What should be included in a cover letter for a fiction novel?

Question

I wrote a book and I have finally gotten it into it's final draft but I have no idea what to include in the cover letter I send with the manuscript! I've tried looking in books but, let's face it, I have no idea what they're saying. What should I include in the letter? How long should it be? Formal or Friendly?
Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

"Writer's Market" has a book called "Formatting and Submitting your Manuscript" which I found incredibly helpful. It has examples of every type of letter or manuscript that I have ever needed.

Your letter should be formal, because this is a business deal that you are seeking. The publisher or agent you are querying don't have time to read anything overly chatty, so keep it to less than a page. Introduce yourself and your book, but keep it to a few sentences on each. Make sure to mention any previous publishing credits (magazines, journals, etc-- not self-publishing!). It lets them know that you have a history of being able to sell your work.

Finally, make sure to research the particular agent or publisher's submission policy when you go to send it in! Most of them do not want to see your entire book the first time you contact them. At most they would probably want a synopsis and a few sample chapters. However, every one is different so you should tailor your package to that particular person or company.

Good luck!

Answer 2

First of all you never send an unsolicited manuscript to a publisher or agent. You go to their website and read their submission guidelines and send EXACTLY what they request - no more no less. It's different with every publisher and agent. Some ask for 10 pages, some for one chapter, some for 3 chapters, some for only a summary. Do exactly what they request.

The letter you send is called a query letter. If you want to see some good samples, go to Preditors and Editors website. Nicholas Sparks has also put a good sample on his website.

Sending an unsolicited manuscript to a publisher or agent will only make sure it winds up in the paper shredder.

Pax - C.

Answer 3

This is important to understand: Do NOT send a cover letter and manuscript. Most publishers will just throw it in the garbage! Send a query letter.

In your query letter, give the publisher a brief but clear outline of your story. Make it short and simple, but make sure you include enough to make it interesting.

Every publisher has a different means of accepting submissions. What you really should do is get a copy of Writer's Market 2007. That has all the information you could ever want on who to submit to, what to submit, and how to submit it. If you don't do it correctly, it's unlikely that you will ever hear anything from any publishers. Also, don't cheap out and get a copy of Writer's Market from another year because publisher's addresses or submission requirements change from year to year.

Good luck.

Answer 4

I would recommend against sending an entire manuscript unsolicited to a potential publisher, it will likely be rejected out of hand.

A better approach would be a letter of inquiry asking if they would be willing to review your manuscript. You might include perhaps a synopsis of the book, and a copy of the first page.

Another route would be approaching an agent...

Remember, to you your novel is a work of art, a passion, a creation... to a publishing house it is purely a business decision. (In this respect, a record of successful publication of work in numerous magazines is always a help...)

Good luck!

Answer 5

well my best advice is to read what those books are saying..
they are written by people who have trodded the road before you and know the industry..

But I would include a quick intro of yourself..I would include a brief plot summary..

I think the most important thing is to include a reason behind the book...ask yourself why should a publisher or read er want to buy your book?
remember that it is a book..your book..your work...BUT it is still a product..no different than a notebook..a pen or whatever.
it must be sold and bought..

say your book is about witchcraft..one might mention that Harry Potter is dominating the book/movie world and then compare and contrast your book to it.
sell your book in this section..make the publisher want to read it..

Answer 6

Bernard Cornwell is a grasp at historic fiction and he adjustments documented activities to make room for his characters all of the time. on the top of his novels, he incorporates a "historic be conscious" the place he no longer in basic terms describes the actually human beings and activities yet the place he took liberties in his tale. Your tale sounds like that's not worried with historic activities, extra the historic putting. Cornwell writes approximately battles commonly and therefor has slightly extra constraint positioned upon him. you will locate that many human beings won't care if the society structures are one hundred% precise if the tale is sweet. actual some readers will nitpick, yet maximum individuals won't concern.

Answer 7

the tittle and the author and more on the website