Representative
Sales | Submission
Guidelines | Before You
Submit
| Rights Information
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Step 1: Submit a query letter
Although there is no one right way to prepare a query letter,
we would like to see: a 1-2 page, single-spaced, query letter
giving an overview of what your story is about -- that means
a BRIEF summary of the main plot and characters. We recommend
that this summary be patterned after the back cover copy you
might see on a published book. If you are previously published
or have other information specifically relevant to the work
you are pitching, you may include that information in this
letter. For prior publications, please give the name of the
publisher and the date of publication.
If you email us your query letter, do not include any attachments.
All material you want us to consider must be in the text of
your email. Also, do not expect us to review a website to
gather information about your project.
You can expect to hear a response from us within one to two
weeks of submission of an email query. Those sent by regular
mail may take a little longer.
Please note that everyone must begin the submission process
with a query letter. If you send us any part of your completed
manuscript without first querying us, we will return it unread.
Step 2: If based on your query letter, we ask you
to send a partial submission
If we like your story concept, we will send you a letter
requesting a synopsis and the first three chapters of your
manuscript. Please send only the requested materials. If your
chapters are particularly long or short, please send no more
than 50 pages.
We recognize that it takes a very different set of skills
to write a synopsis as opposed to a novel, so here are some
tips. Again, there are no hard and fast rules for a synopsis,
but here is, generally, what we hope to see:
- Approximately 3-5 pages, double spaced
- If you synopsis is a little longer or a little shorter,
this is fine. But if it’s as long as your first chapter,
there’s a problem.
- A synopsis is NOT a chapter-by-chapter outline of your
project
- Make sure you include an overview of the main plot from
beginning to end. Don’t try to hide the ending.
- It’s often a good idea to have someone read and
critique your synopsis before you send it. Often what seems
clear to the author can be very confusing to one not so
close to the story. Your synopsis should make sense.
Other tips for sending in your partial submission:
- Please do not assume that we remember your project from
your query letter. Remember to include a cover letter with
your contact information (name, address, phone number, e-mail
address). Please DATE your cover letter.
- Do not substitute e-mail correspondence between you and
someone at our agency in place of your cover letter.
- Please include an SASE with sufficient postage for a
response.
- The SASE should have both a “To” and a return
address. The U.S. Post Office will not mail an envelope
without a return address.
- If you want your materials back, you must include a large
enough envelope with sufficient postage. The materials will
otherwise be recycled.
- At this stage, there is no point in sending pre-printed
brochures, business cards, stickers, marketing materials,
newspaper clippings, etc. about you or your book; they will
just be tossed.
- The submission must be DOUBLE SPACED and typed in a clear,
readable font, such as Courier or New Times Roman. We prefer
nothing smaller than size 12 font
Generally it takes us 10-12 weeks to read and evaluate your
partial submission. If our back-log is large, it may take
longer. Once we have read your submission, we will send you
a letter. We do our best to respond to every submission that
comes in, provided you have given us correct contact information.
Our letter will either pass on the project or ask you to submit
the full manuscript.
Step 3: If we like your partial and ask to see the
full manuscript
Once we ask for it, please send us your completed manuscript.
If you are in the process of revising it when you see our
letter, just let us know that and wait to send in the full
manuscript until you have completed polishing it. Generally
it takes us 4-6 months to read and properly evaluate completed
manuscripts.
Here are some tips for submitting your completed project:
- Again, please remember to include a cover letter with
your contact information. We don’t have the time or
staff to coordinate this submission with any earlier materials
you may have sent.
- Please include an SASE with sufficient postage for a
response. If you want your manuscript returned, you must
include a large enough envelope with sufficient postage.
Otherwise, the materials will be recycled.
- If we decide to pass on your project at this stage, we
will explain our decision and offer a few suggestions. We,
however, are not able to provide a full critique.
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The Top Twenty DON'TS for
Submission
20. Seal your package so completely with tape that it is impossible
to open.
19. Include knick-knacks (other than chocolate !) that fall
out as soon as the package is opened.
18. Include talcum, cigarette ash or other unidentifiable
white powder in your envelope.
17. Include photographs of yourself and/or your children.
16. Perfume your submission materials with anything (cigarette
smoke counts here, too).
15. Have your friend, secretary, or mother write the cover
letter, telling how wonderful you are.
14. Describe all your family, including pets, in your cover
letter.
13. Address your letter to another agent.
12. Open your letter with an ethnic (or other) joke.
11. Demand a response within say, ten days.
10. Type your manusript is some Afancy@ font.
(anything other than Courier, New Times Roman or Bookman Old
Style is considered Afancy@)
9. Single space your manscript so it will appear shorter.
8. Query the agent with all 26 of your manuscripts at the
same time.
7. Ask the agent to read your query or manuscript by checking
out a website.
6. Put down other authors in your genre or other agents who
have rejected your work.
5. Misrepresent your prior publishing experience.
4. Query an agent with your project when that agent has publicly
stated she doesn't represent such projects.
3. Send a full manuscript when only a partial was requested.
2. Provide a detailed, multi-page outline of each scene when
a synopsis was requested.
1. Neglect to include your name and address with your submission.
*While this list may be somewhat “tongue-in-cheek,”
it will hopefully give you a chuckle, but there are some important
lessons to be learned here.
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