HELLO, WRITERS! I am now OPEN to queries!!! 📚
To submit: querymanager.com/query/LaurenSp
For my full MSWL: publishersmarketplace.com/members/lspiel
I can’t wait to hear from you!
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Lauren Spieller
@laurenspieller
LitAgent + - Full Adult + Kidlit wishlist on Pub Marketplace! ~ YA author w/ S&S ~ I love dogs like it's my job ~ She/Her
foliojr.com/lauren-spiellerJoined May 2012
Lauren Spieller’s posts
MALE WRITERS: stop sending me books in which men are motivated by a woman's rape. Your inability to come up w/ a backstory for your male character that doesn't hinge on sexual violence committed against a female character IS A PROBLEM YOU SHOULD PERHAPS EXAMINE CLOSELY.
Why
Are
You
Tagging
Authors
In
Negative
Reviews
What
Is
Wrong
With
You
Its also OK to get an abortion because you just don’t want to have a freaking baby
Replying to
Never been so glad not to have grown up on a farm
Replying to
In what universe do you think this is helpful
If you're voting for Trump, please don't query me. It's nothing personal--I just think you're an immoral, selfish monster :) #mswl
In college, a creative writing teacher told me I “had no style.”
In 6 months, my debut novel YOUR DESTINATION IS ON THE LEFT comes out from Simon & Schuster.
Don’t give up.
what if--
just stay with me here
--women weren't raped in books or movies
Writing tip: before you send the "last" (lol) version of your book (to your agent, to your editor, whatever) change the font. You will suddenly see EVERY typo you swore wasn't there a second ago.
8AM: hahaha no
10AM: mimosas & french toast
11AM: quiet reading
12:30PM: lunch by the lake
1:30PM hike/walk/mosey
2PM: swim (or not)
3PM: NAP (mandatory)
4PM: coffee & gossip
6PM wine & cheese
7:30 BBQ
9PM Queer Eye
10PM S'mores
11PM Goodnight
twitter.com/jessica_shea/s
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I really wish we’d invest more in the midlist and in non-debuts. The focus on first time authors makes sense from the perspective that they are pure possibility. But authors are a renewable resource, not single use. And more to the point: authors get *better* with each book.
Yelling at an agent when they reject you is not the master plan you think it is
You know what doesn't exist? #MisandryInPublishing
You know what does exist? Entitlement, and sexism against women in positions of power.
In case you’re feeling guilty about how unproductive you’ve been during quarantine, please know that I have barely written a single word since this started and that means....absolutely nothing at all. Sometimes you need rest more than you need to write, and that’s ok. ♥️
Everyone should reread the first chapter of THE HUNGER GAMES. It's a masterclass on how to set up character, world, and stakes before introducing the central conflict. #writetip
In college, a creative writing teacher told me I “had no style.” Now I have two books on shelves.
Don't give up.
It’s an extremely difficult time to be a querying writer or a writer on sub. You aren’t imagining it. #WritingCommunity
<rant incoming>
I'm tired of seeing antagonists described as nothing other than "fat." Being fat isn't a personality, nor is it a moral failing. It's a body type.
When you tell me your villain is fat, I learn more about *you* than I do your character.
<rant over>
My Process
:::pours coffee::
::opens laptop::
::checks Twitter::
::drinks coffee::
::opens Word doc::
::tweaks single paragraph::
Phew, time for a break.
Books are art, but publishing is a business. Proceed accordingly.
Writers, this is NOT a bad time to query. If an agent is open, then go for it! (I’m open and hungry for new clients! Query me!) #mswl
Does anyone else feel scattered? Like you're jumping from task to task, not finishing one before starting another?
I don't have ADHD, and it's happening a lot in the last year. So...is it PTSD? Am I just stressed?
WHY AM I HOLDING A BAGEL AND A BROOM AT THE SAME TIME?
Raise your hand if your NYE plan involves pajamas and books 🙋🏻♀️
I've been promoted! Yay!
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We have several promotions! 
Announced this evening in the @PWKidsBookshelf newsletter!
Congratulations to #TeamTriada's Brent Taylor, @LECrockett, @laurenspieller, and @l_e_thompson!
Announced this evening in the @PWKidsBookshelf newsletter!
Congratulations to #TeamTriada's Brent Taylor, @LECrockett, @laurenspieller, and @l_e_thompson!
You need a great plot, but you REALLY need a great character. Make developing your MC--and your secondary characters--a priority and I *guarantee* it will strengthen your plot, because when they become real, they will *tell you* what should happen next. #writetip
If:
1) Publishing is obsessed with debuts
2) People complain that second books aren’t as strong because they are written so quickly
3)Readers are increasingly focused on author brand
Then:
Maybe we should be more open to kidlit writers publishing a book every other year 🙃
So is leaving agenting but before going she helped pair *every single one of her clients* with an existing KT agent so they would have the opportunity to stay with the agency should they choose to.
That is fucking legendary.
If a small publisher requires you to commit to buying copies of your own book--or any book--when you sign a contract, walk away. You shouldn't have to pay them to publish your books--they pay you.
They.
Pay.
You.
#pubtip
Looks like the news is slowly getting out there, so I think it's time to announce...
I've joined !
After 6 great years with TriadaUS, I'm excited for this new adventure! This also means I am OPEN to queries. I can't wait to hear from you!
Most books don't earn out. So if yours doesn't, you are in the majority. And that is fine!
If your book DOES earn out, and you begin to earn royalties, don't give yourself a hard time if those royalties are modest.
In other words: no matter your situation, You Are Enough.
Is anyone else DESPERATE to make cookies but afraid to use their flour in case they need it for something "more important later"
Does anyone else save random voicemails from loved ones just because?
Semi-regular reminder to remove 'aspiring' from your bio. If you write, you're a writer. End of story.
I just sold a book for a client in a different time zone who isn't awake yet!
This
is
torture!!
Harper is recruiting local bookstore employees to work as (paid?) interns.
Look, I get it—it’s hard to break into publishing. But undermining the work force you hope to join is Not The Way.
Instead, march alongside . Make connections. And don’t cross the picket line.
Writers, if an agent gives you less than a week to accept or decline their offer of representation, that's unreasonable. Insist on at least a full week, not just to give other agents time to read, but to give YOURSELF time to make this very important business decision. #querytip
I signed a new client less than 2 weeks ago and I'm already ready to do it again. If you're starting to query, please keep me in mind! #WritingCommunity
A high school security guard yelled at me for being late to class.
I was a 23 year old substitute teacher. twitter.com/Jess_Wade/stat
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WRITERS--if you see ANY red flags during an agent call, you're NOT required to work w/ that agent, even if you receive 0 competing offers. A bad agent--or just an agent that isn't the right fit for you--is worse for your career than writing another book & querying again. TRUST ME
It occurrs to me that eventually he's going to come back and see that you've all helped me overtake the #MisandryInPublishing hashtag and he's not going to be very happy.
GIF
Just me or is the dislike for subtitles just thinly veiled racism??
One of the hardest things is to write dialogue that simultaneously develops/reflects character, advances plot, and sounds real WITHOUT making it obvious that that's what you're trying to do.
OKAY TWITTER. What's the new YA genre trend going to be? Let's decide now so we can all start drafting our dystopian-vampire-werewolf-super hero-space novellas and get 2020 off to a banging start.
BREAKING NEWS: Trump bored by speech about loving one another and working together, and not being a racist fuck
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The #SOTU speech is really boring, slow, lethargic - very hard to watch!
Here's your semi-regular reminder to remove "aspiring" from your bio. If you write, you're a writer! #querytip
Guys? A YA novel cannot be 275k words. I don't care how good it is.
got kicked out of a bar b/c i was wearing sunglasses. i tried to explain that the sun never sets on a badass, but the owner refused to see reason.
(i was awful in my 20s) twitter.com/bkerogers/stat
WRITERS: An agent MUST read your entire book before offering.
That's our JOB, and we aren't doing it well--CAN'T do it well--otherwise.
If your agent didn't read your book before offering, think carefully about whether they have the tools to successfully represent you.
revision is kind of like putting a puzzle together, except all the pieces are made of mashed potato and oh yeah you're a horse
Fellow white ladies, the next time a POC speaks up about discrimination in publishing, I hope to see you all there supporting them the way you did with #misandryinpublishing ❤️
A PUBLISHING HAIKU
a bad agent is
worse than no agent at all
no, seriously
We are all dealing with enough right now. We shouldn’t have to also cope with the fact that Zooey Deschanel is married to one of the fucking Property Brothers
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Hi, friends. Jonathan and I want to ask you to please stay home. It’s as simple as that. Take care of yourselves and your community by avoiding public places, washing your hands carefully, and being kind
#stayhomecanada #stayhomeusa #flattenthecurve @MrSilverScott
#stayhomecanada #stayhomeusa #flattenthecurve @MrSilverScott
0:40
I think the most incredible thing about Twitter is how many people on here have never made a mistake in their lives and are completely qualified to judge the mistakes of others like wow
When the time comes to buy second/option books from 2020 debut authors, I hope publishers remember that sales are not representative of the extreme talent hitting shelves right now.
The “don’t quit your day job” advice was a lot more fair when authors weren’t responsible for marketing their own books 💁🏻♀️
I would really like to see shorter words counts in MG + YA fantasy. Not every MG needs to be 70k, and not every YA needs to be 100k!
Hey--this is going to be a rough week. There's going to be a lot of discussion of sexual harassment in publishing.
If you are struggling with the conversations happening here and elsewhere, IT IS OKAY TO TAKE A BREAK.
You don't owe anyone anything. Take care of yourself.
::stares at publishing:: twitter.com/charliepgavin/
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also, this hypothetical situation you're describing is the "well actually" we don't need on this subject, as well intention as it may be, because the point I was making is a lot bigger than the one example you're inventing.
I personally would love to see witches hit it BIG. I'm talking all kinds of witches--brujas, Craft-like goth girls, small-time hedgewitches, Miyazaki-inspired aunties who bake up magical treats--I WANT THEM ALL.
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OKAY TWITTER. What's the new YA genre trend going to be? Let's decide now so we can all start drafting our dystopian-vampire-werewolf-super hero-space novellas and get 2020 off to a banging start.
I’m watching pride and prejudice for the first time and
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I’ve been thinking about writing and publishing this morning, and how they aren’t the same thing. How you can love one and never do the other, or do the latter but lose the joy in the former. It’s so important to continually re-center what really matters to you in this industry.
Just closed a deal with an editor I really like for a client I adore! Not bad for a pandemic Friday.
Replying to
There’s absolutely no way that this guy is good at sex. None.
Sometimes a project has to be put aside. Maybe the timing is bad, maybe your skill hasn't caught up w/ your ambition, maybe you haven't found the right way to tell the story. Whatever the reason, it's important to learn the difference between giving up & moving on.
It has come to my attention that a querying male writer is subtweeting me and my "misandry" b/c I retweeted something funny about 'men writing female characters.' I want you all to know I take this very seriously and apologize--
oh, wait. no i don't.
GIF
Men feel unmanly in masks because they’re not used to feeling silenced.
The 80YO woman who lives in the apartment above us is currently playing the piano and singing. She used to be on Broadway. This is one of the most wonderful New York moments yet.
Ok, I've received 150 queries in the last 48 hrs. Here are 3 things I've noticed:
--word counts that aren't in line w/ category/genre (read: too short or too long).
--tiny email font that is difficult to read
--lots of dragon books.
If you have any Qs, ask away!
QUERY UPDATE: I am reopening to queries on April 1, 2022! I'll be using Query Manager going forward, so stay tuned for submission info!
Raise your hand if you want to read about dangerous bisexual vampires
I just signed a client! Who isn't on Twitter! Weird! And great!!
This morning I saw someone say something on Twitter that I disagreed with. I said “I disagree” out loud and kept on scrolling.
10/10 highly recommend
All I want is for time to stop completely so I can sit in a sunny room full of pillows and catch up on my reading. Is that so much to ask?!
There are a lot of things about publishing that you can't control, but there are also things you can. Things like how you treat others, and how you take care of yourself. Make those two things a priority and you will be infinitely happier for it.
When writers pull their query because one agent offers, it makes me sad. This is your time to ask questions, to weigh options. Don’t say yes just because they offered—make sure the first choice is the RIGHT choice.
I just read the first chapter of a manuscript and it was…perfect?
Raise your hand if you’re doing #NaNoWriMo this year! 🙋🏻 (Half a NaNo counts. Even a quarter NaNo. At this point I just like saying NaNo).
I just did the math.
<1% of my clients were self published before I signed them. Everyone else was a debut with no platform.
Only 10% were debuts that had platforms, and most of those authors pub non-fiction, where a platform is a requirement.
Just saying.
Thank you all for the book love!!! I am having a wonderful, surreal day celebrating the launch of #YourDestinationIsOnTheLeft! 😍
In college, a creative writing teacher told me I “had no style.” Next year, my debut novel comes out from Simon & Schuster.
Don’t give up.