The cover letter is your introduction to a publisher or agent. Yes, it involves writing, but this isn’t your opportunity to be ‘creative’ in your letter. This is a business letter, and you need to treat it as such. Therefore, the letter needs to be clean, typed, and printed on good quality paper.
Here are some essential points to remember:
As I have said previously, select your agent or publisher with great care. Don’t just make up a list of names that you like, “Ooh, her name is Lily Hill, what a hoot! Let’s pick her.” No. Stop it. Pick agents who work with writers who are a lot like you. Their books are similar. They come across as the sort of person you can work with. With a list of names on hand — we suggested 12, if you recall — try to read any articles or blogs they have written, especially if they cover things that they like and / or things that drive them bonkers.
Armed with as much information as you can find, next read the writer’s guidelines for that agent or company. And here’s a pro tip: Follow it to the letter. If they say they want the first fifty pages, do not send them the entire manuscript. If they want a one page synopsis, do not send them a 10-page one.
Clear?
Good.
Next, address your query to a specific person. The whole, ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ is not only passé , it’s rude. Do you research. Find the person who is interested in your genre, or whatever type of book you are writing. Do not assume sex or marital status. Address the letter to the full name of the person, “Dear Mary Jones”, for instance.
Make sure the salutation, as well as the rest of the letter, is spelled impeccably. Don’t assume Chris Smith is spelled Christopher Smith. Perhaps it’s Christine Smyth. Or Kris Smythe.
Don’t address the agency or publisher as in, “Dear Melvin Whatsisname and Co. Agency.” You are addressing an individual, not a corporation.
Your letter shouldn’t be too long. One page is perfect. You can get away with two pages, but make sure every word counts. And don’t try to circumvent this rule by writing your letter in a miniscule 6-point font. No one will appreciate that.
Different writers take different approaches with their letters. Some advocate starting with a description of the novel. In other words, the blurb (see last week’s blog). Others prefer to open with an introduction. The latter is particularly important if you have met the person or were recommended to them by someone they would be likely to respect (a fellow author, for instance.)
Don’t be cute. This is a business letter, not an opportunity for you to gloat about how your mother thinks this is the best thing she’s ever written. Don’t tell jokes, or make promises, or make jokes combined with promises. “If you don’t accept this novel, I will have Liam Neeson find you and kill you.” No!
Don’t be arrogant. But don’t be too self-deprecating either. As in, “This is the greatest novel ever written and you’re a fool if you pass it up.” Yikes! But, yes, people have written such nonsense, and with stunning regularity. Little success, but regularity.
Neither do you want to say, “I know this novel isn’t very good, but you can probably fix it…” or, “I know you won’t want to publish this book, but my friends say it’s not bad and I should send it to you anyway.”
Do not exaggerate. “This book will easily sell a million copies…” or, “Do you want to get rich? Then you have to publish this book.”
These days most submissions are sent via email, but in the days when paper ruled, a number of writers would turn one page upside down. The idea was if the MS was returned with that page right side up it meant the recipient had read the entire thing. What one was meant to make of that, I never learned.
Other people would include a pressed flower, or a dollar bill. Again, don’t ask me why. A bribe? In any case, if you have something in mind, don’t do it. No one finds it amusing.
In future weeks we’ll talk about handling rejection (and success), but for now all I’ll say is never, ever phone someone after they’ve rejected your work to try to cajole them, bully them, or scream abuse at them. There is a black list and you don’t want to be on it.
Next week, though, we’ll discuss the synopsis.
Geri Schear 