Letter and synopsis

[rosearche]

It seems to me that I should capture something of my exciting novel in the first paragraph of my letter to a publisher, however I find that the paragraph is becoming longer as I try to encompass the plot. I am also repeating the synopsis, in a different form.

Can anyone advise please, what and how much should go into the letter. Looking at Writers' and Artists' - their specimen letter is really short and bland, but then how do you get the publisher to read on to the synopsis?

Many thanks for any views.

[Dean F. Wilson]

The way I look at it is that the cover letter is designed to be formal, and to show how professional you are. You're basically saying "Hello, here's my work. I'd be grateful if you read it and considered it for publication". You list what you've enclosed in the envelope (this is useful for them ensuring they've received everything you sent), such as your synopsis and then a few chapters (and any biographical or publication history that's relevant). If they consider you to be professional enough to work with by this stage, they'll read your synopsis. That's where you'll hook them (or not), and if you get past this, they'll read the sample chapters, and that's the do or die moment for them and you.

But, in truth, I feel that a novel should be able to stand on its own feet. Your cover letter could be great, and your synopsis could be enthralling (after all, many ideas sound great before they hit pen and paper), but your novel mightn't live up to the excitement. Some people are great with ideas and weak with writing. And some people can't summarize for their life, so a synopsis kills their story before anyone's ever read it.

So, personally I think there's too much risk in providing a "hook" in your cover letter. You might just put them off by trying too hard to make your work sound great, and they might discard it on that alone.

That said, I welcome the advice of others on the forum

-D

[Havlen]

Originally Posted by Dean F. Wilson

The way I look at it is that the cover letter is designed to be formal, and to show how professional you are.

I look at a query letter as being designed to entice the agent/publisher to read the enclosed material (whether it be a synopsis or sample pages from the manuscript).

I view the pitch as being similar to the back cover of a novel. Short and intended to make the reader want to read more rather than telling all of the plot points. I'd start by asking myself the question: why would anyone want to read this novel?

That said, I'll also note that I mostly query American agents, and what goes into a query letter will change from country to country and from individual agent to individual agent. Always read the submission guidelines and adjust the query as needed.

[SJAB]

What you put in your query letter will vary, depending on who you are querying, and if you are sending sample chapters/synopsis.

Double check the agents/publishers submission guidelines and comply with them, don't try to second guess, just send what they ask for.

A rule of thumb I use is;

Email query or one page snail mail query, should contain, Title, genre, word count, any sales, a bit about you and one paragraph, about the novel. (It should be a completed novel, because if the agent requests sample pages or the whole thing, they are not going to sit on their hands waiting for you to finish it, not unless you are J.K. Rowling, or any other author with a good track record. Then again if you are your agent would be submitting your project)

Snail mail query with synopsis and sample chapters. Basic letter, without the one paragraph, as your synopsis will be saying that.

If the agent says a one page synopsis, send only that, if they say 3-5 pages ditto. Also if they say 20 pages/50/100/ or 1,2, or 3 chapters send them, no more no less. Follow the instructions.

Most importantly be polite, don't have a fit about rejections or moan about comments (if you are very lucky to get any.) online, it looks, in my opinon, un-professional. I have seen so many of those lately on writing forums/blogs it makes me cringe...

[Leisha]

Are you still around, rosearche? If you are, you might want to read these:

Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent: Anatomy of a Good Query Letter

Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent: Anatomy of a Good Query Letter II

He's an American agent who has kindly gone over what makes a good query letter. I have no idea whether you're thinking of submitting your work to that side of the great pond, but the advice seems useful to all, including people in the UK. At least, I hope it is.

[rosearche]

Hi Leisha,
thank you for that, you've caught me just in time as I have a number of packages here waiting to be sent. I have written my letter on a similiar style although a little longer than the examples. I shall revisit, just to make sure.
Many thanks, very useful.

[John Jarrold]

That all makes sense. A query letter or synopsis is not going to make an agent or publisher turn handsprings, but professionalism and concise information is always appreciated. And of course the only thing that matters in the final analysis is if the first ten pages of your novel is wonderful enough to make the agent or editor read on.