At some point in their career, every writer thinks about submitting their work to an agency or publisher. Bringing a novel or poetry collection down from its dusty shelf and into the hands of an industry professional can be a daunting process.
Of course, the quality of writing will always speak for itself, but it’s easy to bias an agent against work with simple errors, and this will do a writer no favours. Whether a writer of poetry, short stories or novels, there are certain universal mistakes that could consign a query letter to the ninth circle of manuscript hell - the slushpile. What can be done to avoid this?
Do research Into Getting a Book Published
Agents churn through hundreds of mass-mailed “Dear Editor” letters every day. A writer who researches the company and the people in charge of the submission department will demonstrate that they are serious about their work from the outset. Using the “shotgun technique” of mailing out submissions is not as effective as targeted, well-researched submissions.
The best approach is to find the agents of writers who influenced the work, or who write in a similar genre or style. This ensures that the agency has a track record of publishing similar material, and has the experience to pitch it to publishers. Mentioning the influence of a writer already on their books helps to show your knowledge of the industry, and how the new novel or poetry collection fits into it. Remember: a writer is selling their writing to them, so tell them why they should invest!
Follow the Instructions for Agencies and Publishers
This may sound obvious, but it’s remarkable how many people fail on this point. Agencies and publishing houses will have a section of their website titled “Submission Guidelines”. Read these thoroughly, and do not deviate even slightly from their instructions. If an agency publishes only historical fiction, do not think a science fiction novel will be a refreshing addition to their collection!
Some agencies simply ask for the manuscript with a cover letter, but many require a short query letter and synopsis before they request more. Failing to follow an agent’s submission guidelines will likely earn new work a short trip to the slush-pile. Since no agent will accept subsequent submissions of the same manuscript, a writer will avoid losing out on opportunities by simply taking the time to read their guidelines.
How to Format Work Properly
Often there will be specific formatting requirements for a certain agency. If none are given, a good bet is usually size 12, in a non-serif font (serifs are the squiggly bits on the ends of the letters in fancy fonts). An agent’s job is to spend the whole day reading entries, and they appreciate a clear, tidy font that helps a page to look uncluttered.
Double-spacing is an industry standard for the same reason. Writers should not try to make theirr work look like a book. It is not a book yet; it is still a manuscript. Leaving the right margin unjustified is perfectly normal, for instance. For paper submissions, agents dislike stapled pages and paper clips, and hate nothing more than non-biodegradable, non-recyclable, clammy plastic poly pockets.
Be Professional When Submitting
A writer should submit work as they would a job application, since this is essentially what the process is. Creative submissions, coloured paper or interesting fonts will not save bad writing from the slush-pile, and will add nothing to good writing. Some editors with a more casual outlook may find this approach interesting, but most will likely be irritated by it, and in the end they are judging only the writing.
The cover letter should be neat, brief and contain all relevant contact details. A writer should not come over as pleading, or overly superior – simply polite and professional. If no response is received for more than 6 weeks, a similarly polite follow-up letter is acceptable, but certainly not bothering them with emails or letters asking about the progress of the manuscript.
If work is turned down, do not ask for reasons. Agents and publishing houses will very rarely give feedback on submitted work, so do not request it; this is what editing services are for. Remember – agencies and publishers do keep in contact, and even sometimes exist within the same offices. Coming over as rude or unprofessional could lead to an uninformed writer becoming the subject of conversation over the water cooler!
Paul Cooper - Paul Cooper lives in Miami, Florida, and raises gators on a farm. Between writing posts for Suite101 and driving his enormous truck, he ...
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