Ciara Smith

So excited to announce my newest client Holly Baldwin! Their Sci-Fi is fast paced, lush and has the perfect dash of grief and alien romance. I couldn't be happier representing them! (Find them on Bluesky)

@TheBWDickerson I'm not against it, but it is hard to get a sense of what that is about

@ciarasmithagent Correct me if i am wring but you wouldn't be interested in a thriller that ask the question. "What if the oath to serve a nation becomes the reason to rebel?"

Query tips as I power through my queries! *completely subjective opinions and what I specifically want to see* Unique hooks: I keep seeing the same formulas for similar types of stories. I need to know how *yours* stands out from everybody else.

@KyleLeeWriter And I could give more examples but just broad strokes meet readers expectations (if you say sci-fi and instead have magic, that'd be off right). And then within that genre what makes your different? Because it's hard to sell to editors/readers if it sounds like the last 10 books.

@KyleLeeWriter So again for me personally. I don't pick books that exactly "fit the market." I pick books that fit in the genre/s they're writing (so I'm good with genres blends, but should be two). And what I mean is fit readers expectations. Romance have a HEA, cozy anything, personal stakes.

@BBuchananWomble Hasn't come up yet, but I super appreciate your wanting to honor the space!

@ciarasmithagent Honestly, I understand if ND/disabled folks need conversations I'm not privy to. I never want to overstep. In this case, your tips (ex: write in short sprints) & your creative prompts work for me, too. But if you ever need to say, "Bruce, sit this one out," I'm not offended!😊

ND and disabled writers have a problem. Yall are writing in a system not built for you. A system telling you to do things their way.

@BBuchananWomble @RivaBoyd39563 Thank you so much Bruce. Hi Riva! So happy you love tarot too! Definitely keep an eye out on a free tarot led workshop coming up you may love.

@RivaBoyd39563 Riva - you need to get to know @ciarasmithagent! I think y'all have a lot of shared interests. 😊 Ciara - Riva is the author of two outstanding dark romance novels from Conquest Publishing. And a fellow North Carolinian!

Great thread for writers who are struggling to find their way. Ciara has some ideas that can help.👇

@BBuchananWomble I'm so glad they help you too! I always do think accommodations shouldn't exclude NT/abled authors either! Tips should be helpful for all.

@ciarasmithagent So many writers need to hear this! There's no one way to do this, and people should be encouraged to discover their own paths. And I'll just say - this NT/abled person has found a lot of value in your ideas, too. They've worked for me.

@alpaolucci That's amazing! I'm so glad you let yourself go quiet and basically meditate on your book! And I'll always be a fan of using tarot lol

@ciarasmithagent When I’m overstimulated/anxious and need time to myself, I sit in silence and daydream about scenes in my book, piecing together my outline mentally. I also turn to tarot when I need some encouragement! The ones I pull also inspire certain seems I’m currently drafting

Even if tarot and astrology aren't your thing, stick around! I'd love to hear how you break out of the NT and able bodied mold and what your way looks like.

I offer tarot for keyword and archetype knowledge that could spark amazing ideas. And astrology to give you permission to outline, rest, and write your way.

@LifeWithBea I'd be a tad more specific if you can because a lot of can have the "world ends if she dies" kinda vibe, so often the mechanics or reasoning for it can help it stand out.

@ciarasmithagent Like: if she dies creation dies with her? ✨️

@postler You're welcome!

@ciarasmithagent Great! Thank you!

@WriterKMorey I know there are so many guidelines out there. But I really feel if you nail the hook and the stakes you'll be alright!

@ciarasmithagent Thank you! This helps me so much. I'm trying to follow all the querying guidelines but I feel so lost.

@DamiRhys Glad it helped!

@ciarasmithagent Had to save this as I plan to query in a month or two, and trying to get my book to fit standard query formulas has tested every patience I have and then some. Thanks for offering tips on how to write a better query to your tastes

Last, don't be afraid to break out of formulas you see online if you're struggling to fit your unique angle in the query. I would match rather know how your book contributes to and stands in the market, then nitpick how you're saying it (again as me, can't speak for other agents)

Genre specific: I get a lot of thriller queries that read more like murder mysteries. Murder mysteries are more about the investigation and whodunit. Thrillers are more about the emotional tension and surviving. Please send me the latter (obvs an oversimplification)