iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

So I'm realizing that keeping up with all of these social media accounts while managing my workload is impossible, so if I had to choose one to focus on, Threads of Bluesky, which one has the biggest writing community? #writingcommunity #amagenting

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

You know you live in the midwest when there are things in your online cart, but you're not going to checkout until you're sure you have a home later for the items to ship to. #stlouis #tornado

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

A query should be a hook, not a play-by-play. It should introduce the protagonist, the central conflict, and the stakes—just enough to make an agent think, I need to read this. The goal isn’t to explain the whole story. The goal is to create curiosity.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Friends, you are doing yourself a great disservice if your query reads like a mini synopsis. Example: "This happens, followed by this, followed by this, etc."

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

So if you’re querying and getting passes, don’t automatically assume your writing isn’t strong enough. Sometimes the craft is there. You just haven’t found the twist that makes the story unmistakably yours yet.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

It doesn’t mean the entire story has to be wildly original. But the lens has to be. That’s usually the difference between: “Nice writing, but I can’t place it” and “I have to sign this.”

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

The books that break out almost always change something at the DNA level of the premise. The twist. The angle. The core idea that makes someone say: Wait… I’ve never seen that before.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

The issue is when the story only changes the surface details. New settings. Different careers. Different character names. But underneath, it’s still the exact same story engine.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

And when I say familiar, I don’t mean tropes. Publishing runs on tropes. We love them. Enemies to lovers. Chosen ones. Magical schools. Found families. All great.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Most of the writing I see is good. Often very good. The reason I pass is usually much simpler: The story feels too familiar to books already on the shelf.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Hi friends. I know I’ve been quiet on here for a bit, but I wanted to pop in with a little agent insight. I pass on about 99% of the projects in my inbox. And surprisingly, it’s usually not because of the writing.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

I recently discovered Tears on a Withered Flower and obsessed. Please send me anything with similar vibes! #MSWL #Stalkerish #hefallsfirst #sheisolder

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Just a heads up to those that are waiting. I'm OOO the first two weeks of August and hope to get caught up with all of my requests during that time. Thank you all for your patience! <3

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

So… does your hook paint a picture? Does it make someone have to read more? If not, time to dig deeper. Sharpen it. Test it. #WritingCommunity #amquerying #blueskywriters #pitchtip

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

The difference? These hooks don’t just summarize the plot. They promise something wild, bold, and unforgettable. And they raise a giant “what happens next?” question.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

The Matrix: A computer hacker discovers his reality is a simulation—and he’s the only one who can free humanity.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Jurassic Park: A billionaire builds a theme park of cloned dinosaurs—but when security fails, a group of visitors must survive the ultimate predator.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

A great hook is specific, visual, and high-concept. It tells me what makes your story different. Let’s look at some gold-standard examples from blockbuster storytelling:

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Even slightly more detailed lines like: “A deadly assassin falls in love with her target.” …aren’t enough. That could describe a hundred books. There’s no spark of originality or urgency.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

A common mistake? Something like: “A gripping tale of magic and betrayal that will leave readers wanting more.” Cool... but what is it about? Who’s the main character? What’s the hook? Answer: I have no idea.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Let’s talk about the one-sentence hook. It's the line that makes someone say, “I need this book in my life.” It’s your story’s first impression, and in a crowded market, it has to do more than just sound pretty. 🧵

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

I am open to queries the 1st - 7th of every month.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

I see so many queries built on familiar tropes like forced marriages and forbidden magic—which is great! Tropes work for a reason. But here’s the thing: if there’s nothing that makes your version stand out from the rest, I won't be able to sell it.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Lead with your hook: the unique twist, premise, or promise that makes your story different from every other book on the shelf. If you can’t explain what makes your book special in one or two sentences, it might be time to sharpen that pitch. #WritingTips #AmQuerying #PitchPerfect #WritingCommunity

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

I'm going to add Understanding Show, Don’t Tell and Really Getting It by Janice Hardy to my list of recommendations for authors who are self-editing. After finishing it this weekend, I've found it to be a phenomenal resource.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

If you are a writer following an agent on social media, what type of content are you hoping to see? Trends/Projections? Submission reading status updates? Writing/Craft tips? Cat pics? (Here's a picture of Wilford Brimley for tax.)

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Literally just ended a meeting with someone who said, "I'm so sorry. I have no idea how to end calls." And, Sir, that is a whole vibe, and I'm absolutely here for it. Plus, I love ending calls, so I got you.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

I'm only open to queries the 1st - 7th of each months. When I reopen in May I would like to receive all the nonfiction. What you might think I mean is "a lot of nonfiction." But what I really mean is, "all of it." #parksandrec #ronswanson #mswl

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Oh the anxiety! All the love and light for you and Amby.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Who knew that the secret to losing this stubborn perimenopause weight was the looming collapse of society as we know it? I'm down another pant size. Yay?

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

I can't wait for the world to be just as inspired by Nordine as I am.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

My rescue cat Wilford Brimley is here to cleanse your timeline.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

I dream of a dystopian where every man on the planet wakes up tomorrow with unexplained ED, what would happen next? Someone please write that novel for me!

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

I really want the next literary feminist rage novel like The Handmaids Tale, Vox, Night Bitch, and When Women Were Dragons. I'm currently closed to general queries, but if you have something like the above please use this special link: querytracker.net/query/ColeLa... #MSWL

querytracker.net

Query Cole Lanahan at The Seymour Agency

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Got on the scale today and realized I’ve lost ten pounds! It’s a new diet plan I like to call The State of the Country. All you do is read the news and it kills your appetite. No copay or prescription needed! #takecareofyourselves

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Oh my gosh how I've been sitting on my hands to keep from screaming about this amazing book!!!

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Reposted by Cole Lanahan

Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg @theradr.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Believe survivors. Every day.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

That article was so very hard to read.

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Oh Zuckerberg, what egregious behavior. I'm so tired of creatives getting stomped on by billionaires. Any agents local to the D.C. area (or willing to travel) want to organize a lobbying trip this summer? As someone who has experience in this avenue, I'm happy to take point. Let me know!

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

If only I was as busy as I was when I was a baby agent and first thought, "Wow. I'm pretty busy." Those were the good 'ol days. #sobusy #whoneedssleep

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Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

This is so random, I know. I would love to acquire a crochet how-to book for cat accessories. If you have one please email me directly Cole @ theseymouragency (dot) com. #mswl #writingcommunity If you also have a platform, that’s a huge plus!

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