Emailing queries without samples

[Teatime]

My thoughts too, although they don't like attachments, so the query, synopsis, and first couple of pages of the manuscript will all be in the email body!

(in terms of order, I was thinking query - first few pages - synopsis)

[Meadowhawk]

Originally Posted by Teatime

My thoughts too, although they don't like attachments, so the query, synopsis, and first couple of pages of the manuscript will all be in the email body!

We used to try and deal with email 'body' queries only, but our editors complained about the broken formatting, etc. long enough that we changed our submission guidelines to .RTF attachements.

[Tirellan]

Originally Posted by Teatime

My thoughts too, although they don't like attachments, so the query, synopsis, and first couple of pages of the manuscript will all be in the email body!

(in terms of order, I was thinking query - first few pages - synopsis)

That's how I was sending my e-mail queries.
Mention in the query letter that the opening pages and synopsis are pasted in below

[Troo]

Nothing cheeses readers off more than repetition. Cut it from your query letter, leave it in your synopsis.

[Meadowhawk]

Well, and repetition is one of the things that cheeses readers off most!

In this case, I'd have to agree with Troo.

[Teatime]

Hmm. Except then I'm left with no hook in the query letter...

So you guys think it would be OK for there to be no 'hook' in the query? Bearing in mind this is a US agent, but uncommonly for US agents, they also want to see the first five pages of manuscript and synopsis along with the query?

I am REALLY loathe to cut out a hook from the first few paras that the agent will read! With all the competition, the impression I get is that it's very easy for an agent to just discard an email and move on to the next if something doesn't catch their attention quickly...

(the agent is Donald Maass, btw - Donald Maass Literary Agency is their submissions page, even though to me it's unclear there, apparently they do want a synopsis with the emailed submission).

My instinct is to keep the hook in the query, and in the synopsis too. It's basically two short sentences that are the same, with the following sentence a 'cliff hanger' type thing for the query, and one that reveals the book's ending for the synopsis.

Thanks

[SJAB]

Teatime; if it is Donald Maass your querying I would suggest you send a snail mail (airmail) submission, because unless they want to read more you won't get an answer. They don't answer all email queries, a lot of US agents don't.

They do, however, answer all snail mail ones. You need to include just a self-addressed foolscap envelope and a couple of $1 dollar stamps, or a couple of international reply coupons for the reply. (These cost about 70p each) The former you can get either from the online US postal service site (Or a stamp shop, they often have unused stamps for sale), and your general post office for the latter. You will get an answer that way.

Personally, I find writing the typical "pitch" letter that most US agents want as akin to pulling teeth. In fact they are a lot harder to write than a novel in my opinion. If an agent or publisher rejects me after reading a sample of my novel, ten pages or a chapter that I can understand it, but rejecting from a pitch I do find hard to accept. I do understand it, they have to go with what they feel is interesting and right for them. That is why, if I can, I prefer to do either a snail mail submission, or an email one that asks for a few pages. Then I know they have bounced me because of my writing.

[Teatime]

I don't mind not getting a reply, but if you think I might get more consideration with a snail mail query, I'll do that. Do you think that's likely - that I'd be taken more seriously with snail mail? THe fact that I could email it, I have to admit, was something I liked!

[SJAB]

Originally Posted by Teatime

I don't mind not getting a reply, but if you think I might get more consideration with a snail mail query, I'll do that. Do you think that's likely - that I'd be taken more seriously with snail mail? THe fact that I could email it, I have to admit, was something I liked!

Not more consideration, just you will get a reply, and maybe if you are lucky some feedback. No answer is just a standard rejection. Personally, if I have a chance of any feed back I take it, but that's just me.

[Teatime]

Hmm. It's worth thinking about. Also, I'm still interested in my question before this, if anyone has any thoughts - the 'hook', and being loathe to cut it from the query letter (the first few paragraphs an agent will read).

If I had query letter with hook, followed by a five page sample, THEN, followed by a synopsis with another version of the 'hook' to introduce it (but one that gives away the ending), do people think that would be OK? I figure if they've got through the sample pages to the synopsis, that's a good sign anyway...

If the vast majority of people here feel it should be cut from the query, I will do so. But that does feel like a big risk...

I could, for instance, make the query more akin to a covering letter I'd send to a UK agent - basically: 'submitting for your consideration five pages and a synopsis.' Everything I've read about the US market though suggests it requires a different approach to this...

Thanks.

[SJAB]

This might sound a bit thick.

Question; Why have you got the "hook" in the synopsis?

My take on a synopsis was that it is the beginning, middle and end of your novel, condensed down into one, two or how many pages the agent has asked for.

A hook, is paragraph potted teaser with the very basics/plus an outcome.

Two very different things, least to me.

[Teatime]

Well, it's not so much as a hook in the synopsis, but rather a paragraph in bold at the top that condenses the plot into three or four sentences, before I expand on things over the rest of the synopsis.

The 'hook' in the query takes the first two of these sentences and replaces the last sentences with a blurb style 'what happens?' bit (though slightly better than that - I hope, anyway).

This paragraph in the synopsis basically condenses genre, theme, character, and so on, into these few sentences, as I believe you would expect in a hook as well. They are the best sentences I can write to explain the setting, the genre, etc in such a short space.

[Teatime]

The more I think about it, the more I think maybe I should make this particularly query letter like a covering letter for a UK agent - basically very brief, stating the book's length, short bio, and that I enclose the first five pages and a synopsis.
The hook thing seems to be for when there's no other material being submitted; in this case, the agency has the first few pages and a one page synopsis, which I assume they would at least glance at even in the worst case scenario in terms of the letter.

Do others agree this might be the best approach?

Thanks again!

[Tirellan]

Originally Posted by Teatime

If I had query letter with hook, followed by a five page sample, THEN, followed by a synopsis with another version of the 'hook' to introduce it (but one that gives away the ending), do people think that would be OK? I figure if they've got through the sample pages to the synopsis, that's a good sign anyway..

this is exactly what I sent when sending e-mail queries to agents that specified that they wanted to see the synopsis.

BTW I got a full manuscript read off Don Maass from a snail mail query (with first chapter + synopsis) so it can be done

[Teatime]

OK. I think I'll send that then; it was my original plan anyway. Thank you.