Targeting Your Query Letter Submissions

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Your query letter is ready to submit (at least you hope). Now comes the challenge of deciding who to send it to. The lists of literary agents seem endless, and it can be a bit overwhelming to determine who is worthy of your submission. It is important to understand that all agents don’t accept all genres. Most agencies staff multiple agents, and usually, each agent has different preferences and guidelines for query submissions. It is very important to do your research and seek agents that are compatible with your work. You can submit 100 queries, but if you send each of them to agents that aren’t interested in your form of literature or genre, you’ve wasted a lot of time and energy for nothing.
 

When seeking out compatible agents, I suggest using a creditable source for compiling your list. I have used websites such as WritersMarket or QueryTracker. You can also purchase books like the 2014 Guide to Literary Agents or 2014 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market, both found on Amazon. Be sure to use sources that are up-to-date. Information is changing constantly, so you want to be sure you’re sending your submission to the appropriate address. Once you have obtained a source, you can start your list.
 

If you have never been published (Self-publishing doesn’t count unless you’ve sold a substantial amount. See What is the Best Way to Submit My Self-Published Book?, by Steve Laube.), you first need to seek the agents that are accepting new writers. Many agents have a full client list and are closed to new writers several months out of the year, while others only work with published authors. If an agent is accepting new writers, the next thing to look for is whether or not they are seeking your form of literature (fiction, non-fiction, short stories, poetry, etc.) and genre (romance, drama, thriller, mystery, fantasy, etc.). Depending on your form of lit and genre, this is still going to be a very large list of agents. Starting with the first 10 or so, visit each agent’s website and learn a little about the agent.
 

Agents like to know that you did your research and sought them out for a reason. You can usually find additional information about agents just by searching their name on the Web. Learn about their experience and credibility from other authors they have represented. Do they have good relationships with creditable publishers? What are their top sells? Remember, if an agent elects to represent your work, they will be your voice to the publishing community. In addition, you will have to work with this person. If they have a reputation for being difficult, you may want to think twice before querying them.
 

 During this portion of your research, you will likely narrow the list a little further, and find that you have listed agents that you consider to be your top picks (your dream agent/s), and your secondary picks (agents you’d be happy to settle with).  I would recommend submitting to four to six agents to start. Why four to six? I’ll explain my reasoning for that in my next post.
 

For now, tell me about your research strategy for targeting query submissions? Do you agree or disagree with my approach, and why?

 



 

 



I’ll Write Tomorrow!

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I credit my dad for planting the seed of knowledge that you don’t put things off until tomorrow if they can be done today. Even though I sometimes take this to an unhealthy extreme, I believe it's a good principle and can be applied to many circumstances in life. I have also succumbed to procrastination (more often than I wish to admit) and I’ve rarely found a situation where it has added value to my life. I read a post yesterday from a fellow blogger that triggered déjà vu. The post was titled The Attack of the To Do List, by Jodi Milner. She talked about the challenges of getting things done amongst the immediate demands of running a household and taking care of her family, namely, her children.

It is true that when we aren’t given the freedom to spend our time as we please, we value those bits and small chunks of time when we’re able to accomplish something. On the other hand, it’s so easy to justify allowing ourselves time to relax during our 15-minute recess, instead of completing a to-do item. I’m not saying a person shouldn’t relax. Sometimes “me time” is necessary to keep from going insane. However, continuously putting things off until tomorrow only makes our tomorrow an even bigger challenge. Let’s apply this philosophy to writing.

I am currently writing a YA fantasy novel, which I enjoy very much. Nonetheless, if I don’t devote time to work on it, it will never get done. I have a two-year-old and a nine-year-old. Because I chose to homeschool, beginning this year, they’re home with me all day. At first, my day was completely disorganized, and I felt as if I were running in a circle of “to-do” debris all day long. My novel rarely received attention, and when I did sit down to write, my mind couldn’t stop thinking about last night's dirty dishes still in my sink. Finally, enough was enough! I knew something had to change, so I sat down and wrote out a list of things I needed to accomplish during my day, and another list of what I wanted to accomplish. That’s when I realized the problem: my day contained no routine at all. Besides my children’s strict bedtime, my day was utter chaos!  On that faithful day, a routine (however, atypical) was created.

It took some time for the children and me to adjust, but after a couple of weeks, things began to fall into place. Their strict bedtime routine allowed me to get up early and devote some time to writing. Most mornings, I write on my novel, and other mornings I write my next blog post (like today), but I always try to get some writing done, even if only for 10 or 15 minutes. Over time, it has become a routine, and one that starts my day off with a surge of motivation that trickles to the next to-do item.  

Tell me about your writing routine. Are you a procrastinator, or do you have a schedule that helps you carve out time for writing?

 



A Query Letter that Worked

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It takes weeks, months, or in my case, years of writing and research between, school, work, running a household, taking care of kids, and just life in general. Then, it takes a few more weeks or months of editing, revising, and rewriting, until one day, you exhale a smile as you're flooded with feelings of pride and relief. Your manuscript is finally ready! Then you think, now what? If you've written a fiction novel, and decided that self-publishing is not for you, your next move should be to write a query letter. On occasion, depending on the literary agency, a fiction book proposal may also be required. I'll save that for another blog. For now, I'll give you a sample of a query letter that worked for me.

 

I am, by no means, an expert; however, my latest query letter has received several hits, so I know I'm doing something right. Here's what I believe makes up a successful query letter:

 

1. Limited Length. Keep in mind that the arrival of your query letter to an agent's mailbox or inbox is not a rare phenomenon. Most agencies get hundreds of submissions per month. In order to make a decision on each of them, they have to read them. I imagine an agent cringing each time they open a letter that contains more than one page of text. In addition, they are certainly not going to read that lengthy letter unless they're given good reason to, so my suggestion is to focus on quality of content, rather than quantity.
2. Professionalism. This is not a letter to your best friend. Likely, you have never met this person, and if you'd been given the opportunity to pitch your story in person, you would not have said something like, “What's up, Joe?” Instead, you would've extended your nervous, sweaty palm and properly introduced yourself to the agent. Do not address them by their first name (or worse, the wrong name), use slang terms or phrases, or say anything vulgar or inappropriate. Do address them as Mr. or Ms., use a proper letter format, and accurate spelling and grammar.
3. Guidelines. Some literary agencies will give specific guidelines outlining what they want included in a query letter submitted to them. However, based on the many examples I have examined, there is a basic recipe:
• Short Synopsis of the Story: These leading one to two paragraphs should summarize your entire book. The opening line should entice the agent to read further. Remember though, don't be unprofessional. You can be intriguing without telling a corny joke or throwing down a flashy line. Your book is interesting, isn't it? Stick to the story. You can also open with a short greeting, then follow with the synopsis.
• Manuscript Info: This short paragraph should be used to reveal the genre (if it isn't obvious from reading the synopsis), word-count, and target audience. Explain who will read your book, and why it stands out in the crowd of others similar to it.
• Short Author Bio: This paragraph should briefly describe you and your professional background, as it pertains to writing. If you've been previously published, won a writing contest, or had been the editor of your school paper, those are all relevant to put here. If you've never been previously published and have no major writing accomplishments, you can opt to leave this out. If the agent requests it, be truthful and offer to tell them why you wrote the book. Maybe you've loved writing stories since 1^st grade, or that you were inspired by a true life event. Don't tell them how many brothers and sisters that you have, or that your favorite food is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches – too much information.
• Closing Considerations: These last couple sentences will be the easiest. Just thank them for their time and consideration. Tell them you look forward to hearing from them. If they've requested additional material, such as a more detailed synopsis or sample chapters, mention here where they can find them: maybe they're attached separately or trailing the query letter. Be short and sweet.

Now that you know the makings of a successful query letter, I will now offer my own as a sample. Remember, depending on the agent's guidelines, you may need to tweak it a little, but this will be a good foundation to retract from or build onto.

 

Dear [Ms./Mr. Agent's Last Name],

I would like to introduce you to a story set in the turn of the 19th century. The journey begins with a young mother, named Emma, and her struggle to face each day just over a year after her husband's death. The mother desires to leave her children a legacy that breeds success, but can't seem to do more than make ends meet. Unexpectedly, her life takes a sudden turn when she meets the handsome son of a kind neighboring couple who believes there's more to this young widow than a beautiful face. After realizing Emma's talent to paint, he challenges her to showcase her work at a state-wide art contest. As quickly as she realizes her dreams could be possible, she receives a blow that threatens a devastating end to everything. As Emma struggles with guilt and self-worth, she can only rely on the faith that God has put His plan for her in motion.

 

Emma's Grace is completed in 53,000 words. This story can appeal to a wide age-range of Christian women because Emma is easily related to on many levels. Although this book is a romance, I challenge that Emma and Will's relationship is typical – even a bit quirky. It will keep your heart fluttering and your mind guessing! In addition, you could call Emma a feminist of her time. She respects the job of wife and mother, but believes that God creates different paths for everyone, and gives gifts for a reason. Emma seeks to not only raise her children to be honorable people, but open their eyes to their full potential.

 

Per your request, I have included the first three chapters in a Word document, attached. Thanks in advance for your time and consideration. I truly hope you are compelled to read more about the story I am so excited about!

 

Sincerely,

[Author Name]

[Address]

[Phone Number]

[Email Address]



A Rejection is Not the End

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Today, I had planned to share my tips for a query letter that worked for me. Instead, I've decided to share the news I received yesterday concerning my long-awaited rejection. Looks like my predictions were right, and my first full request was rejected after a very long seven months and nine days. Honestly, I didn't expect a response at all, so I'm thankful they took the time to do so. Also unexpected, I was more bummed than I thought I would be. Even though I knew I didn't send my best work, and that I probably would've rejected it too if I were in their shoes, deep down, there was still a small glimmer of hope.

 

No one wants to be rejected. No matter how nicely rejection is communicated, it never seems to translate positively. No, means no. 'We have decided to pass on your manuscript,' translates to 'We don't like it.' I think I stared at the email for a solid five minutes, reading the two short lines over and over again, allowing the news to sink in. Now that I've had time to digest it, I'm ready to move forward. The more I thought about it I realized, it's just one. One person made the decision to reject my work. One person from one agency in one town and one state from one teeny tiny section of this whole big world, said no. Using this concept, even 10 rejections don't seem like the end. I think I'll get past it.

 

How was your first rejection communicated to you? How did you feel about it? Did it seem like the end? What concept helped you to move forward?



The Anxious Inquirer: Part 2

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Consider the query letter to be your book's first impression. Since most literary agents will not view your work until they are convinced it is worth their time, perfecting the query letter is one of the most important things an aspiring author can do, in my opinion. When I set out on my querying venture, I was no where near ready. Nevertheless, after viewing a few samples online and doing a little research (not near enough), I sent my first query letter to an agent. I received a quick rejection in two days, but that only fueled my determination. I went online, viewed a couple more samples, did a little more research (still not enough), and revised and resent my query letter to another couple of agents. Both of those were rejected as well. I guess you can figure out what I did next. Yep – viewed more samples and did more research (getting warmer).

 
This went on for several months, since many agencies took weeks to respond. I worked to perfect my query letter so intensely in response to these rejections that I completely forgot about my poorly drafted manuscript. Then, it happened. The response we all hope to receive – an agent wanted to view my full manuscript! Finally, I had molded my query letter into an intriguing sneak piece of my masterpiece. Then it hit me. Oh no! It's not ready! What was I thinking? I'll be the laughing stock of the literary community! Oh, woe is me! Needless to say, I learned my lesson the hard way.
 
I worked desperately for the next 24 hours revising, correcting, and essentially, crying. Who was I kidding? It would take several weeks to get it in descent shape. Forget grammar – that was the least of my worries. There were problems with flow, pace, and dialogue. Can you believe I used the word 'robot' in my 19^th century historical? The first robot wasn't invented until 1954. The word robot wasn't even used until 1921! Ultimately, I sent the manuscript. Then, I spent the next few weeks biting my nails and finding even more problems with the draft I sent – it was a disaster. After a few more months of sulking, I decided it was time to shape up that manuscript once and for all. Next time, I would be ready!
 
I spent about two more months giving the first third of my book a full overhaul, and the remaining, much needed revision. I couldn't believe how much better I felt when I finally got it finished. I still don't know why I waited so long to edit that story. What I do know is that I'll never send another query before I'm ready to send the manuscript. Since then, I've queried another hand full of agents, and received two more full requests. It felt good to send them with confidence. I'm not saying there's no room left in them for criticism, but at least I can say I did my best and that I'm proud of the finished product.
 
What about you? Are you or have you ever been an anxious inquirer? Have you ever sent a manuscript or piece of work that you weren't proud of? What was the end result? Seven months in, I'm still waiting for the result.

The Anxious Inquirer: Part 1

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That moment when you finish the last sentence of your first book... Remember that? It's relieving, refreshing, exciting, and even overwhelming. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. It felt so rewarding to complete something that I had created from scratch, and I just knew I had a diamond in the rough. The problem was, my writing pace was a little atypical. I began writing my first novel just after enrolling in college. Since I had gotten married the summer after my high school graduation, I had to make a living, so that meant working full-time while I attended school. This left very little time for my project, and it took me four years to finish it.

As you can probably image, my writing skills had improved much over the course of those four years. Consequently, the writing in my manuscript had also improved over the course of the story. When I first completed the book, I was just a tad oblivious to this fact. The excitement of getting it finished had camouflaged the reality of the work still ahead of me. Sure, I knew it had mistakes. I had intended to edit it, and ensure I had used all the correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. What I had not planned on, was overhauling the first six chapters, and revising much of the remaining story. The realization that my book was far from ready, hit me quite hard. My diamond in the rough, I realized, was actually a rock amongst the diamonds.

I had already spent four years writing it. It was excruciating to think I would have to rewrite it. In addition, over those four years, I had read and reread it so many times that I had nearly grown to hate it. This looming fact hung over me like a dark cloud, and regrettably, I tucked the story away and ignored it for several years. During that time, I had gotten a job with corporate America, bought a house, and began raising two children. When I finally pulled my manuscript out of the file and blew off the dust, it felt quite new again.

My excitement for the project had returned, and I couldn't wait to get started working on it – that is, until I read it. All those old feelings came storming back, and I quickly remembered why I had stored it away so long. I knew it needed a lot of work, and I just didn't feel I had the energy to address those changes. Instead, I decided to do some research. I had no idea how to get a book published, and was curious about the process. I figured it was worth my time investigating if I ever wanted to get serious about it. When I decided that finding a literary agent was the best route, I drafted my first query letter and sent it to an agent. The rejection arrived in my inbox only two days later, but instead of being disappointed, I felt a rush of excitement. I finally had a challenge worth pursuing!

You're not going to want to miss part two of this story, which I plan to post on Monday. Until then, tell me about your first completed work. Was it a novel, short story, collection of poems, children's book, non-fiction project, or something else? How long did it take you to complete it? Did you feel confident in the finished product, or did it need an overhaul?





The Long-Awaited Rejection

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In my first blog post, I stated that my completed manuscript had been requested by two literary agents. Actually, the last agent request was the third. I don't really count the first one because its been seven months, and I haven't heard anything. Yes, I've followed up – twice. After three months I sent my first follow-up, and I got a response saying that they'd try to get back to me in a month or so. I sent the second follow-up after six months, and I have yet to hear a response. I know this doesn't mean I've been forgotten, or that the agent isn't interested. No news is good news, right? Well, maybe.

I've read where other writers have had similar experiences and finally gotten an offer, or rejection, after a year or more. Depending on the agent's workload, that might have been the best they could do. On the other hand, I've read where writers never received a response at all. Unfortunately, some agents (I'm convinced there are few) rudely keep us hanging until we finally make the decision to move on, leaving a bitter taste in our mouth concerning agent integrity. This can be especially devastating if it's your first agent request, as it was mine. Though, looking back now, I'm glad it happened.

After sending queries to multiple agents, getting rejected, revising my query letter, and querying another batch of agents, finally, someone felt my manuscript was worth reviewing. It feels good to know you're doing something right. On the other hand, my biggest regret was halting my progress – I stopped querying agents. Don't do this! Remember, a manuscript request is not an agent contract. Don't stop querying other prospects, just to get a rejection after four or more months. In a case such as mine, you'd have been waiting seven months, maybe forever. Not to say you'll get a rejection, but odds are, a rejection is more likely. Instead, keep querying, and attract more agent requests. With three now under my belt, I don't fear rejection, I anticipate it.

Share your experience! Have you been a victim of the long-awaited rejection? Maybe the long wait paid off for you. What is the longest you've had to wait for an offer or rejection? What did you do while you waited?

Join Me on my Quest!

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Hello! My name is Sarah Chafins. I'm a wife, mother, and aspiring author. Before writing this, and even before creating this blog, I thought about the many different approaches and topics I could use to address my first post. I agonized over the usual questions: What if no one likes it? What if I sound stupid? What if someone says something mean? What if my reputation is ruined?! (Okay, that one is a bit extreme). After all, first impressions are everything. I certainly didn't want to bore you with my biography, so I included that in the “About Me” section. In the end, I decided that it was okay if everyone doesn't like my blog, everyone says something stupid now and then, and mean people will always be out there. As for ruining my reputation, I figure that's mostly within my control. If I stay true to myself and my Christian values, I can keep my honor.

Now, let's get to it! Why am I blogging? In my mind, it's simple. I am a writer, and I love to write: sweet notes for my husband's lunch box, in my journal, messages to friends and family, inspirational fiction, and lately, a blog post. No, I don't promise all the answers or supernatural wisdom, but I hope you can learn something, or at least take away something of value – hopefully, I can too. That's right, I'm not going to blog just for your benefit (wink). I want to learn too! The definition of wisdom is experience and knowledge, isn't it? I can only shed light on mine, so hopefully, you'll share your experience and knowledge with me as well. About what? you're asking. Writing of course!

For as long as I can remember, I've loved imagining, and even before I learned to write, I've loved creating stories. Not all of them have made it on paper, but nonetheless, I created them. Consider this my quest for writing success. Will you join me? I want what many of you writers out there want, to be successful. More specifically, to have my work published. Do I believe it will happen for me? Absolutely! I am realistic though, I know its going to take hard work, dedication, persistence, and patience (among other qualities). I don't believe in luck, though. Can you be in the right place, at the right time and have something exceptional happen? Sure, but you wouldn't have gotten there if you hadn't made some sort of effort. Let's give ourselves a little credit.

I have completed my first manuscript, a historical romance, and am now working on a YA fantasy, which is proving to be so much fun. My complete manuscript has been requested by two different agencies for review within a couple weeks apart, and the anticipation... I am really excited about this journey, and hope we can take it together. Feel free to comment. Are you on a quest for writing success? Where are you on your journey? Have you just begun writing? Maybe you're already a  successful writer? Have you been writing for years without success?