#editortips for 07.04.12

@smoulderingsea: Please proofread your queries; don't rely on spellcheck. I just read one where it said "shit" instead of "short."  #editortips #Ishityounot**

@smoulderingsea: In your query, don't tell me how I should feel about the story. Either those feelings will come through on their own, or not. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Make sure your query is actually a query, not just "This is my manuscript, please read it." I'd like to know why. Pitch me. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Not sure why you'd attach your query, but if you do, put it in the email body, too. Attachments + no text = nervous editor. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Many have said this, but after reading queries today, I need to reiterate: don't open a query with a rhetorical question. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Please include a subject line in your query. Without it, I have no idea why you're emailing and may not find you again later. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Don't give up, but if the same editor or agent rejects you repeatedly, move on. You don't want someone who doesn't want you. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: If you don't tell me where your other books are contracted, I'll likely default to PublishAmerica. These details matter. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: I don't care if your crit partner is Neil Gaiman (okay, might be impressed); don't say "my CPs loved this book!" in your query. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Pertinent information about you and your writing career should be in your query. Don't tell me to trawl your website. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Buuuut...your query should be mostly about your story. Not all about you. You're selling your story, not yourself. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Don't psych yourself out over queries. You just wrote a book. That's a huge undertaking. A query is nothing. You *can* do it. #editortips

**@kerryadrienne added, "and never password protect your submission. Esp. with "A$$hat"."

About #editortips:
#editortips is a daily rash of tweets from an only partially crazy editor, chock full of random chocolatey morsels about writing, editing, and querying vaguely disguised as helpful pointers and/or really bad humor. I tweet as @smoulderingsea, and try to post with some consistency every weekday at 6PM CST. Weekends optional, depending on if I’m spending yet another Saturday night editing because my social life consists of Netflix and wondering if Chinese firecrackers could be used to power a giant brass robot.