The Query Letter,etc. |
Author: Germaine McGuffie (---.hsd1.pa.comcast.net)
Date: 08-05-08 21:50
I've been plugging away over the past year, writing my first novel, doing research on agents,etc. I confess I'm a little confused about the content and significance of the query letter. Should you expound, or should you be succinct? For those situations when an agent may request the first 50 pages, must the novel be completed before you submit the 50 pages? Lastly, how can I be sure which is the best genre( and therefore the best agent), to submit it under?
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Re: The Query Letter,etc. |
Author: Dave S (159.119.168.---)
Date: 08-05-08 23:36
Germaine, I would strongly advise against querying until you’ve not only finished your novel, but sought feedback and rewritten it until you are certain it’s the best it can be.
The publishing business is brutally competitive, and for a first time author, you will be wasting your time unless you submit a meticulously polished manuscript.
Regarding the significance of the query letter…well, it’s a meaningless document if you’re not serious about getting published. Assuming you are serious, you will not get the attention of an agent unless you write a really good query letter. It can be a very difficult thing to do. Try looking at agentquery.com to get some ideas.
The best genre to submit it under? Well, I hear vampire stories are hot…
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Re: The Query Letter,etc. |
Author: Elena Solodow (---.isp.broadviewnet.net)
Date: 08-06-08 07:22
Hi Germaine,
Most, if not all, agents don't want to receive anything from an unfinished manuscript. And I'll parrot Dave by saying that there are many, many layers of a manuscript that need to be unfolded before it's ready to go. Time itself heals a lot of editing wounds, simply taking the years (yes, years) to write and process what it is you're writing. You'll know your novel better than you ever thought you could.
As for the genre, it's really your gut feeling. Try to find books similar to yours. What elements of your novel do those books share? I've found it extremely helpful going on Amazon (or any book store) and browsing through genres, reading blurbs, and adding books to my wish-list that have similar themes, characters, setting, etc.
Good luck.
Elena.
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Re: The Query Letter,etc. |
Author: Cara K (---.hsd1.ct.comcast.net)
Date: 08-06-08 23:09
Germaine--
Ditto the above. Don't even think about querying until your work is written, revised, and revised again. And maybe, revised some more, lol. As for the genre, my novels can usually range between two and four different headings. I research the agents, choosing only those who represent my sort of genre(s), then in the query, I match my genre to the agent. Hope that helps!
--Cara K
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