How to Grab an Editor's Attention
I write under my own name, Cheryl Wolverton and have
around 20 books out.
I enjoy writing, am married for 20+ years and have two teenage children.
My books can be ordered on my webpage (to the left) or through
www.1bookstreet.com.
Now for what I thought about chatting with you tonight
about.
As an unpublished author I can remember wondering what I
could do to catch an editor's attention, how I might break into that market with
something new or fresh. I thought
that might be something nice to talk about tonight since we've all heard the
million and one discussions on theme, conflict, characterization.
So, grab your pencils.
How to Grab and Editor's Attention.
One thing we must remember about writing a book is that
this is a business. If you want to
develop it as an art form, that's fine, but don't expect to be published.
The book business is just like any other business, they're there to make
money.
That's the bottom line.
If that means they're leery of trying something new that they don't think
will sell, then that's how it is. Some
companies are more lenient in some areas than others while others may only want
certain types of books. So, the
first thing we have to learn when approaching an editor is:
What does their house buy.
Don't try to sell an historical to a contemporary only house.
Just as Harvest House doesn't buy contemporaries, nor does say,
Multnomah? buy Historicals. (At least last I heard Harvest House wasn't doing
contemporaries).
More specifically, if you're going with a large house and
want to write "Speculative Fiction" (aka Futuristic like the Left
Behind), don't try to submit that to a romance editor.
Know what the house buys that you're submitting to and
what editors buy for which areas.
This is the most important rule. It does no good to submit something to an editor that doesn't
buy the type of book you're writing. Even
if they like it, the chances of them saying, hey, we should pass this on to
another editor in our house is very slim. They're
way too busy for this.
Which brings us to our second rule.
Remember these editors are swamped-really really busy.
They have stacks up to their ears of unsolicited manuscripts.
Some of these editors take them home on weekends and read trying to catch
up and make a dent in their reading material.
You don't want to bore an editor who is already bored going
through hundreds of manuscripts a day. So,
make sure when you're ready to send that manuscript in you remember they're busy
and don't have time to wade through your manuscript.
If that sounds a bit dismal, well, it is.
That's why we have to remember rule one:
This is a business. Business
and art may cross but don't get bent out of shape if you want to write the story
about the whore who married the preacher when she was seven months pregnant and
you want to end it with her dying just after the baby is born.
It may be a terrific story, but it doesn't fit the romance genre,
therefore, the bottom line is, unless you're the next Francine Rivers, they
aren't going to buy it.
So, we have established that writing is a business (at least
if you want to be published) and that editors are busy and the chances are
nearly nil to sell if you come in with what you consider your artistic
masterpiece... let's discuss now what we can do to increase those chances with
an editor.
Manuscript Preparation:
A. Manuscript: ALWAYS
make sure your manuscript is in the absolute best light before submitting it.
Make sure it's double spaced using a font that has the little feet on the
bottom...what I mean by that are fonts like Courier New etc...Editors say these
fonts are easier to read than nicer looking fonts.
ALWAYS make sure it's double spaced, with page numbers up on the top
right (not
the bottom middle) and that your name is on every page.
Why? Have you ever dropped a
manuscript before???? (I sent one
once that got torn open and boy was it a mess!).
B. Cover Page: ALWAYS
include a cover page. Give them the
info they need. Your name, agent if
you have one, address, phone number, name of book, approximate length, area you
are targeting--like historical medieval or
contemporary American, Contemporary Australian,
and if this has won any contests. Make
it NEAT and easy to read.
C. Synopsis:
ALWAYS include a synopsis. The
shorter the better. Nothing is
worse than having to sit down and re-read an entire synopsis.
Keep it as tight as possible. Mention
the hook, the meeting, the attraction, the one thing that brings them together
and the one other thing that forces them to stay together to work out the problem, and the one internal
problem they have that makes them leery of each other, how they overcome this,
what they learn from this and the ending. Then
add a few details to fluff it up to 3-5 pages.
Don't give a scene by scene overview in the synopsis, nor do you want to
give a chapter by chapter. You want
to make the synopsis as quick and concise and interesting as possible.
D. The letter
to introduce yourself: ALWAYS one
page. Introduce yourself as
published/unpublished. Add a
paragraph with a hook about the story. Example:
When Steve woke up one morning with twins on his doorstep and a request
to take care of them, he had no idea that this was the beginning of the best day
of his life. Especially considering
the only one who can help him out of this mess is the
girlfriend he'd swore never to see again because she had dumped him for
his best friend. (note that hints what is going to force them together--the
kids, and keep them apart--their past). However,
sometimes what seems like the worst conditions can turn out to be Heaven On
Earth (the title) when God is in control. Note,
that was three lines on the story.... Concise
and to the point. If you can't
condense that small, ask a friend for help.
Learn how to do this. Then
add if you've sold before, and anything else pertinent.
E. Return
Postage: Always include return
postage and an envelope. You can
include a SASPostcard if you'd like with a
" "
received this (Book name) on "
" day. so all they have to do is sign it:)
Make is simple.
The Story:
Is my story different?
If so, how? Why should they
buy your story? Why do you think
that house you are pitching it to will like it?
Try to address these questions. For
instance, my best friend likes it isn't an answer, but 1 out of 3 women are
healing from some form of assault and this is something that isn't addressed
enough....might be an answer:)
I know, I know, you hear over and over baby books sell as
do handicapped and cowboys and and and....but there's a reason they say
that--because they do! I have read
a million baby stories, but I still like a good story with a baby in it!
Also, certain places seem to interest people more...like Texas or
Washington or the South...I don't know why but they say they do...Pick a place
you know about and then write it. Do
not try to write a story in Australia if you've never researched it!
You can use a tried and true story line, but just make it
fresh by using your voice. In other
words, don't try to sound like Angela Hunt, we have one of those.
Don't try to be a Jerry Jenkins, we have one of those.
Be the best YOU, that you can be. I
like humor. When I finally allowed
humor to show in my stories, I sold. Go
figure. It takes time to find your
voice, but when you do, you'll know it. It's
just 'natural' after awhile:)
Who Do You Submit To:
Is the story completed?
If you're new and it's not completed, they will want to see the full
manuscript before buying.
What houses buy? You
can find a list by going in a Christian bookstore and looking at the shelves.
Find the type of books you write and then see what houses are selling
those. Libraries also have this information.
Where to find a list of editors? You can contact the company you want to target.
Ask them for the name of editors and guidelines.
Some houses insist on certain word length books...so it's important for
the editor not to receive a book of 100k if they only buy 50k books.
Calling editors. I
wouldn't do this unless you're working with them on a project where they've
asked for revisions and perhaps you don't understand what they're wanting in the
letter. Calling before selling, in
my opinion is iffy at best.
Big no nos:
Do not send in hand written manuscripts.
Do not send in a manuscript where you have hand corrected
words or page numbers or a title or whatever.
As for that matter, please, type everything because most
people can't read your writing.
Do not use another author as a reference without their
permission.
Do not submit something and bash an editor or a house in
your cover letter--even if it's another publishing house that has trashed your
story!
Do not submit to the same house but a different editor.
These editors talk. And most
of them keep the title and the author's name and sometimes the first few lines
of the story in the computer. So,
if you resubmit a week after it's rejected, they'll see your title and know it.
Let the story set, ruminate on it, then change the problems and resubmit.
But while you're ruminating, work on something else.
If you multiple submit, then make sure you say so.
Some houses don't allow it. In
this case, at the end of three months I contact that house and ask for the
status on the book. If I don't hear
from them in a week, then I feel free to start submitting elsewhere.
A house really shouldn't take over 60-90 days to read a proposal.
Do not submit by fax or email (unless and editor has
SPECIFICALLY told you to).
Do not use a smaller font or point to squish more into your
manuscript. If they like it,
they'll know by page five and keep reading unless you've made it hard for them
to read it by making it 10 or 8 point!
Do not get angry at an editor and send them a nasty letter.
Editors move around and you WILL meet this editor again in your career,
at another house, the house you most likely sell to.
Well, I think that's it.
Questions? Email me:)
