Well kindof, I have a story I want to send to a publisher. I figure if I never send anything I can never get rejected or accepted. I've formatted it and picked out a publisher. But they want a cover letter. I have no idea what to put in such a thing. Everything I've read says to talk about your writing experience etc. I have no writing experience that really counts. So what does a first time submitter do?
A few facts about this story: 1) It's a children's story 2) It's a fairy tale to be more exact
Posted by kacard (Member # 200) on :
A cover letter should be brief and to the point. At the top you of course have your full contact information -- name, address, phone number, email if you wish. Then it should simply say: Dear _____ Here is my manuscript titled _______________. It is a ___ (number of words) word children's novel (or you could add children's fantasy novel or historical novel or whatever discribes it best).
If you have anything published in some obscure place they may not have seen (small press, magazine) or have something coming out that hasn't been published yet - you mention that. If not, don't say anything about your writing.
Then just say Sincerely,
They know you are a first time writer cause they haven't heard of you. So short and sweet and to the point is all you need to be.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 619) on :
kacard
Heed the words of wisdom. Posted by sarahdipity (Member # 3254) on :
Spiffy, I'll write something up and send it off *winces* Thanks!
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
kacard, I've a got similar question...
What about that first letter to prospective agent?
So far, my attempts have fallen on deaf ears when it comes to sending them out. Help! Please! Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
Sopwith, clearly prospective agents regard you as a subpar candidate...
Okay, that wasn't fair. *shuts up*
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
Wow, Macc, that's pretty mean of you to say.
I've spent the last 12 years working as a writer and editor for newspapers and magazines. Now, I'm trying to transition into being an author.
Honestly, I've been getting terribly discouraged and am looking at the possibility that my life-long dream that I have worked very hard for, might just never happen. Not just that, but as my finances dissolve, I may have to start a new career while my wife and future child have to suffer economically for the dozen years I have wasted.
Man, thank for being cold, callous and unthinking. You've just kicked me pretty hard while I was down. I hope in your own times of crisis no one will do the same to you.
Posted by sarahdipity (Member # 3254) on :
Sopwith,
disclaimer I obviously don't know a lot about how things work. /disclaimer
Are you sending an inquiry to an agent? If so do you have the manuscript done? I've read several places that publishers/agents want to see a finished work if you haven't published in the area before. However that could be entirely wrong. *shrugs*
Oh course, this doesn't help if they're aren't replying. What have your letters thus far said?
[ August 21, 2003, 02:21 PM: Message edited by: sarahdipity ]
Posted by jehovoid (Member # 2014) on :
Dear Mr. Big Shot Agent Man,
Have you heard of William Shakespeare? Well I'm better than that guy. First of all, I write in words you can understand. Second, I don't write about all these goofy Europeans and there boring problems. I write about cool stuff like chicks and stuff. One time I even wrote down every though I had in a single day. It was like so long. 2 or 3 paragraphs at least. So anyway, I recommend that you take me as a client or something bad might happen to someone you care about.
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
I'm not sure that approach will work for me Jehovoid, but your own personal mileage may vary.
Sarah, I've queried first with a letter that details the book, includes my publishing experience and generally includes the first 75 pages of the completed book. So far, I'm getting mostly replies that they currently have too many clients or that I'm not what they are looking for. The Zack Co. did want to see the entire work, but it took them almost a year to get back in touch with me.
Mostly, I've been trying to be picked up by an agent who already represents established writers. My figuring is that they've got both a track record and the right contacts. Sadly, it seems like the good ones have more than they can handle. Perhaps I should look to approaching agents that are newer in the field. There are so many agent scams out there, however, that I think it might be hard to pick the up and comers from the inept or shady.
Like I said, I'm stuck here.
Posted by Wendybird (Member # 84) on :
I assume that same cover letter approach holds true for a short story? I wrote a short story that my instructor suggested I submit to several magazines.
Posted by sarahdipity (Member # 3254) on :
Eep, I mailed it off today. I can't believe I did it but it's too late to go get it back. At least I have a long long time before I hear back.
Posted by ae (Member # 3291) on :
Sopwith: Just make sure you don't pay them anything (all they should be getting is their commission, and their expenses taken out of your paycheck from the publisher; nothing at all should go into their pockets until they sell your manuscript) and you'll be fine as far as getting scammed goes. Doesn't prevent you from getting landed with a lousy agent, but then again, if you do, the agent pays the price for his or her failure: no sale, no commission.
Posted by ginette (Member # 852) on :
![[Hail]](graemlins/hail.gif)
kacard![[The Wave]](graemlins/thewave.gif)
![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
![[Taunt]](graemlins/taunt.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)