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Tip Tuesday #134

Tip Tuesday features writers' tips on craft, research, querying, blogging, marketing, inspiration, and more. If you'd like to send in a tip, please e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com.

Today's tip was sent in by Crystal Pierce. This is Crystal's first tip on Literary Rambles, so please say "hi" and visit her blog, E.L. Pierce. She's also on Twitter @followingbooks.

I have a tip for writers who are querying. I recently sent out two queries, both of which got rejected. At the time, I was following these agents on Twitter. Soon after I got my rejection letters, both agents posted, via blog and twitter, about queries that they accepted and passed on. They also told us why without giving names or specifics away. It was very, very helpful for me, because I felt that I was able to possibly narrow mine down and learn from the comment the agent posted. Most agents are really awesome. The two that I sent to allow writers to resend queries. Awesome. So I sent, learned, and can resend in the future after fixing my mistakes. One of the agents also said (I tweeted her) to make sure to go through the manuscript and check for things that she talked about (as to why she passed), as a query letter is a good representation of the book. Hope this helps. It's made all the difference for me! 
~Crystal Pierce

9 comments:

Old Kitty said...

Hi Crystal! I don't think I'll ever be at the querying stage but I do so love your tip and also how these agents use social media to help. Good luck with your future queries! Take care
x

Heather Kelly said...

I love using social media to find out more about agents. I always cringe, though, when agents say that a query letter is a good representation of the book. I guess that agents are the experts here, but I know plenty of great writers who really struggle to write a decent query letter. Those things are tough!

Thanks for the tip!

Anonymous said...

Great tip - thank you for sharing it!

Nicole Feldringer said...

Thanks for the query tip. I'm curious, though, how you know the agents accept requeries? I thought most didn't.

Ali B said...

Thank you, Crystal! Great tip.

Megan said...

Thank you! I take heart when I read about fellow writers taking feedback to heart in a positive and productive way. Instead of crushing, comments about improvements can be constructive. So much better than a blank rejection.
Love the Tuesday tips!
~www.gregorific.com

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

Thanks for such a helpful tip!

Brenda said...

Great tip! It's still a subjective process. I am reminded how I wander through the aisles at the book store pick up a book, glance at the jacket, put it down if it doesn't grab me. So it goes with the agent. As for the query itself, I've refined my own query letter after meeting with an Editor at a conference. It was the best thirty minutes I ever spent in terms of gathering knowledge, but also overwhelming. I for one would love a bag of Tinker Bell's fairy dust.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Wonderful tip! I did something on twitter that I learned from Casey...I put all my agents in one "list." Now I can just go to my agent list and see what all of them are saying.