Nanowrimo!

For those who might not be aware, November is National Novel Writing Month, and the good folks at the NaNoWriMo website have issued their yearly challenge: write a 50,000 word novel in just one month. Impossible, you say? Thousands of writers do it every year. So, check out the site and if you’re up to the task, your novel could be a reality in thirty short days.

You can find all the details at www.nanowrimo.org.

Submissions: To Email or not to Email

We live in an instant gratification society, and few things are as instantly gratifying to the writer seeking representation than sending a submission to an agent by email. There’s something satisfying, almost seductive, about the idea of pushing a button and having your query arrive on an agent’s desktop in a matter of seconds. But precisely because it’s so quick and simple, the email submission is easy to misuse, and may not be your best option when it comes to finding representation.

Email works very fast, and your chance of getting a quick response is pretty high. Your chance of getting a rejection is pretty high, too; higher, in fact, than with a printed submission. Studies have shown that people spend less time reading an email than they do reading the same amount of text on a printed page. This assumes that your email gets seen at all. Spam filters often block legitimate messages and your submission could be one of them.

So, how do you know when to email and when not to email? First, does the agent even accept email queries? If he doesn’t, look no further; your decision’s made for you. Does he only accept emails? Ditto. But if he accepts both, you need to make sure you pick the method that will be most effective for that particular agent.

As a general rule, if an agent accepts both email and postal mail submission, I opt for the postal submission every time. However, if you’re still set on email submissions, here are a few questions to ask yourself before you send:

How web-savvy is the agent you’re submitting to? Sure he might accept emails, but does he know enough about spam filters and security settings to make sure he gets all the queries that are sent to him? Does he live on the Web, or is he just posting an email because he feels that he has to? Chances are, if he’s got a clean, well-updated website, his inbox is in similarly good shape. If he’s got a blog, it’s a slam dunk.

Is your query letter written to be read on the screen and not the page? Emails have a much higher ignore factor than a printed letter, so you need to work extra-hard to grab the agent’s attention. Your window of opportunity is even narrower than it is with the printed page. Your first paragraph has to be perfect, or at least as perfect as you can make it, and it needs leave the reader wanting to know more. Stay away from long sentences and use action words to keep the eye moving and the reader riveted.

Does the agent have specific instructions about how to submit via email? If so, always follow those requirements to the letter. They’re there to help bypass spam filters, separate submissions from all his other emails, and present your work in the way he prefers to read it. All good reasons to make sure you’re following directions.

Finally, here are some additional tips for sending your email query:

• Be sure to personalize your query for the agent you are sending it to.
• Unless the agent’s profile specifically states otherwise, be sure to put the word “Submission” or “Query” at the beginning of your email’s subject line.
• Always send to one agent at a time. Never copy multiple agents on one submission.
• If you are sending additional materials, such as a synopsis or sample pages, and the agent has no instructions listed about how to handle attachments, consider including those materials both as attachments and in the email body. This way, the agent has his choice when it comes time to read. Just be sure to let him know in your query that this is what you’re doing to avoid any confusion that might arise.

Now, get back to writing.

Christopher Hawkins
LitMatch.net

New Feature: Agent Updated Listings

We’re very excited to announce a new feature that we recently added to our listings. That feature is our Agent-Updated Listings program. Over 150 agents have participated by updating their listings and the listings of their agencies, and more are being added every week. What that means for you is an unprecedented level of accuracy and a more reliable search experience.

To access this feature, you can use our Targeted Search function to select the “Listing Updated by Agent?” field. This field works on searches for both Agents and Agencies. You can search just for the listings that are Agent-Updated, or combine this field with other ones such as genres, geographic location, AAR membership, and whether an agent is currently accepting queries.

If you’re browsing our listings, you’ll see “Updated by Agent On:” at the upper right corner of the listing, just below the Last Updated date, on every Agent Updated entry.

We know that when you’re looking for an agent, you want to know the information you find is accurate, and the best way to ensure accurate information is to get it right from the source. We’re thrilled to be able to offer this feature to our users and help you search our site with confidence.

Christopher Hawkins
LitMatch.net

Getting Started: Preparing Your Non-Fiction Submission

Last time, I talked a little about the materials you’ll need for a Fiction submission. Non-Fiction submissions have very different requirements than Fiction submissions, but the main goal is the same: get the agent excited about the prospect of representing your project. As with Fiction, each agent will have slightly different requirements, but the main elements are fairly standard. Here’s what you’ll need:

A Query Letter. As with Fiction submissions, there’s no getting around this one. A good query letter should introduce you and the project you are proposing. Like the Fiction query letter, it should make a good first impression and get the agent interested enough to read more. Also like the Fiction query, it should be personalized for the agent you are sending it to.

Table of Contents & Outline. This item is fairly self-explanatory. List the title of each chapter along with a paragraph that explains what that chapter is about. Remember that, like everything in your submission package, the TOC and Outline is meant to build interest in the subject you are writing about, as well as your unique perspective as a writer. Focus on what makes your book interesting and special.

Sample Chapters. Fiction writers will glare at you enviously when they realize that you don’t actually have to finish a Non-Fiction book to begin selling it. Don’t let that stop you from making these chapters the best they can be. The chapters don’t necessarily have to be consecutive, but they should ideally include your first chapter. Three chapters seems to be the ideal number, though some agents will request more and others will request less.

Market Research. Agents want to know that you’ve done your homework. More importantly, they want to know that you’ve already spent some time finding out whether or not your idea will sell copies. Be sure to include information about any existing titles which might be similar to yours and have a good sales track record. Explain who you believe your audience will be, and why a publishing company would be interested in reaching them.

Author’s Bio. This part is all about you. Specifically, it’s about what makes you qualified to write this book. Talk about your reasons for writing it, and why the subject matter is of particular interest to you. Also, be sure to mention any previous publishing credits you have to your name, along with any other relevant experience you have.

Remember that each agent will want to be approached differently. Always be sure to review the agent’s submission guidelines before you send anything to them. I’ll go into more detail about Non-Fiction submissions in later blog posts. Next time, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of email queries.

Now, get back to writing.

Christopher Hawkins
LitMatch.net


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Getting Started: Preparing Your Fiction Submission

For many, the hardest part of submitting to an agent is knowing where to start. If you’re a fiction writer reading this post, chances are good that you’ve completed your novel, and you’re ready to move on to the next step. Here’s a list of things you’ll need in order to begin your search.

The Finished Manuscript. For fiction, there’s no way around this one. Yes, there are stories about people who sell their first book based on the idea alone, but those exceptions to the rule are rare. Most agents want to have the book in hand before they agree to help sell it. That means a complete, polished manuscript, not a first draft, not something that “still needs work.” You want to put your best foot forward, so make your book as presentable as you can.

Your Query Letter. Think of the query letter as a letter of introduction. It’s meant to tell the agent a little about you, a little about what made you choose that agent as someone to approach, and, most importantly, what your book is all about. The query letter is all about making a good first impression and making the agent want to read your manuscript. Ideally, this letter will be tailored for each agent you approach, but it doesn’t hurt to have the bulk of it prepared ahead of time, since the information about you and your book is not likely to change from letter to letter.

A Synopsis. There it is: a word so universally hated by novelists that it might as well have four letters. All you have to do is take the book you’ve worked on for months, perhaps years, perfecting every word, every comma, and distill it down to a two to four page summary. Easy, right? For most, this will be one of the most painful parts of the submission process. However, it is a necessary one, so it’s best to get it out of the way as early as possible.

A Chapter Outline. This one isn’t requested as often as a synopsis, but it’s still a good thing to have. The Outline is a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the major characters and happenings in your book. Think of it as writing a short synopsis for each chapter. If that’s not enough to get you motivated, I don’t know what is!

I’ll go into more detail about each one in later posts. Next time, I’ll take a look at what you’ll need to get started with your non-fiction submission.

Now, get back to writing. ;-)

Christopher Hawkins
LitMatch.net


Register at LitMatch.net to receive our newsletter, market updates and more. It’s free, private, and only takes a moment: http://www.litmatch.net/Register.asp. And while you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe to this blog so you won’t miss out on a single post!

Introductions All Around…

A little less than a month has gone by since we launched LitMatch.net. The response has been fantastic, and we’re very excited about the feedback and positive comments we've gotten in this short amount of time. We decided it was high time we introduced ourselves, so without further ado…

Christopher Hawkins, President and Lead Developer
This is me, a writer and web developer from the Chicago area. I’ve spent the last decade building and managing websites for publishers and retailers, along with working on my writing and learning about the publishing industry. I built LitMatch to help writers connect with agents, get organized and get published.

Kris Matsumura-Hawkins, Data Governance Manager
Kris is the heart and soul of LitMatch, and as some of you may have gathered by the similarity in our names, my wife. She’s an APICS certified supply chain professional who’s pursuing a Six Sigma greenbelt (and though she’s explained it to me a dozen times, I’m still not sure exactly what that means.) She’s responsible for overseeing the completeness and accuracy of our listings. It’s a full time job all on its own, and she does it with grace and style.

Cesar Puch, Designer
Cesar is a writer, editor, and web designer extraordinaire. If it looks good on LitMatch, it’s all Cesar’s doing, and we think the site looks pretty darn good! He lives in Peru where he teaches English and writes horror stories. He also runs a web design firm called Tags & Scripts.

We hope you’ll check out www.litmatch.net, see what we’re all about, and help spread the word. While you’re there, be sure to sign up to receive our monthly newsletter and start tracking your submissions online. We think you’ll be glad you did.

Sincerely,

Christopher Hawkins
www.litmatch.net