What do i ask in my letter to and author?

Question

i'm 14 and i wrote a 117,000 word novel with a friend. We were propelled to write the book (part of a trilogy) because of the Inheritance Trilogy. If i would write to Christopher Paolini, what do i say to get as much info on writing as possible? How do i ask for his telephone number / address / email without being impolite (it might turn him off and he won't say anything)? What do i ask when i need advice on the publishing process, editing and improving my writing skills when i start with book 2 and 3? Thanks very much!

Sorry. to AN* author

Answer 1

First of all, I hope you and your friend both realize that you have done something truly amazing. You've put together 117,000 consecutive words and a stream of consciousness, and you're young. Not only that, you have ideas for a second AND a third book!

Your age group has many opportunities. Just do a "young authors" search on the web. Contacting your teachers might be another way to get your foot in.

A back-door approach to Mr. Paolini might be to contact his publishing company. I'm guessing this could be classified as a spin-off or fan fiction? Or is it just inspired by him?

The publishing process requires a lot of research, but it seems as if the industry is turning away from solicited manuscripts (where you have to have an agent). This is a great link with excellent guides to submission. Be careful, though. Please go to http://www.sfwa.org/ and check for the "writers beware." Ann Crispin, who writes Star Wars books and other fine stuff (and is just awesome - I bought some of her books for my brother one Christmas and she sent him a Christmas card) kindly, wholeheartedly, and viciously participates in the watchdog organization to keep writers from being exploited.

I've written quite a few books now, and the publishing process seems to be the killer. With your age and your ambition, you have a really good shot at getting there before I do. Some pubs will want a synopsis (you can start screaming), or they want the whole manuscript, either printed in standard manuscript format or electronically submitted. Take a look around the resource link (ralan.com) I sent you below and match up your book with what publishers are looking for. I'm also going to put an awesome link for writing a synopsis, although I still look at it and want to scream :)

Good luck and congratulations! I bet your families are just amazed by the both of you.

Answer 2

I'd say... don't. If you write to CP at all, just do so to say how much you enjoyed his book(s), then tell him what you enjoyed most. Put it this way ... why should he give away information he worked hard to get, to someone who might be his competition one day?

If he has a website, some of the info about writing you seek may be on it. However, CP is an unusual case, so his experience is probably useless to you. You should seek out books or courses to teach you how to write well and how to market your work. Some writers are tutors or assessors as well. Check out the material on the website below. It will be of more practical use to you. And DON'T go writing any more books until you get some interest (from a publisher) on the first one. If you need to rewrite the first one, that could make Book 2 redundant.

Answer 3

Well, I may not know much about this but for whatever it is worth in my opinion I think you should ask if it is okay to ask him a few questions and maybe mention that you wrote a book in an e-mail or whatever communication you use. Then, If he responds you can ask if you may have some other way that he can contact you. Although I don't understand why you would need more than maybe his e-mail and or telephone number. He would give you the rest if he thought it neccesary. I think to find basic contact information if he doesn't have a home page of his own try a librarian they are really helpfull in this type of matter. Start from there. Google him if you can and see what you find.

Answer 4

Sorry but there is no way to ask an author for his address and phone number and personal e mail without it turning him off. No "might" about it. Your letter would never even get to him. It would be tossed out before that. Pax - C

Answer 5

Do NOT ask for his telephone number.
You absolutely cannot ask an author to give you
his: Telephone Number, Address or E-mail.
Don't you know that???

You are are STRANGER, get it? A STRANGER.

You would not give YOUR personal information to a stranger would you?

What is WRONG with you kids today? You don't think before you do something.

THINK! THINK! THINK!

Answer 6

write to a literary agent hun, writing to an author won't get you anything but a pre-written reply. Authors are too busy writing their own books, they won't read yours. Plus it's something they are advised NOT to do by their agents as it could lead to some kind of copyright infringement. Authors don't read anything unless its published.

http://www.hollylisle.com/fm/Articles/agent2.html

Answer 7

just be brief and get to the point. sparking his interest with a bang in the beginning would help enormously