AnonyLitAgent

Providing anonymous agenting insight from 30+ years of experience - lurking with good intentions - “Nobel Prize nominee”- #LitAgentWisdom

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

Been getting a number of queries from “Nobel Prize nominees” - they don’t officially reveal names of nominees until 50 years later - I’m adding “Nobel Prize nominee” to my business card - prove me wrong #LitAgentWisdom #QueryTip

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

The billionaire space race is the Karen equivalent of self-publishing a “children’s book”

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

Massive increase in queries from authors stuck in the 80’s - like time stood still - their greatest accomplishment, headshot (why send this with a query?), last agent, only published work & comps, all from the 80’s

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

Receiving way too many queries from aspiring author's "publicists" or "assistants" - This is not a power move, it is not impressive and in fact makes me question how serious the "author" is about writing #dilettantes

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

apologies for the tweet-storm - I may have gotten that out of my system - time will tell

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

I know Doctors and Lawyers get this all the time but the amount of requests for "free advice" has skyrocketed - calls and emails from folks who act like the internet doesn't exist - NO I don't have 30 minutes to explain how publishing works - I sell to eat

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

Non publishing tweet: Is it just me or has the COVID pandemic made some people extra aggressive? Some people have always been rude and discourteous but this is next level behavior.

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

First line of query email: "After researching your agency I think we would be a good fit... I've attached my query letter and complete MS" - First line of our Query Guidelines: "Don't attach any documents, we don't open unsolicited materials"

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

People are so lazy they are now querying "ideas" - The pitch goes something like this - " I have this great idea that would be a great movie/series. I cant tell you what the idea is (because you might steal it) but I want you to represent me and get me a meeting with Netflix."

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

I'm all for self-confidence but the ego it must take to not only sit down and "write" your memoir but to then send it out expecting it to be published is astounding - your fight to lower the taxes on your vacation cabin isn't that compelling - trust me I'm an agent

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

I'm being "terrorized" by "terrorist vs common man international thriller" queries - please stop

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

If you're going to send out a mass email query to 80+ agents all at once at least have the sense to us the BCC feature so its not obvious you sent out a generic query to 80+ agents/agencies who you "researched" and are "perfect fits for your MS"

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

NO the publishing world (and the reading public) is not holding their breath in anticipation for your COVID set romantic comedy - They're playing the Hunger Games trying to get vaccinated

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

Previously Published Authors - when sending out queries for your latest novel stop dining out on the reviews for the book you published 20+ years ago - I'm more interested in why you haven't published anything in 20+ years

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

Unpublished authors - when you dust off that MS you wrote in 2002 and decide to re-query it ask yourself this simple question: WTF is it still set in 2002?

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

Published authors - COVID is not an excuse to hand in MS's 15K words too short or 100K words too long - the industry is forgiving but it also has a long memory

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

These "Submission Blackholes" that continue to plague agents is beyond frustrating - COVID changed the way we all work but that doesn't exclude Editors from doing their jobs - we're 12+ months into this and you haven't learned how to do your job yet? Learn to pivot

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

Publisher's new "COVID accounting" rules are nonsense - they've maintained and increased profitability but now authors have are paid advances in 5+ payments - HTF is it an advance if you get the $ well after the book has published?

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

Haven't tweeted in some time thought i would unload a few - hope you don't mind

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

@MandyHubbard When you visit another island always talk to each inhabitant 3 times and invite them to live on your island

[AnonyLitAgent @LitAnony]

Part of me wishes we would do everything in our power to win the “war on drugs” just so I wouldn’t have to read another “everyday citizen vs drug cartel” query