone wants to tune in I recorded myself on IG answering 90 questions on “Querying 101” >>> instagram.com/tv/CanLs54pcNl… #querytip

#QueryTip: For nonfiction manuscript proposals, be sure to highlight why you are the PERFECT person to write this book. What makes you uniquely qualified on the subject, and how will you bring something new to the discussion?

Gonna add one more: check spellings on names one last time before hitting send. My name auto-corrects to Elena a lot. It’s not Elena. Just…double-check.

Be patient! There's been a serious slow-down industry-wide in reading time starting at the publishers. The trickle down effect is real.

Do not private message agents (unless invited to) on social media on their personal accounts to ask about querying. The guidelines are almost always out there. Do your own homework. Keep personal spaces personal.

Your book should be complete and you should have a solid query letter before you get started. You're a writer. Do the writing. Which means do the reading. Resources abound on query writing. And the category you're writing in.

Generally, most agents prefer you only submit one project at a time. I could probably do a whole thread on WHY. If you get a pass, go ahead and submit a new project. Personally I find it awkward to get 3 in a row and have to send a form rejection on all 3. It happens.

First, ALWAYS always check the agency website before you hit send. It's the best place to find out how that agent and agency prefer their submissions. A google will get you there if it's not linked in the agent's profile somewhere. No need to ask that question just for yourself.

Make sure your query letter has no typos. It can be very distracting. I found myself editing a query letter, which makes me think: how much editing will the manuscript need? #QueryEric #querytip

Even though I am sharing query tips today, you should ALWAYS check the publisher’s and agent’s guidelines before you query with them. Every agent is different, many have different requirements #QueryEric #QueryTip

Here's a great #querytip: Include the title, word count, genre, who would read, and your comparables in the first couple of lines of your letter. It's what hooks agents/publishers right away. Everything else is extra information, so keep your first paragraph simple. #QueryEric

Hey I don't know what's up, but someone's published my email address as a place to query me. I ONLY CONSIDER QUERIES SENT TO QUERY MANAGER. Emailed queries get deleted, unresponded to. This is why it's important to follow query instructions, usually on agents websites #querytip.

#QueryTip for #picturebook writers: query one book at a time. Do not send an agent a separate query for every book you’ve written all at once.

I've been on the other end of drama for an agency suddenly being blasted on social media and I had no clue what was going on.

Try not to discount/villify and entire agency over something that may only involve a single agent
#amagenting #querytip #amquerying #WritingCommunity

Unfortunately it seems like this needs to be repeated: but writers if your female character needs to suffer a trauma to forward the plot of your male character, then it likely isn’t the best match for me.
#querytip #amquerying #WritingCommunity

Your query should just highlight the best of your manuscript, it shouldn’t be a complete synopsis. #QueryTip #amwriting

When reading a query I want to know who your character is and what they want. Also what is standing in their way? What will they have to do in order to overcome this obstacle? Is there a flaw they need to overcome? And what will happen if they don't reach their goal?

#querytip

Since I've seen several instances of this the past few weeks:

There is no need to notify agents if you have received requests from other agents. You only need to notify when an agent makes an offer of representation.

#querytip #WritingCommunity

I've state this often: When writing your query, include two or three comparable book titles that are similar to the tone, theme, or subject matter of your manuscript so we can get a better idea of what we are about to read! #QueryTip

#Querytip Your query is like a job application, so treat it with that same level of respect!