a guest post from Karen Cioffi
You’ve been slaving for months, maybe years, on your manuscript.
You’ve read about belonging to a critique group to help you hone your work and took the advice to heart.
You have also listened to the advice about submitting your manuscript to an editor after your critique group is done with it, and after you’ve meticulously self-edited it.
Now, you’re ready to begin submissions.
While some authors choose to send queries to a publisher or an agent, there is no reason to choose, send queries off to both.
But, there are a few steps you need to be aware of before you actually start submitting:
1. Create a Good First Impression
Professionalism, professionalism, professionalism.
Yes, be professional.
As with any business correspondence, do not use colored stationary, colored text, elaborate font, scented paper or envelope, or any other unprofessional features.
You get one shot at making a first impression; don’t blow it on silly additions.
And, don’t try to be cute or send a gift.
Again, be professional.
2. Do Your Research
So, you understand you need to appear professional, but you also need to send your query to the right recipients.
You can have the most professional looking query letter, but if you send a query to a romance publisher and you have written a children’s picture book, guess what?
You’ll be out of luck.
Research for publishers and agents who work within the genre you write.
There are services, such as Writers Market (http://www.writersmarket.com/) that provide information on where and how to sell your articles or manuscripts.
While these services may charge for the service, it is a worthwhile investment.
There are also books that offer the same information, such as Writer’s Market, and Children’s Writers and Illustrator’s Market.
If you choose this option, you will need to get the new versions each year.
Agents and publishers are changing staff all the time, new companies are popping up and others are closing down, you will need up-to-date information for your query submissions.
3. Make Your Content Impressive
In the February 2011 issue of The Writer, agent Betsy Lerner explained, “Editors and agents alike enjoy nothing more than being startled awake by a witty or moving letter.” They want to see something special and unique; this is where your pitch comes in.
While you may have taken heed and had your manuscript critiqued and looked at by an editor, you can do the same with your query letter.
You want to give the impression that you are intelligent, so your query letter must reflect that.
Get it in the best shape possible, with a great hook, and then send it off to be critiqued.
Publishers and agents receive more queries than they can comfortably handle, so don’t give them a reason to simply reject yours because of unprofessionalism.
Give your query and manuscript every possible opportunity for success.
About Karen Cioffi
Karen Cioffi is an award-winning author, children’s ghostwriter, as well as an author/writer online platform marketing instructor. She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Writers on the Move (a promotional group of authors/writers utilizing cross-promotion).
Karen Cioffi Writing and Marketing, was named Writer’s Digest Website of the Week, June 25, 2012. Brian A. Klems, Online Editor for Writer’s Digest commented: “This site from Karen Cioffi should stand as a model for other freelance writers.”
For more on children’s writing, stop by Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi. Be sure to sign up for her newsletter and check out the DIY Page.
