Writer's Digest Questions and Quandaries - Query Letters

Do Agents Steal Your Stamps? (The SASE Conundrum)

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:23:52 GMT

Q: Do agents steam off the stamps on self-addressed, stamped envelopes (SASEs) and resell them?! The agents demand pages, SASEs, that sort of‑thing, but—and I know this sounds cynical—many of my queries disappear.
—Don B.

A:Of course agents don’t steam off stamps from SASEs and resell them. They steam them off and use the stamps themselves!

Actually, they don’t steam off anything (as far as I know), and really do try to respond (unless, of course, they state specifically in their writing guidelines that they only accept e-querys and don't respond to snail mail). To gain further insight on the matter, I called Donald Maass, president of Donald Maass Literary Agency. He represents more than 100 fiction writers.

“If you’re certain that you wrote to the agent’s current address and the SASE had sufficient postage, then you can conclude one of three things,” he says. “Either the agent is rude, the agent is busy or the agent just isn’t interested.”

Now, I doubt that agents try to ignore you, as their profession and income are based on finding great writing. With the mounds of submissions they continually receive, they probably don’t have time to respond to everyone (though that would be nice).

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwmedia.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line.

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Can I Query Before I Finish My Novel?

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:43:06 GMT

Q: I'm currently writing my first novel and am about halfway finished, but I have completed an outline and synopsis. Can I start querying agents now?

A: Being a first-time novelist, it's important to finish your book before sending out any query letters. Without a track record, you have no proof that you can finish a novel. And the number of folks who finish writing novels is dramatically smaller than the number of folks who start them (I'm certainly guilty of having three unfinished novels taking up valuable space in my underwear drawer.)

Agents are inundated with submissions and they don't want to deal with unfinished work. From their perspective, it makes no sense to waste time getting excited about a story that may never get completed (or may not fulfill the promise made in a query letter).

So spend the next few weeks/months completing your book, including edits, rewrites, more edits and more rewrites. Do the same with your query letter. Make sure everything is in tip-top shape. Once you feel confident in your work—or as close to confident as any writer can be—it's finally time to slap a stamp on the envelope and drop the query in the mail (or send it via e-mail, depending on the agent's guidelines).

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwmedia.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line.

Looking for more?

Consider taking an online course through WritersOnlineWorkshops on the Fundamentals of Fiction Writing.
Join us for the Writer's Digest Conference (Sept 18-20) in New York City, which focuses on how to use the newest tools to get published and market/promote your work.
Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @BrianKlems @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
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What Should You Include in Your Bio for Agents?

Tue, 12 May 2009 17:57:16 GMT

Q: I’ve recently finished my first novel and have begun searching for an agent to represent me. Some of the agents ask for a writer’s bio. Could you please tell me exactly what information I should include in this bio? What should be left out?—Terrie Smith

A: Writers are often advised to write bios that read like jacket copy, but catching the eye of an agent is about convincing her that you’re just as marketable as your book is. You also need to clearly show why you’re qualified to write your proposed book. In any bio, you want to focus on your job qualifications.

“Your bio should highlight any features that will hook readers’ interest,” says Katharine Sands, an agent for the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency. “The rule of thumb is to convey in one paragraph that you can be successfully published. Of course, you want an agent to fall in love with your writing but, to an agent, your query letter is actually your interview for the job of book author.”

According to Sands, there are four pressing questions you need to ask yourself before writing your bio:

1. How have you and your work been noticed up until now?

2. What professional achievements or personal interests serve to make you, along with your project, an intriguing package?

3. Does your background show special insider knowledge that would enable you to transport your readers to an interesting world, such as backstage in Hollywood, behind the scenes with Washington power brokers or a behind-the-headlines look at your subject?

4. How is your work informed by personal experience, such as meticulous research, surviving a catastrophic event, cherished family lore or travels to exotic lands?

“As an author, you must be an impassioned ambassador for your book,” Sands says. You should also consider including ways you can promote your book to readers (e.g., do you have access to mailing lists? Can you set up seminars or workshops to promote yourself?).

If you have blurbs from published writers, literary awards and/or reviews, include them. List your participation in readings, events and book festivals to show you’re not publicity shy.

While this sounds like a lot, most first-time novelists are lucky to have a few of these to include. If your bio is running a little thin, it’s best to leave it that way. You don’t want to include unrelated personal information, negative setbacks or rejections you’ve logged in your writing life.

“I don’t need to know that your aunt knew Elvis or you love cats or you make great lasagna,” Sands says. “Agents tend to short-circuit if too much information diffuses the message that this one work could work.”

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Two Pitches, One Magazine

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:29:46 GMT

Q: I’ve written two travel articles about two separate areas in a certain Canadian province. Should I mail them together to editors since they would go well together, or do they need to be mailed separately?—Sharon L.

A: First thing you’ll want to do is send a query letter to the editors of the paper by e-mail or mail—whichever form of communication the publication prefers, as stated in its submission guidelines. You can generally find specific guidelines for this on any magazine's (or newspaper's) website. Suggest that your two travel articles belong together, much like Rocky and Bullwinkle, and explain how they complement each other. This route gives you a better chance at selling your ideas.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Covering the Cover Letter

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:53:53 GMT

Q: I’ve written a personal essay for a magazine that invites its readers to submit “meaningful remembrances.” The submission guidelines state that submitted articles are welcome for review. Should I send a query letter or send the essay along with a cover letter? What format should I use?—Carla V. Britt

A: Cover letters generally accompany work already expected by the recipient. Since the magazine welcomes articles for review, an expanded cover letter will work best and be key in getting an editor to look at your essay.

While there are different opinions on how to handle cover letters, one approach is to model the first paragraph to the language on the back of a book cover. It summarizes your work and gives the editor/publisher/agent a crystal-clear picture of your story. In the subsequent paragraphs, include (briefly) your background, especially anything that would make you somewhat of an authority on the subject you’re writing about, and any extremely prestigious credits you may have. While your third-grade Mother’s Day essay may have won you first prize at school, it’s better to leave it off and include only notable published works and writing awards you’ve received from well-known organizations. Stylistically, business-letter format works best.

Many people confuse cover letters with query letters. A query letter is a sales pitch for something that hasn’t yet been contracted. You’re selling an idea for a piece. It can be less formal—more like an outline—and should hit on the major points you plan to cover. Many editors and publishers request that you send a query letter up front, so be sure to double-check the guidelines.

They don’t have the time to eye a manuscript without being briefed on its contents, so they use query letters and cover letters to speed up the process.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

How Many Rejections Does it Take to Self-Publish a Book?

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:00:53 GMT

Q: I've submitted my manuscript and query letters to various agents and publishers and have received several rejections. I feel this book is pretty marketable. How many agent rejections and how many publisher rejections do you think I should take as a signal to self-publish this book? I'm pretty tenacious. If need be, I could probably send out a query letter a day per day to 100 agents, but I'm wondering if there's a cut off number of rejections after which it's prudent to give up?—Barbara Bullington

A: There is no standard on how many rejection letters it takes to push an author into self-publishing mode—mainly because every author (and manuscript) is different. Some authors don't see self-publishing as a viable option for their work, while others—especially nonfiction writers who are also good marketers—see the opportunity to make more money self-publishing than they would spending time trying to traditionally publish their work.

If you believe self-publishing could work for you, you can certainly set a rejection threshold. But I'd recommend against it. This puts the timetable in the hands of agents and publishers, not you. And trust me, you don't want to have to waste your life away waiting for essentially bad news: "Well, there's rejection letter number 50. Thank goodness it came. Now, after 35 years of waiting, I can stop sending out all of these silly queries and self-publish!"

While I joke about the rejection-letter model, I absolutely do think it's good to set a timetable—just one that you control. For example, let's say I've sent out a dozen queries for my memoir, The Brian A. Klems Diaries: Editor by Day, Superhero by Night. I have set a deadline of 18 months to either sign an agent or get signed by a publisher. For each rejection I receive, I send out another query and continue this for the next year. If I don't get any bites by the time the 18-month deadline passes, then I look into my self-publishing options.

Now I'm not saying 18 months is the best timetable (depending on your work, you may want to consider giving it a few years or limiting it to one year). That's completely up to you. But by setting a timetable as opposed to a rejection-letter count, you have a clearer picture of when it's time for you to move forward.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

How Do I E-mail Clips?

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:46:10 GMT

Q: When a publication requests e-queries and clips, how do you e-mail the clips?
—Nannette Croce

A: Sending clips via e-mail can be difficult. You can try scanning the images, but that sometimes blurs the words and makes the piece illegible. You can copy text into a word processing document and send it, but that doesn’t prove the piece you’re submitting has been published. So what can you do?

First, check to see if the publisher of your work has ever posted it on its website. If so, it may have your work archived. All you have to do from here is copy the link into your e-query and your worries are gone. But what if they don’t archive stories online?

Most magazines, newspapers, newsletters and other types of writing mediums use computer programs to lay out the work and then save that work as a PDF—Portable Document Format. PDFs are the standard format for distribution and exchange of electronic files. In other words, they can be easily e-mailed and accessed whether you’re using a PC or a Mac.

If you don’t have the PDFs of your work already, call the magazine or newspaper that published it and request that they send you the electronic versions. Most media outlets keep archives of all their work, but it’s only been within the past 10 years that technology has led to electronic archiving. The older the clip, the tougher it might be to get. But once you get the PDF of your work, you can send it to anyone through your e-mail.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Are Agents Stealing My Stamps?

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:16:53 GMT

Q: Do agents steam off the stamps on self-addressed, stamped envelopes (SASEs) and resell them? The agents demand pages, SASEs, that sort of thing, but—and I know this sounds cynical—many of my queries disappear. In this age, why should we need to use what they call “snail mail” for queries and why do agents never answer?—Don Ballew

A: Of course agents don’t steam off stamps from SASEs and resell them. They steam them off and use the stamps themselves. (Hopefully you know I'm J/K, which is "just kidding" in Internet speak.)

Actually, they don’t steam off anything (as far as I know), and really do try to respond. To gain further insight on the matter, I called Donald Maass, president of Donald Maass Literary Agency. He represents more than 100 fiction writers.

“If you’re certain that you wrote to the agent’s current address and the SASE had sufficient postage, then you can conclude one of three things,” he says. “Either the agent is rude, the agent is busy or the agent just isn’t interested.”

Now, I doubt that agents try to ignore you, as their profession and income are based on finding great writing. With the mounds of submissions they continually receive, they probably don’t have time to respond to everyone (though that would be nice). And they do try to respond, but it's easy for queries to get lost in the shuffle.

“Snail mail” is still a viable form of submitting your query, though e-mail has really become increasingly popular in the last couple of years. There is one ultimate problem with e-mail: All that hard work goes down the drain if the editor accidentally labeled your e-mail address as spam and you’re officially blocked from the system. So it's best to follow the agent's guidelines (which can typically be found online) when deciding whether to send it by the postal service or electronically. But when in doubt, you can always send a hard copy. After all, they are easier for agents to carry around and read while traveling, eating lunch or steaming off stamps.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Live From LA: Questions from the Writer's Conference

Thu, 29 May 2008 17:57:11 GMT

Yesterday was the annual BEA/Writer's Digest Books Writer's Conference, and I was fortunate to be a panelist on the popular Ask the Editors session. The organizer, GLA editor Chuck Sambuchino, told me it was for my in-depth knowledge of the submission and editing processes and my familiarity with inexpensive ways to self-market work, but I think that was just fancy talk for "Brian, you're so good-looking and we need a little eye candy up there for the ladies."

No, I promise you, I have not been drinking.

Others on the panel included such brilliant minds as WD Books Editorial Director Jane Friedman, WD Books Editor Lauren Mosko and Writer's Market Editor (and Poetic Asides blogger) Robert Lee Brewer. Together, we fielded a number of great questions, but one struck me as very unusual and I thought I'd share.

An audience member said that she had read/been advised that her book proposal should include a mention of any personal finances the author planned to use to promote her book, but only if that dollar figure topped $10,000. Her question was, "Is this true?"

The question caught me off guard—mainly because I've never heard this before. While it's definitely smart to provide any information about your self-promotional plans, it doesn't seem wise to place a dollar figure on what you're willing to spend of your own money to promote your work. And it certainly doesn't make sense (to me) to put it in writing.

There's no doubt that offering to spend your own money would be a selling point to publishers; after all, what employer wouldn't be thrilled by an employee that pays for the privilege of making them money. But it's a slippery slope that could lead to publishers demanding writers to spend their own money, which would put a big chunk of writers who live paycheck-to-paycheck at a permanent disadvantage.

Robert also made a great point: What happens when you commit $10,000 of your own money but only can drum up a $5,000 advance? Now I'm no math whiz, but by my calculation you'd be out $5,000 up front with no guarantee you'd ever see that money again. Both Jane and Lauren agreed that it doesn't seem sensible to make that promise, especially when you don't know what the economic times will be like come publication time.

Now this doesn't mean that you shouldn't invest in your book—and yourself—after you get the book contract. But without putting it in writing you give yourself flexibility.

ps- For more highlights and pictures from the conference, check out Chuck's GLA Blog.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

When Should You Send Holiday-Themed Queries?

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:19:35 GMT

Q: I’d like to publish some holiday stories in magazines. I know magazines typically work on issues months in advance, so if I wanted to submit a proposal for a Christmas-themed story, when should I send it?—Cheryl Heil

A: All magazines work on different timetables—some work three months in advance, while others map out an entire year’s worth of articles in January. Market books, like Writer’s Market, have listings for most magazines that include the average length of time between manuscript acceptance and when it actually gets printed.

No matter what timeframe a magazine’s guidelines give you, always query a month or two before the suggested date to give the editors time to consider, fine-tune and accept your idea. For example, Sports Illustrated for Kids states that it publishes manuscripts an average of three months after acceptance. If you’re looking to write “Elves in the Outfield,” it’s best to query in August or September for the December issue. Some magazines, like The Saturday Evening Post, actually request that you send seasonal material one year in advance, so you really have to plan ahead.

And when in complete doubt, just submit your idea when your query letter has been perfected. It’s better to be too early than too late.

When's the Best Time to Query?

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:56:43 GMT

Q: When is the best time to query agents? I've heard different things, like winter is bad, summer is slow, but it's OK in the spring. Is this true?—Kristen Howe

A: Spring, summer, winter or fall—agents are continually looking for good manuscripts. You'll occasionally find one who says that she doesn't buy around the holidays or that she takes time off in June to cart the kids to Disneyworld, but that doesn't mean you can't send your query (or that you shouldn't). And it certainly doesn't mean it won't get a look.

"Agents are always working," says Nancy Love, agent at Nancy Love Literary Agency (member of the Association of Artists' Representatives). "There are times when it's more difficult to sell books to publishers (summer because of vacations, around the Christmas and New Year's Holidays because everyone is shopping or away). But agents are always working."

In other words, don't let time restrict you. Picking the right moment to query isn't a seasonal issue, it's a personal issue. The best time to seek an agent is after you've polished off your novel (or your nonfiction outline and sample chapters) and done your homework on which agents best suit your work.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Multiple Submissions Etiquette

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:07:09 GMT

Q: Is it proper to send out the same article to multiple publishers at the same time? What happens if several magazines accept the article?—Casey Magan

A: Hmm, did you send this same question to other magazines, too?

Sending out the same query to separate publications (simultaneous submissions) gives you more opportunities to get published, but it can also ruin your chances with editors if they know it’s been submitted elsewhere—especially to a competitor—unless they accept simultaneous submissions.

With multiple acceptance, it’s easy to burn bridges. As you sign a contract, you’ll find most publishers want first serial rights, or the right to publish the article for the first time in any periodical. If an editor puts in the time to read and accept your submission, she won’t be happy to find out that you’ve sold it to another publication.

If you want to submit the same idea to multiple sources, the best approach is to mention it in your cover letter so the editor knows up front. If it’s too late for that, the ethical thing to do is accept the first offer you receive and politely decline the others.

To avoid these dilemmas in the first place, refine the query/article specifically to fit the needs of each individual magazine. The theme of each magazine is different. The audience is different. By angling the same idea a little differently for each publication, you’re less likely to run into such problems.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Accurate Writer's Guidelines

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:35:21 GMT

Q: I read Writer’s Digest and keep tabs when they run market listings and I also own a copy of Writer’s Market, but sometimes I go to the publisher’s or agency’s website and its guidelines are different. Which is more accurate?—Angel

A: Companies’ websites are likely to be more up-to-date than any listing in a magazine or a book. Writer’s Digest and Writer’s Market (which are both produced by my parent company, F+W Publications)—or any other market listing available—compile lists to give you a n often-needed starting point for your research. But they defintely shouldn’t be your stopping point.

It’s hard to find an agent or publisher, and even harder to find one that fits your specific genre. An annual like Writer’s Market makes it easier for you by gathering all the publishers and agents into one reference tool, but time can date some of the entries. You should always do more investigating by visiting the companies’ websites. Publishing companies and literary agencies sometimes find that their needs change and, in turn, they change their guidelines.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Tracking Queries

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:22:30 GMT

Q: What's the most efficient way to track magazine queries? I've been doing it by date on a single sheet of paper, but that seems haphazard. —Ellen Ryan

A: There isn’t a “right” way to track queries. You could create a database on your computer. You could write them on napkins and stuff them in a cookie jar. Any method can work as long as you understand how to use it. If you’re sending out submissions by the busload, all that really matters is that you’re organized.

For a writer who doesn’t have a system—or has the organizational skills of a bowling ball—it’s a good idea to set up a spreadsheet to track your submissions. There are six major categories that belong in your chart: the article idea, the magazine you’ve sent it to, the editor’s name/submissions address of said magazine, the date you submitted it, the date by which you should get a response and the date you plan to follow up in the event that your query goes unanswered. It should look something like this:

Article Idea	Magazine Submitted To	Editor name/ submissions e-mail address	Date Submitted	Date Submitted	Date Magazine should reply by	Follow up on

It’s these elements you need to remember. And for any magazine that doesn’t give a response within the time it states in its guidelines, give the editor at least one month before checking in.

You can add in extra boxes, of course, such as article accepted/rejected, contract signed, payment received and so on. You could always highlight accepted queries or draw happy faces next to them. Whatever works best for you. Just stay organized.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Query Letter Synopsis

Fri, 18 May 2007 17:47:20 GMT

Q: Every time I start to write a query letter, I seem to write an entire synopsis of a work. How do I know where to stop? — Adora Mitchell Bayles

A: This is an extremely common question. Most writers (myself included) can babble on about their brilliant ideas (which we all have many) and just don't know where to stop, particularly in query letters. But there are a few rules you can follow to keep it brief and to the point.

Query letters should be no more than one page. Typically, shorter is better. You'll need room for your qualifications and your details (how many words you believe the piece will be, how long it'll take you to finish, where the editor can find your clips, etc.). This leaves, at most, one-half page for your intro (lead) and brief synopsis.

Both the intro and synopsis should be no more than 3-4 sentences each. That's all an editor really needs to know whether or not the idea is a fit for his publication. If you can't slice it down to that, you don't have a strong focus to your piece and need to hone your idea.

With e-mail making it easy for anyone to submit an idea, editors are receiving queries at an unprecedented rate and have little time to rummage through them. To give yourself the best chance at catching their attention and getting a fair shake, follow the rules above. It shows that you're a professional and have done your homework.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Friday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.