Word Watching
Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 2:38PM
Adventures in Submission Part Two: Writing the Query Letter
Now that you’ve done your homework by reading books that have something in common with yours and identifying agents who represent those books, it’s time to begin the submissions process.
All submissions start with a query letter. The query letter is a fast way for agents to answer two questions as they decide whether to pursue your project:
Do you understand your novel or nonfiction book well enough to present a brief and appealing summary?
Unfortunately, sometimes a writer gets so excited about her project that she jumps the gun and submits it too early. We all know first drafts are . . . well, first drafts. The revision process smoothes the rough edges and addresses organization and structure of the plot. It also helps solidify in the writer’s mind what the book is about and how to communicate that to others. Just by reading your query letter, most agents can tell whether you’ve got a finished product or an idea that might be great with a lot more work.
