This is in regards to when you’re ready to submit your manuscript to an agent.
Package Submission
- Query letters/synopsis for submission to agents
- A good query letter should be brief—sell yourself and sell your book
- Do your research and adhere to the requested format!
- Need to capture reviewer right at the start, then elaborate a little further on stories/characters
- Explain why you’re qualified to right this book (your bio should be relevant to the story)
- Don’t copy a generic submission template
- You’re applying for a job—be pleasant and business-like. Present yourself as someone your agent/publisher would want to work with. Your bio is your resume.
- Agent website/blogs tell what they require and some talk about what they like/don’t like to see in query letters.
- Synopsis—sample of your writing skills. 1, 3, and 5 page overview of story. Don’t leave cliffhangers/surprises. Tell it all. Touch on major characters, conflict, resolution, key story element. Start with 5 pages, then cut down to 3 pages, then cut down to 1 (working backwards is easier to get the meat of the story down to a one-page synopsis for submission).
- Follow agent’s directions for initial story submissions (first 3 chapters, first 50 pages etc).
- You have to be really damn good in order to break the rules.
- Looking for an agent: http://pred-ed.com/ and http://aaronline.org/
- http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/lunch/free/ - newsletter, see which publishers are selling/popular/good ratings
- http://duotrope.com/ - search publishers by genre, etc
- “Submishmash” - http://www.submittable.com/ - manage submissions
- Send multiple submissions at a time
- The bigger the agent the better, but relationship with agent is important too (may find that a smaller agency is more agreeable).
- An agent is good to have so they can fight your publishing/publisher battles for you.
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