Author: Kate B.
Date:   11-19-09 09:49

Hi everyone. This is probably a silly question, but I'm going to ask it anyway.

Many agents that accept e-queries ask that you paste your first 1-5 pages in the body of an e-mail with your query. My manuscript is standard formatting: double spaced with indented paragraphs. I was wondering if it would be easier to read if, in the body of an e-mail, it was single spaced in block paragraphs, like how we post writing in the "Writing craft" forum here.

I'm not trying to make some poor agent go blind. How do you guys format an e-query?

Author: Kate B.
Date:   11-19-09 09:54

I guess that should be..."Many agents who accept e-queries...." Sorry about that. I need coffee.

Author: jayce
Date:   11-19-09 10:26

like how we post writing in the "Writing craft" forum here.

Yes.

When you cut-and-paste your ms into an email, it loses all of its formatting: indents, itals, etc. You compensate for the loss of indents by inserting an extra line (carriage return) between paragraphs, even if its a one-line bit of dialogue.

Once you've done this, email it to yourself to check its appearance.

Good luck.

Author: jayce
Date:   11-19-09 10:27

...it's...

Author: Kate B.
Date:   11-19-09 12:19

Thank you jayce. I'll take that luck. :)