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Comments on: How to Jump from the Slush Pile Into the Arms of an Agent or Editor http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/03/27/how-to-jump-from-the-slush-pile-into-the-arms-of-an-agent-or-editor/ Tendentious comments and cranky critiques by Lynne W. Scanlon P.E.A. (Publisher/Editor/Author) Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:34:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: Lorra Laven http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/03/27/how-to-jump-from-the-slush-pile-into-the-arms-of-an-agent-or-editor/#comment-156 Sun, 02 Apr 2006 13:36:46 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/03/27/how-to-jump-from-the-slush-pile-into-the-arms-of-an-agent-or-editor/#comment-156 Lynne - I am so appreciative of your continued help and support. Your edit of my letter geared toward special sales was nothing short of genius. Just as important, your willingness to help is beyond generous. Before we crossed paths, I had no idea of the extent of creativity the marketing process demanded. I feel so fortunate to have found you and your blog - your suggestions are brilliant. I look forward every day to reading the Publishing Contrarian; there is so much information packed into each and every post. Thank you again. You are a gem. Lorra Lynne - I am so appreciative of your continued help and support. Your edit of my letter geared toward special sales was nothing short of genius. Just as important, your willingness to help is beyond generous.

Before we crossed paths, I had no idea of the extent of creativity the marketing process demanded. I feel so fortunate to have found you and your blog - your suggestions are brilliant.

I look forward every day to reading the Publishing Contrarian; there is so much information packed into each and every post.

Thank you again. You are a gem.

Lorra

]]> by: Lynne http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/03/27/how-to-jump-from-the-slush-pile-into-the-arms-of-an-agent-or-editor/#comment-153 Sat, 01 Apr 2006 20:27:26 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/03/27/how-to-jump-from-the-slush-pile-into-the-arms-of-an-agent-or-editor/#comment-153 You don't have to have established writing credentials to get attention when you submit your cover letter and materials to an agent or editor. Great if you do, but don't worry if you don't. Start off with a reference to a book of the same genre that has done well. (Yes, sorry, you have to do your research, but there is a good chance you are familiar with the genre and that's why you are writing within it.) Run parallel to Rigel Crockett's letter that appears in the comment section of the previous post or Krista Wilson's in the body of my most recent post. <strong>I'm handing you a formula!</strong> You can also start off with a quote from a well-known person who says something that pertains to your subject matter. Example: If you are writing a novel that involves baseball and your protagonist uses steroids, quote a famous sports figure in baseball who has had a problem with them or has an opinion about them. <strong>Be creative!</strong> You could even drag a famous quote out of Bartlett's if it is appropriate. <strong>Use your imagination!</strong> Just make sure that first sentence in your cover letter grabs 'em and hints at what is to follow. With regard to "hired readers" who boast they can determine whether a book has merit within a few seconds, I think that just confirms what I have been saying: you've got to grab a reader with the first sentence and then sustain the interest with the rest of the letter. You don’t have to have established writing credentials to get attention when you submit your cover letter and materials to an agent or editor. Great if you do, but don’t worry if you don’t.

Start off with a reference to a book of the same genre that has done well. (Yes, sorry, you have to do your research, but there is a good chance you are familiar with the genre and that’s why you are writing within it.) Run parallel to Rigel Crockett’s letter that appears in the comment section of the previous post or Krista Wilson’s in the body of my most recent post. I’m handing you a formula!

You can also start off with a quote from a well-known person who says something that pertains to your subject matter. Example: If you are writing a novel that involves baseball and your protagonist uses steroids, quote a famous sports figure in baseball who has had a problem with them or has an opinion about them. Be creative! You could even drag a famous quote out of Bartlett’s if it is appropriate. Use your imagination! Just make sure that first sentence in your cover letter grabs ‘em and hints at what is to follow.

With regard to “hired readers” who boast they can determine whether a book has merit within a few seconds, I think that just confirms what I have been saying: you’ve got to grab a reader with the first sentence and then sustain the interest with the rest of the letter.

]]> by: Gina Burgess http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/03/27/how-to-jump-from-the-slush-pile-into-the-arms-of-an-agent-or-editor/#comment-135 Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:08:31 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/03/27/how-to-jump-from-the-slush-pile-into-the-arms-of-an-agent-or-editor/#comment-135 I didn't submit anything because I found out too late! What about us author wannabees who do not have any awards or previously published works or writing credentials except a blog or message board moderator? Is there anything that can jump that hurdle? I didn’t submit anything because I found out too late!

What about us author wannabees who do not have any awards or previously published works or writing credentials except a blog or message board moderator?

Is there anything that can jump that hurdle?

]]> by: Andrew O'Hara http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/03/27/how-to-jump-from-the-slush-pile-into-the-arms-of-an-agent-or-editor/#comment-134 Tue, 28 Mar 2006 19:18:59 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/03/27/how-to-jump-from-the-slush-pile-into-the-arms-of-an-agent-or-editor/#comment-134 I'd be interested in knowing the credentials and qualifications of the average "hired reader" who brags he can read a manuscript in 15 seconds. Do they actually even read the cover letters any more than that, or do they toss them aside to get into "the meat" of whether the book itself is any good? I’d be interested in knowing the credentials and qualifications of the average “hired reader” who brags he can read a manuscript in 15 seconds. Do they actually even read the cover letters any more than that, or do they toss them aside to get into “the meat” of whether the book itself is any good?

]]> by: Tim Lemire http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/03/27/how-to-jump-from-the-slush-pile-into-the-arms-of-an-agent-or-editor/#comment-133 Tue, 28 Mar 2006 15:07:46 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/03/27/how-to-jump-from-the-slush-pile-into-the-arms-of-an-agent-or-editor/#comment-133 I often read and hear of how hard it is to market literary fiction, particularly from first-time authors and especially if the book is a short story collection. I’m curious to hear your take on how to best market such work, in a cover letter. I’m assuming some of the strengths a writer would leverage would be: <ul> <li>Prior publications and awards.</li> <li>Any regional/geographical focus in the fiction.</li> <li>Thematically-connected short stories, or stories featuring the same characters.</li> <li>Any “topical” focus to the fiction.</li> <li>Any appeal the fiction may have to a particular gender, age group, ethnic group, etc.</li> </ul> I’m sure I’m missing some, or more than a few, and I’m eager to hear your opinion. Many thanks, TSL P.S. My book's official pub date was 3/25. Received advance copies this past week, very exciting.] I often read and hear of how hard it is to market literary fiction, particularly from first-time authors and especially if the book is a short story collection. I’m curious to hear your take on how to best market such work, in a cover letter. I’m assuming some of the strengths a writer would leverage would be:

  • Prior publications and awards.
  • Any regional/geographical focus in the fiction.
  • Thematically-connected short stories, or stories featuring the same characters.
  • Any “topical” focus to the fiction.
  • Any appeal the fiction may have to a particular gender, age group, ethnic group, etc.

I’m sure I’m missing some, or more than a few, and I’m eager to hear your opinion.

Many thanks,
TSL

P.S. My book’s official pub date was 3/25. Received advance copies this past week, very exciting.]

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