Is this thing on?

Because of #pitchwars, #tipsytuesday, when we chill with a bevvy and talk publishing, is back for the time being. My wishlist is below if you missed it. 1/? https://twitter.com/gladiusquintus/status/1304602768204734464

Up until the submission window closes, I'll be offering sub/query tips and revision advice for those of you preparing to enter #pitchwars. If there are things you'd like me to talk about after that, I'd be happy to continue Tipsy Tuesdays if I have time. 2/

Today’s topic will be about querying, but it’ll be more of a PW edition. A lot of you had questions about it, and I thought I’d split today up into two tipsy events: one, where I’m drinking bayberry-infused liquor right now, and another when most of you can drink tomorrow. 3/

Hi, I’m G and I’m very red right now this is like 60% vol? It’s very good though and homemade.

ANYWAY. Part 1, happening right now, will be about querying in general. Part 2, tomorrow/later today, will be about what I’m personally looking for. Stay tuned. 4/

@abbyabs_ wanted to know how far into the story the query should go.

I have to admit I am more of an intuitive editor/mentor when it comes to these things, so I might not know some terms and look like a BUT

Let’s all agree that you shouldn’t go very far into plot. 5/

Your query letter is there to set the scene, to grab attention. I mentioned on a previous #tipsytuesday that the query letter is a big filter that is like a compact ad to an agent/mentor. But the trick is to hook them just enough on the plot to get them to jump to the sample. 6/

How does that have to do with how far into the story you go, you ask? Well, for the pitch to hook, the pacing matters.

I always forget the recommended length for a query letter, but /I think/ anything longer than 3 paragraphs for the story might drag. 7/

You need two spare paragraphs outside of the “story” part for your metadata and author bio!

Here’s a rough formula for how far you go.

1st P: introduce main character(s), setting, normal state
2nd P: disturbance to the normal state, expand
3rd P: look on the next tweet lol

8/

I’m going to call this 3rd paragraph the snowballing???

Give a short summary of how the disturbance snowballs into a Very Big Problem, Oh No. The trick to this is to be more summarising than the previous paragraphs. 9/

The previous paragraphs would be on fairly early events in the manuscript and told in more detail than this snowballing paragraph. Snowballing paragraph should tell the person reading the querying why EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE and you should read the sample and request. 10/

How far you end your pitch is where you feel like would be the best cliffhanger. I don’t know in terms of plot beats but this final part of your pitch should be like wham, wham, wham, all the problems that leave the MC(s) lost. It’s useful to follow the format of a dilemma 11/

“The MC has to choose between A, which makes sense, and an opposing plan B, which equally makes sense.”*

*not written in a shitty way like that. Make it more interesting and make it suck more for the MC. The more conflict, the better.

I hope this helps answer the question? 12/

I’m glad I can still count the number of this tweets in this thread. Next, @LauraTheRose wanted to know how to sort querying into rounds and what to do when you like multiple agents at the same agency. 13/

I’m behind on my writing career, so I’m going to borrow advice from people I know. Of all the things I’ve heard about the querying process, this is what I think makes the most sense. 14/

First, research and make a substantial list of agents you actually want to work with. Not ones that have your vague genre on their wishlist, but ones you have stalked (I’m gonna get blacklisted lol) on Publisher’s Marketplace, their websites, and vetted on community forums. 15/