Aspect
October, 2003
the monthly newsletter of Talcott Notch Literary Services
New Markets
Check out new markets every few days at
This great site lists all kinds of opportunities for
free-lance writers and new paying markets for
your work.
This great site lists all kinds of opportunities for
free-lance writers and new paying markets for
your work.
Recommended Sites for Writers
Is there an issue or question you'd like to see
addressed in our monthly newsletter? Do you
know of a new market you'd like to announce?
Would you like to comment on this month's
edition. Write to us at
addressed in our monthly newsletter? Do you
know of a new market you'd like to announce?
Would you like to comment on this month's
edition. Write to us at
Writing a Winning Query Letter
Artslynx: International Writing Resources. Site
lists organizations for writers, and writing-related
sites. A great starting place to search for answers
to writing questions.
lists organizations for writers, and writing-related
sites. A great starting place to search for answers
to writing questions.
AskOxford.com. A terrific reference for
grammar questions, to search for a quote, or to
research a word. Especially useful for those
working in historical fiction.
grammar questions, to search for a quote, or to
research a word. Especially useful for those
working in historical fiction.
Authorlink. News and information for writers,
editors and publishers. Writers can showcase
their manuscripts for review and consideration
by publishers and agents. An extensive array of
guidelines and industry links.
editors and publishers. Writers can showcase
their manuscripts for review and consideration
by publishers and agents. An extensive array of
guidelines and industry links.
Writer's Digest. Lots of articles on the craft of
writing, contests, and information. Best feature
is the huge database of writer's guidelines from
publishers.
writing, contests, and information. Best feature
is the huge database of writer's guidelines from
publishers.
Subscribe on-line to Writer's Weekly and get
free new markets updates by email. Go to
free new markets updates by email. Go to
It's amazing how things in publishing have changed with the advent of the internet. Writers can locate, research,
and contact agencies all in the space of a few minutes, and can usually have a response in a few days rather than
a few weeks. But does this speed and easy access mean that the writer's chances have improved, or that the
quality of the contact has improved? Not from where I'm sitting.
Just because a writer can contact an agent or publisher via email doesn't mean that the author should put any
less effort into the communication, or that it should be any less formal or polite than the snail mail queries of old.
Yet, I regularly receive queries from writers indicating a web site I can access to find out more about them, or a
link to a bookseller where the author's self-published novel can be accessed.
I'm not sure about every agent, but I have extremely limited time to devote to queries every day, and certainly do
not have the time to go hunting down web sites or locating books. I typically spend about four hours a day
answering emails, another four or five hours reading manuscripts, and another hour or two chatting with editors
and arranging for submissions for my authors. Obviously, it would improve the writer's chances with me to make it
as easy as possible for me to get an understanding of his novel, his publishing history and his background.
What should a query contain? It's really quite simple. Give a brief, but interesting, overview of your book,
including the main plot, any major subplots and the principle characters. Tell me how long your book is, in
thousands of words. Is it complete, or a work-in-progress, and if it's not complete, tell me when it will be. Do you
have any publishing credits (this isn't a necessary element for success). Indicate if the query is exclusive for us, or
a simultaneous query to other agencies. Politely inquire as to our interest, and offer to send either a complete or
partial manuscript.
Biggest mistakes to avoid -
Sending us a query that's actually addressed to another agency (and then denying it's a simultaneous query!)
Sending your entire book as an attachment. Most of us will never open it, but will delete it unread.
Send your query anonymously. Why be so mysterious? We tend to respond negatively to a query that only lists a
screen name.
And the number one huge mistake -
Respond to a rejection with a threat or insult. I never recall this ever happening in the days before email, and I
assume it's a result of the anonymous nature of the media. However, nothing is ever done in a vacuum, and
agents and editors talk all day long. Especially now, with internet threats being taken particularly seriously, acting
irrationally can bring serious repercussions.
and contact agencies all in the space of a few minutes, and can usually have a response in a few days rather than
a few weeks. But does this speed and easy access mean that the writer's chances have improved, or that the
quality of the contact has improved? Not from where I'm sitting.
Just because a writer can contact an agent or publisher via email doesn't mean that the author should put any
less effort into the communication, or that it should be any less formal or polite than the snail mail queries of old.
Yet, I regularly receive queries from writers indicating a web site I can access to find out more about them, or a
link to a bookseller where the author's self-published novel can be accessed.
I'm not sure about every agent, but I have extremely limited time to devote to queries every day, and certainly do
not have the time to go hunting down web sites or locating books. I typically spend about four hours a day
answering emails, another four or five hours reading manuscripts, and another hour or two chatting with editors
and arranging for submissions for my authors. Obviously, it would improve the writer's chances with me to make it
as easy as possible for me to get an understanding of his novel, his publishing history and his background.
What should a query contain? It's really quite simple. Give a brief, but interesting, overview of your book,
including the main plot, any major subplots and the principle characters. Tell me how long your book is, in
thousands of words. Is it complete, or a work-in-progress, and if it's not complete, tell me when it will be. Do you
have any publishing credits (this isn't a necessary element for success). Indicate if the query is exclusive for us, or
a simultaneous query to other agencies. Politely inquire as to our interest, and offer to send either a complete or
partial manuscript.
Biggest mistakes to avoid -
Sending us a query that's actually addressed to another agency (and then denying it's a simultaneous query!)
Sending your entire book as an attachment. Most of us will never open it, but will delete it unread.
Send your query anonymously. Why be so mysterious? We tend to respond negatively to a query that only lists a
screen name.
And the number one huge mistake -
Respond to a rejection with a threat or insult. I never recall this ever happening in the days before email, and I
assume it's a result of the anonymous nature of the media. However, nothing is ever done in a vacuum, and
agents and editors talk all day long. Especially now, with internet threats being taken particularly seriously, acting
irrationally can bring serious repercussions.
Publishersmarketplace.com Check out the
latest publishing deals and research agents,
editors and publishers.
www.publishersmarketplace.com
latest publishing deals and research agents,
editors and publishers.
www.publishersmarketplace.com
This Month's Sales
Congratulations to veteran screenwriter Wayne
Wilson for his debut into fiction with Soul Eyes
and two other books, sold to Niani Colom of
Genesis Press. Soul Eyes will launch Genesis's
brand new Obsidian fantasy imprint.
Wilson for his debut into fiction with Soul Eyes
and two other books, sold to Niani Colom of
Genesis Press. Soul Eyes will launch Genesis's
brand new Obsidian fantasy imprint.
Hard Truths Behind Self-Publication
I probably see four or five letters a week
regarding self-published books. I've seen a lot of
reasons offered as to why the writer decided to
take the route of paying to publish and distributing
their own work. Is it ever a good idea? Can
anyone ever really achieve their goals taking this
route?
Almost invariably, the writers I encounter
who've chosen to self-publish went into it without
a full understanding of what they're getting
themselves into. The writers are told the books
will be available through bookstores and
Amazon.com. But is 'available' enough?
Without the help of a publisher with good
distribution, it's extremely difficult to move any
book in large quantities. Simply having a book
available means that somehow readers have to
first learn of your book through some avenue, and
then have the energy and motivation to order the
book from the bookstore or search for it on-line.
Keep in mind, ordering from the bookstore means
walking past thousands of readily-available
offerings to find that harried clerk to help search
through the computer to find the book. Ordering
on-line means going through numbers of other
pitches for other books first. It would be terribly
busy to get 'distracted' and forget one's original
intention. Placing the book in bookstores means
hand-selling the project one store at a time,
something that requires huge amounts of time,
energy and salesmanship. Few people are up to
the task.
I am particularly cautious regarding
self-publishing fiction. Trying to get the word out
about your novel to sufficient people, and enticing
them to buy your book over the tens of thousands
of other novels available is a Herculean task. I tell
most people considering self-publishing a novel to
tell me how many copies they think they can
place. Then divide that in half. Then divide that by
ten.
Often the quality of the covers and production
of the book are tell-tale poor, and don't present
well enough to encourage browsers to pick up a
copy should they see one. The presentation may
look amateurish and cheap, and simply isn't
competitive with the eye-catching expensive
presentation of the commercial publishers.
The one exception I can name may be the rare
nonfiction book where the author can easily
pinpoint his audience and market to them. A book
on bass fishing, a guide to regional historic sites,
or a book on restoring classic cars can be
marketed directly to the interested audience
through specific publications, handselling to local
bookstores and museums, or through local events
related to the subject. Even then, there's no
guarantee. All I can say is be cautious, and don't
underestimate the work it would take!
regarding self-published books. I've seen a lot of
reasons offered as to why the writer decided to
take the route of paying to publish and distributing
their own work. Is it ever a good idea? Can
anyone ever really achieve their goals taking this
route?
Almost invariably, the writers I encounter
who've chosen to self-publish went into it without
a full understanding of what they're getting
themselves into. The writers are told the books
will be available through bookstores and
Amazon.com. But is 'available' enough?
Without the help of a publisher with good
distribution, it's extremely difficult to move any
book in large quantities. Simply having a book
available means that somehow readers have to
first learn of your book through some avenue, and
then have the energy and motivation to order the
book from the bookstore or search for it on-line.
Keep in mind, ordering from the bookstore means
walking past thousands of readily-available
offerings to find that harried clerk to help search
through the computer to find the book. Ordering
on-line means going through numbers of other
pitches for other books first. It would be terribly
busy to get 'distracted' and forget one's original
intention. Placing the book in bookstores means
hand-selling the project one store at a time,
something that requires huge amounts of time,
energy and salesmanship. Few people are up to
the task.
I am particularly cautious regarding
self-publishing fiction. Trying to get the word out
about your novel to sufficient people, and enticing
them to buy your book over the tens of thousands
of other novels available is a Herculean task. I tell
most people considering self-publishing a novel to
tell me how many copies they think they can
place. Then divide that in half. Then divide that by
ten.
Often the quality of the covers and production
of the book are tell-tale poor, and don't present
well enough to encourage browsers to pick up a
copy should they see one. The presentation may
look amateurish and cheap, and simply isn't
competitive with the eye-catching expensive
presentation of the commercial publishers.
The one exception I can name may be the rare
nonfiction book where the author can easily
pinpoint his audience and market to them. A book
on bass fishing, a guide to regional historic sites,
or a book on restoring classic cars can be
marketed directly to the interested audience
through specific publications, handselling to local
bookstores and museums, or through local events
related to the subject. Even then, there's no
guarantee. All I can say is be cautious, and don't
underestimate the work it would take!