New and seasoned authors alike can agree that one of the most daunting aspects of preparing a submission is drafting that pesky, but oh-so-important query letter.  If you find yourself struggling to get a good query together, know that you are not alone.  While I don’t have a magic formula that you can use to generate a buzz-worthy query, I can lend some advice regarding structure and key elements that may help you get started. 

Start with the “hook” 
Keep in mind, editors and agents read dozens of query letters each day, so it is important to get their attention right away with a one – two sentence hook.  But what IS a hook?  It’s that jaw-dropping, breath-taking, goose bump-raising idea that makes someone want to know more!  It’s the juiciest teaser you can offer that will leave editors with only one thought on their minds – your book.   In short, a hook is the primary selling point of your story.

(please note – simply claiming “my book is the next best seller” is not a hook nor is it a statement that should ever appear in a query letter)

I will admit – for me, this is probably the most challenging element of the query letter and I am not shy to admit that I don’t always come up with the best hooks; but once you figure out what makes your story compelling and what makes it stand out from the rest, generating your hook shouldn't be too difficult.

(Tip: when coming up with your hook, think about the main character’s struggle, the thickest point of the plot and what ties them together.  Some people write the hook as a statement, others pose a thought-provoking question.  Use whatever is most comfortable for you.)

Sum it up
While you don’t need to go into great detail, offer a brief summary of your book.  You’ve got them with your hook, now tell them what to expect with the rest of the story.  While you don’t want to commercialize your summary too much, think of it a little like what you would find on the back cover – short and to the point, informative but enticing. 

Offer more info
Now that you’ve snared an editor’s attention with an amazing hook (no pressure, I swear – ha ha) and given them enough to wet their appetite, let them know more about some technical aspects of your story:  word count, genre, audience, similarities your book has with other popular titles, ways that it stands out on it’s own, how it fits a need in today’s market and why you think it is a good match for that publisher/agent.   This section doesn’t need to be long, but it does need to be informative.  After all, you want them to be able to see at a glance that your book fits their needs on a mechanical level.

Introduce yourself
Don’t forget to tell them a little bit about yourself, too.  Mention your credentials as a writer (if you have any) or why you are an expert on the subject matter of your book.  They don’t need a memoir, but enough to let them know you are a serious author and someone that they would like to work with (because this could be the beginning of a long relationship).   Be unique and personable throughout your query, but do your best to remain professional as well. 

Formalities are a must
In closing your query, be sure to THANK them for their time.  Let them know how to get in touch with you and what materials you have enclosed for them (again, stick to what they request in their submission guidelines).  Another bit of information that editors and agents appreciate knowing is whether or not your submission is exclusive (for their eyes only at this time) or if it is a multiple submission (sent to more than one publisher/agent).   This is a courtesy to them, but also could be an advantage to you – if someone is interested in your book but knows you have it out to others for consideration, it may encourage them to respond in a more prompt manner. 

So, there it is - the meat and potatoes of a query letter.  It may seem like a lot to cram into one page, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll discover what works and what doesn’t work for you.  Please note that this is just a guide to help get you started.  You may want to arrange the elements in a different order, or add something else to the content.  Unfortunately, query letters are subject to trial and error – so I definitely recommend having friends and family read over your letter to make sure it flows well and lends a good impression of you and your book – because that is what the query letter is – it’s the first impression and you want to make it a lasting one.

You've finished your book, spent hours grueling over edits and fine tuning your manuscript and are now ready to find someone to publish your book.  First off, congratulations!  Completing a book is no small feat and in itself warrants a round of applause.  You deserve to be proud of yourself and of your work. Take a moment to bask in the glory of your accomplishment because now comes the hard part.

I don't want to scare anyone with the "big bad publisher" hype, but it is important to go into your search for a publisher or agent with realistic expectations.  Each year, even small agencies and presses receive THOUSANDS of submissions from both new and established authors.  It is a very tough field to enter, but if you move forward knowing what you are up against, not only will you be better prepared, but it may help to soften the blow of a few dozen rejections that are bound to come your way.  But, finding a publisher or agent is not impossible, it just takes a lot of hard work, dedication and patience.

WHERE TO BEGIN:
There are a lot of resources out there that can assist you in narrowing down the pool of publishers and literary agencies you'd like to consider.  One of my favorite ways to start is referencing a current copy of The Writer's Market (available at book stores and libraries).   It really is a very concise index of publishers, agencies and magazines and, best of all, it has information about who to contact,  what they accept, how to submit and some even offer bits of advice on how to make your submission stand out.  I use The Writer's Market as a quick guide to easily narrow down publishers that print books for my target audience and in my genre that accept unsolicited manuscripts.  It helps me generate an initial list from which I can narrow my options.  There are also tons of online sources that you can use (even just typing "publishers of _______ books" into a search engine will generate results that you can look into).  And there are websites dedicates to helping authors that offer lists of publishers & their websites for easy access (like www.everywritersresource.com).  No matter how you choose to start, getting your list of publishers or agents is just the beginning.

DO YOUR RESEARCH: 
I know how exciting it is to finally reach the point where you are ready to publish your book and you want to get it in front of as many people as possible because you never know who might be interested.  But it is SO IMPORTANT to familiarize yourself with what a publisher or agent's guidelines are: what kind of books/genres are being accepted, whether or not submissions are open or closed, whether or not unsolicited manuscripts are accepted and how to submit your manuscript for consideration.  It may seem like a tedious task, but truly look into each potential publisher or agent to make sure that not only are they a possible match for you, but that you have what they want and they are open to reviewing it.  Otherwise, you are wasting your time and theirs.  I cannot stress enough to BE CONSIDERATE of the submission guidelines and requirements.  They are there for a reason.  There are no "what ifs" on this one.  If you ignore the guidelines, you are stating loud and clear that you don't care or are too lazy to read the requirements, and that will not do you any favors.  You may have an amazing book, but if you send it to someone who doesn't work with that genre, they will not publish it.  If you send a copy of your manuscript to someone who only wants a query letter and synopsis to start, they will toss it in the trash.  It is also beneficial to familiarize yourself with other books they have published or represented so that you can offer comparisons for your book and why you felt they would be a good match for you.  It not only helps to sell the idea of your book, but shows that you have done your homework.  So, again, do yourself a favor and take the time to thoroughly research your list of publishers/agents.  It will pay off.

WHAT TO SEND:
Now that you have a list publishers and/or agents that you feel would be a good match for your book, it is time to get your submission materials together.  Each publisher and agent has unique guidelines that they would like you to follow when submitting your work to them.  Some prefer emailed submissions (usually agent more than publishers), some prefer only a query while others would also like an outline or synopsis, sample chapters or even the full ms. Often they will specify the margins, font and spacing for your manuscript, how many pages a synopsis should be and other details pertaining to the presentation of the materials you send.  It is important to familiarize yourself with each publisher's guidelines and follow them to a T.  Do not send more or less than what they are asking for and be sure to format it to their standards.  This is your one chance to make a good impression, so make sure you put your best foot forward.  Don't rush when putting your materials together.  Take your time, have friends and family proof read your query and synopsis.  Check and double-check that you have addressed all the requirements and that you are happy with your submission materials. (I will spend time in a future blog going over query letters and synopsis, as these are areas that many authors struggle with when preparing their submissions).  Most importantly, include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you ever hope to hear back from them (especially if you want your materials returned to you). 

BE PROFESSIONAL:
When sending your submission, be polite, be courteous and be professional.  Don't try to be "fancy" with your submission.  Don't spray your cover letter with perfumes or fragrances, don't use elaborate stationary or send gifts.  These often smack of inexperience and don't leave a good impression on editors and agents.  Present them the materials they have requested in a clean format.  Let the work speak for itself.  In the end you want your book to leave an impression, not the hot-pink stationary spritzed in cologne. 

DON'T GIVE UP:
You've sent out a dozen or so submissions and have received a dozen rejections and a few never even responded.  Don't be discouraged!  There are hundreds of publishers and agents out there and one of them is bound to connect with your book.  You just have to keep sending submissions with the same determination you had when you started.  Searching for the right publisher or agent is a very long and emotional process, but the important thing is to never lose sight of your goal. 

First and foremost, I want to thank you for taking the time to visit my site to learn more about me and my books.  A brief introduction:  For those of you who do not know me, I am a self-published author, published illustrator and professional graphic designer.  I work for an advertising agency in East Texas and also provide the design/layout for Dream Chasers Magazine (a small, print-on-demand magazine dedicated to authors and artists; Editor, Sarah Bash-Gleason of skyedesigns) and was the illustrator/designer/marketing coordinator for Lily Ruth Publishing (a small publishing company that has since been retired).  I am married, have more than a handful of pets and seem to be in the endless process of fixing up the house we bought in February.

For those of you who DO know me, you know the hard work, trials and tribulations I have gone through to bring my books to readers, and this is something I want to share with all of you because it is the basis on which I want to focus this blog.  Over the past 6 years, I have learned A LOT about the publishing industry from both the inside and out.  While I know I am by no means an expert, I feel that a lot of my experiences have helped me grow as an author, and I want to be able to help other aspiring authors who see themselves in the same position I was once in. 

To make a long story short, becoming a published author has not been an easy road.  I wrote my first book, "The Nameless World," in 2005 and went through a very diligent process of trying to find a publisher.  After months of searching I landed a contract!  But this is where the story grows cold.  I waited 2 years for my book to be published, even pushing out a sequel to "The Nameless World" which was also offered a contract, only to see both contracts fall through.  It was a very frustrating time, but I had come so far.  I toiled over what to do for a year, writing other books and stories, trying once again to find an agent or publisher for these new books.  In time, I made the decision to revisit "The Nameless World."  With the help of my editor, I made a series of much needed revisions and began the process of searching for agents/publishers again.  For almost two years I searched and submitted and searched and submitted.... and waited.... again and again only to find myself frustrated and on the verge of giving up.  As many times as I threatened to "throw in the towel," I never lost sight of my goal.  No matter how many set-backs I faced, as a "hopeful author" I kept writing.  I kept putting submissions out there, and I kept facing the reality of the publishing industry with a resilience that could have been considered a little naive (I mean, come on, I had written HOW MANY books and not a single agent or publisher would give me the time of day).  By  no matter how many rejections I received, I was determined to see my book(s) published. 

I was like most novice authors; I had grand visions of Random House or Scholastic vying for my book, a big name publisher's label to prove I had beaten the odds - a label to prove my books were amazing and everyone everywhere would want to read them. Of course, those delusions were soon realized to be impractical and outright unlikely, so, like most deflated authors, I wanted to cry.  How on earth is someone supposed to make it in the publishing world on their own?

In this respect, I WAS naive.  Sure, I knew about self-publishing but thought that it was an expensive option that held very little clout in the publishing world.  I had heard that self-published books were not taken seriously (and to a degree, that is true) and that any hopes of reaching the masses was going to involve hiring a PR rep or marketing company (and quite frankly, I couldn't afford a venture like that).  So, I felt like I was in limbo.

While all my hopes of landing another publishing contract with a legitimate publisher dwindling with the weeks and months that continued to pass, I began to look more seriously into self-publishing options.  I had heard of Lulu.com and other print-on-demand publishing sources, but again, I was left with a sour taste of being thought of as a "joke author" lingering in my mouth.  So, I consulted a friend and fellow author to get an outside point-of-view on the notion of self-publishing my work.  It was at this time  she shared with me that she had been looking into self-publishing options, too, and offered some information she found on a source called createspace.com (affiliated with amazon.com).  I was intrigued and promptly dug into research and articles written by others about self-publishing and how, while it is a challenge in some respects, it can also be very rewarding and a great first step for authors who can't find a match with a traditional publisher. 

I was sold.  And it all made perfect sense!  I had a polished manuscript ready to go, had all tools and skills to put the book in print format, had the resources available to print the books - AT NO COST TO ME - and the freedom to set my own prices AND control what kind of royalties I get in return...  I soon began to wonder why anyone would choose to put themselves through the trauma of finding a traditional publisher at all!  (not to undermine the accomplishment and benefit of that option, but at this point, I had lost my rose colored glasses for big publishers).  The biggest challenge that self-publishing posed was that the success of the books rested completely on my shoulders.  ALL authors are responsible for marketing their books (anyone who thinks otherwise will receive a very cold reality check should they ever publish a book, sit back and wait for the royalty checks to roll in).  The only thing I would lack that a traditionally published author would have is the publisher's label.  So I had to ask myself, "Is this something I can overcome?"

The challenge was ON!  (and boy was it a challenge, but that tid-bit is for another day).

Did I say I was going to make this short?  Too late, but to conclude, I DID decide to self-publish my book and it has been a very exciting endeavor that continues to educate me each and every day.  Which brings me back to my point:  I want to use this blog as an opportunity to share my experiences and knowledge about publishing with those who may find it useful.  I want to encourage others to share their knowledge, too!  There is so much authors can learn from one another and I, for one, am happy to share my insight.  I intend to cover almost every aspect of the "publishing process" that I can think of, from searching for agents or publishers, to query letters and submissions, all the way to marketing and promoting your books!  I welcome questions, feedback and comments from anyone, whether you are an author, an agent, a publisher or just someone who loves books.  I hope that through this blog, as I continue to develop its contents, you will find encouragement and useful information that will help you on your path to success. 

Thank you, again, for taking interest in what I have to say.  I look forward to sharing AND learning along the way.