Rules of Thumb

Query/Pitch/Synopsis

Queries, pitches  and synopses are different things.

A query is a one-page letter that explains what you’ve written, who you are, and why the agent should represent you or publisher should consider your book. In a query letter will be a pitch, which is an explanation of your story in 3-5 sentences. It’s like the text you see on the back of a DVD box. It’s designed to pique your interest. A pitch, like the back of a book or DVD, will not spill the beans regarding the ending.

A synopsis is a front-to-back telling of what happens in your story. It’s like sitting down with a 12-year-old and explaining your entire story in about five minutes. You explain who the characters are, what the conflict is, the three acts, and finally, what happens at the end (e.g., the villain dies). In a synopsis, you do indeed give away the ending. You would not do so in a pitch, and a pitch is what appears in a query.

Don’t Get Rejected Before You Submit

To give yourself a head start you need to make your book stand out. Why does the publisher have to read it? Why do you believe in what you are doing? What is it about this book that warrants the attention of the book-buying public? If you are able to provide a publisher with this kind of information before they look at it, then – as long as they are enthusiastic, of course – you’re a step ahead.

First and foremost, you need to stop thinking like a writer and start thinking like a marketer. Can you condense your story down into one or two awesome sentences? If you can, you’ve developed a pitch and, depending on the policy of the publisher in question, you can use this to get people interested – either on the phone or via cover letters/emails.

Do you know which market you’re aiming for? Have you thought about how your book will compete with others on the shelves? Why is it different? Why will readers pick up your travel book on Rome rather than the Lonely Planet’s? If you can give a publisher answers to these kinds of questions (without them having to ask), you will pique their interest. Otherwise, if such questions come up and you have no reply, you will look naïve.

Look at submissions policies very carefully and use them to your advantage. A script that comes in clean, tidy, correctly formatted according to guidelines and with a concise cover letter will get more attention than the dog-eared, single-spaced tome with a rambling two-page explanation.

Are there small embellishments you can use to draw people’s attention – artwork, for example? Be careful on this, if you make the presentation too much of a challenge for a publisher, you’re shooting yourself in the foot before you’ve begun.

Can you do anything else differently to get people’s attention? Your ploys need to be subtle, because at this stage a busy publisher is doing you a favor by reading your work.

The submissions stage is one where books and dreams are made or broken. Success is a combination of skill, perseverance, patience and good fortune (and much more besides) – but the only way the final line is ever drawn is the moment you give up. Good luck!

Writing the Cover Letter

Submitting your work for publication is not that different from applying for a job. You want to put your best, most professional foot forward. However, the important thing in submissions is the writing itself. While you want to strike the right tone as you introduce yourself and your work, cover letters shouldn't eat up too much time. How do you do this?

Format the Letter Correctly.

Save your creativity for the body of the letter , or better yet, for your writing. Stick with the standard business letter format. Everything is flush left, with one line between paragraphs. Unless you have letterhead, which is not necessary, type your address followed by the date. Space down a line and list the name, title, and address of the person you're writing. It is important to address your letter to the CORRECT person—always a person, not “Dear Editor”. That smacks of a generic letter, in other words, “you haven’t done your homework”; therefore, the editor will not spend his/her time reading your work.

And as with anything you submit, use standard white copy paper; type, don't hand-write; and absolutely no illustrations.

Keep It Short

As with a job application cover, letters should not exceed one page. In your first paragraph, explain what you are sending. This can be as straightforward as: "Enclosed please find the first three chapters of my novel, ‘The Choice is Yours' about a game show contestant with a lifelong disability." If you have a genuine reason for submitting to this publisher, share it, but only if you can do so while sounding sincere.

Other First-Paragraph Info

If the journal prefers to be informed ahead of time about simultaneous submissions, address that issue briefly by saying something like, "I have submitted this to two other publishers and will let you know immediately if any are accepted elsewhere." And if you've been invited to re-submit, definitely remind the editor that he or she has seen your work before.

Second Paragraph: A Short Bio

Briefly introduce yourself to the editor. If you studied writing or have published before, state it here. If you haven't, that's fine, too. You just want to provide a context for what they're about to read.

Close Your Letter Politely

Thank the editor for reading your work, and close with the standard "Sincerely," or "Best regards." Leave four lines for your signature and then type your full name. For mailing, use a business-sized envelope. If your printer can handle envelopes, type the address, but it's also fine to address the envelope by hand. Again, use the editor's name here, either above the journal name or below the address. If you put it below, write, "Attn: [Insert Editor's Name]."

Include an SASE, maybe

Finally, be sure to include an SASE if the publisher requests that you do so. Much now is accomplished by email. However, if the publisher requests paper copies, you may need to submit an SASE for a publisher response.  (It's perfectly acceptable to fold the SASE in three so that it will fit easily.) To save postage, you might also request that they not return your story to you, writing in a postscript: "Please recycle this story rather than returning it to me."

Remember

The writing is the important thing. You can have the best cover letter in the world, but it won't get you anywhere without a great story to go along with it.