Now that you’ve finished your submission package.  Make sure that you have researched the agents that you want to submit to. Know what types of books they represent. Most importantly, a number of agents may have closed their lists and may not accept new clients at the time you begin submitting. You don’t want to waste postage submitting to someone who is not interested in what you’ve written, or is not taking on new clients. There are a number of excellent books that list agents,  the type projects they accept and whether or not they are taking on new clients.  The book I used was Jeff Herman’s Guide, to Book Publishers, Editors, and Agents.

You also want to research the market. You need to know what books are being acquired by the agent that you have chosen to query, as well as how well books like yours are selling in the market.  Armed with this knowledge, you can better position yourself to sell your project and yourself to the agent. Who would turn down a book that not only stacks up to a book that has already sold a million copies, but is even better than those that are selling?  That’s why it’s a good thing to know your book so well you can tell the agent  how and why your book could do better.  Just remember: show confidence in your project, not arrogance!

If your goal is to be a published author with a major publishing house, you have to prepare yourself for the disappointment, ego-deflating and inevitable rejections that all true authors must face. As I wrote earlier in this series, don’t give up if you are rejected.

Remind yourself that a rejection doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t write. It is just one person’s opinion! Have confidence and pride in your work. Believe in yourself  and in your talent. If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to? Rework your project and send it out to the next agent on your list. And keep repeating this process for as long as it takes! Until you finally receive that letter that says:

Congratulations!  Agent A would love to offer you a contract and take you on as our client!

There is no greater feeling than knowing that you have just put yourself in reach of your goal: Seeing a book on the shelves at a bookstore with your name on it!

I hope my experiences have helped you.  Take care and Good Luck!

Now that you have polished your manuscript and made it as error-free as you possibly can, you are ready to begin the submission process.  Considering the fact that almost every acquistions editor at the major houses require authors to have an agent submit their work to them,  you want your package to be the best it can be, as this will be the prospective agent’s first impression of you.

You can increase your chances of getting taken on as a client if you keep your package tight. Less is more, in my opinion and my motto is make them ask for more!  How do you do that?  Learn to describe you book in one paragraph using adjectives that paint a picture of your story that makes your manuscript sound fresh and exciting. End your paragraph with something that  makes the reader wonder, “What happens next?!”

The Submission Package requirements can vary from publisher to publisher, agent to agent, and editor to editor.  So please do your research and follow the submission guidelines for the person/company you plan to submit to. (This is very important, but more on that later)

In general, a submission package should include the following elements:

A one or two page letter -the query letter-that describes yourself and  your qualifications for writing the book. Make sure you state whether your work is fiction or non-fiction.

a brief description of your story– the synopsis. I recommend no more than a paragraph or two.   Compare your book to the competition and tell them how your book is different. What would make a reader pick up your book and not the another writer’s whose work is similar to yours.   Maybe you could  compare your book to one of the writer’s that the agent already represents. This will let the agent know that you have done your research on their agency and what type of works they represent, as well as letting them know that you are aware of the competition that is out there. This is your marketing analysis.

You might want to include a one or two page sample of your writing, but NEVER send your entire manuscript unless the agent requests it! This is very important. If you send your manuscript without waiting for an agent to formally request it, your manuscript will more than likely end up in the trash or in the “slush pile” and you really don’t want that.

End your submission by thanking the agent for his/her time. Make sure you proof your letter for errors and grammar.  Believe it or not, the agent will often decide if you are can write well by how you construct your query letter.  Make it dynamic, but review my tips on writing a dynamic query letter in one of the earlier posts. Don’t forget to include your contact information and a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope)

Hi all! I know that its been a long time since I’ve posted anything and I apologize for taking so long to get these ten keys written. My life has been crazy busy! With writing book 2, lining up book signings, and promotions for book one, etc. But I LOVE IT! When dream becomes reality, there is no experience like it!  An experience I hope that you  writers will experience in your near future. I hope the information that I share here helps you in reaching your goals. Anyway back to key number three.

It is very, very important to remember the lesson our elders taught us about minding our manners in this business. Remember, the people whose attention you seek are VERY BUSY! So you’d be surprised how far a little common courtesy and respect can take you.  Those little “please and thank you’s” can open doors for you quicker than a battering ram. Just think you are an editor or agent who looks at hundreds of submissions a day. All of the writers of those submission thinks that they have written the next best selling novel that all of hollywood is going to be fighting over the film rights for. In the query letter (more on the all important query letter later) all the writers are so busy telling the agent/editor what fools they would be to pass up this marvelous book, or how they need to read this manuscript ASAP before someone else snaps it up, and on and on. And then the agent/editor picks up your submission and it begins with:

Dear Ms. Koster,

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my query letter.  Please find enclosed my query letter, and a brief synopsis…

You immediately set yourself apart from the crowd, because you have acknowledged that this very busy person is taking time from their very busy schedule to read a letter from you and you are THANKING them for doing so. You have set a tone for the rest of your letter, and probably have made the reader more willing to give your letter more than a perfunctory read.

Despite what many think good manners, beginning a request with “please” and ending your letter with “thank you” helps the reader in creating a favorable impression of you.  You always want the reader to feel how easy it will be to work with you, should they decide to take you on as a client. The only thing they have to base this decision on are YOUR WORDS on paper. They can’t hear your voice, they don’t see your facial expression, so you words, how you express yourselves will tell them everything they want to know. Make your words a reflection of your true self and your true intentions. Now is not the time to come off like an arrogant know-it-all.  Remember your manners.  It will stand you head and shoulders above those who forget!

Until next time!

Take Care, 

Mari