Joiya Morrison-Efemini 11/20/23 Joiya Morrison-Efemini 11/20/23

Query Smart

Query smart by making sure you’re targeting agents and editors who want what you’re writing.

Guest User 10/16/23 Guest User 10/16/23

Changing Literary Agents

One of the most difficult experiences for an author is changing literary agents. Sometimes, as much as many hate to admit it, seeking out new representation becomes necessary. If a relationship between an author and their agent isn’t productive, it can often be worse than having no agent at all.

Guest User 8/21/23 Guest User 8/21/23

So, you got a query rejection.

Query rejection hurts. You’re putting your shiny new novel out into the world, just for people to say “no, thank you.” Here are some of the best ways to deal with a query rejection.

Amy Wilson 5/29/23 Amy Wilson 5/29/23

Picture Book Word Count

How long can a picture book manuscript be? What if mine’s much longer? Or much shorter? Will I be automatically rejected by an agent? What if my story needs those words? Are there different lengths for different types of picture book manuscripts?

Let’s answer these questions.

Mary Kole 4/12/23 Mary Kole 4/12/23

Nonfiction Query Letter

A nonfiction query letter doesn't hit the same points as a fiction query letter. Here are three key elements to include in the query letter for your nonfiction project.

Amy Wilson 3/27/23 Amy Wilson 3/27/23

Elements of a Query Letter

One query letter sent to the right agent … and an offer of representation comes your way! Of course we writers stress about our queries. We’ve poured so much into our manuscripts, and we only get a few hundred words to pitch them! Let’s go over the elements of a query letter to improve your chances of getting that wonderful phone call one day.

Mary Kole 2/8/23 Mary Kole 2/8/23

Query Letter for Picture Book

An enticing query letter can be your foot in the door with an agent or publisher. Here are the elements to include in a strong query letter for a picture book.

Mary Kole 2/1/23 Mary Kole 2/1/23

Communicating with Literary Agents

Communicating with literary agents is an important part of the querying process. Here are some communication do's and don'ts that'll give you the best shot at receiving a response to your query.

Amy Wilson 9/4/22 Amy Wilson 9/4/22

Manuscript Submission

You’re ready to take the next step, but manuscript submission can feel overwhelming. (Am I the only one who hadn’t heard anyone use the word ‘query’ in a hundred years before entering publishing?) Let’s take a zoomed-out look at what manuscript submission is and look at some resources that can help you with the process.

Guest User 4/4/22 Guest User 4/4/22

Tracking Your Submissions

If you spend some time getting organized before you query, it will make tracking your submissions more productive and (hopefully) less stressful.

Amy Wilson 3/27/22 Amy Wilson 3/27/22

How to Find a Literary Agent for Children’s Books

You’ve written a killer query, researched your comps, and crafted your bio. Your opening is polished, and you slogged through the synopsis. Your submission package is ready! Now, how do you go about finding a literary agent for your children’s books?

Michal Leah 1/9/22 Michal Leah 1/9/22

How To Write a Query Letter

One way you might think about how to write a query letter is as a cover letter. It has its own rules and formatting for the literary world, but essentially you are pitching your project to your potential employer. So, what are the rules? How do you start?

Rhiannon Richardson 12/5/21 Rhiannon Richardson 12/5/21

The Unagented Submission

Writers are usually advised against braving the publishing world without an agent to represent them. Yet, unagented submissions exist for a reason, and there’s a time and place when they work—when they might even be the best option.