Hello everyone,

Another new bug here, on one month's trial, but I'm pretty nearly converted already.

And this is my question. I am trying to write my query letter (the novel is pretty much finished, needs some tweaking but I'm giving myself a short break from it). And every single piece of advice I read says, you need to tell the agent that you are serious about writing, i.e. will write other books.

I see the point, but how, just how do you phrase this in a way that won't make an agent split their sides with laughter at your (my) pretentiousness. I have written a literary novel, I would like to write some more and have ideas for the next two, but it's not a series, no continuing character, just my blind faith that what I am doing is worthwhile. And I will write it anyway, even if I don't get a deal. Or do I say the other thing, which is that I want to make a career out of writing as my old job is terminally incompatible with childcare? What did you say?

And while we're at it, I'm also told that I should put in why I wrote the book. I am almost as blank on this one: sheer, numb-skulled inability to give up over seven years is the only reason. And because I needed to. But neither of these are very impressive.

Gah. Give me a book to write any day.

It wouldn't occur to me to put Why I wrote the book, and I wouldn't be able to answer if someone asked me. It's like those inane interviews "what gave you the idea for your book?" I dunno, it just happened. I think hardly any novelists have 'reasons' for writing books. Anyway. The exception to this is if you were a non-fiction writer and you had, for example written a book about the Life Cycle of Terrapins, and you happened to be an expert in this area. Or, I suppose, if you had written a novel about the same thing, and you were an expert as well, it might be worth mentioning, just.

Showing them you're in it for the long haul? Gawd, I don't know, keep it simple. Say something like, Dear Agent, I have written a novel, My Book, and I am looking for someone to represent me for this and future projects. My novel is about blah blah blah. I hope that you will be interested in reading it.



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Sorry, how rude, welcome to the site

Hi, vonsudenfed, and welcome (belatedly) to WW.

Hell on wheels, query letters, covering letters, and all of them (never sure if synopses are worse, but there's not much to choose between them.)

I must admit, I wouldn't say either of those things. The assumption is always that you're serious, in that you've written a whole novel. And 'why you wrote it' is very relevant to non-fiction, because your qualifications for writing about the subject are the important thing, but no one cares (till they're trying to write press releases) about why you wrote a novel. Unless, perhaps, there really is a good newsworthy story to be made out of you, preferably connected with the book, i.e. that you spent a year in an arctic spy-base, and that's where the novel's set. I also fear that telling them you want a career won't help - the chances of your being able to make a career on the advance for a debut literary novel are very slim (not non-existent, but slim) and they know it. That you've got other novels in your head is great if you get as far as a conversation with an agent, and if you've got a high-concept idea for Two it might be worth mentioning in the letter, but it's not a make or break thing, I would say. Ditto if you have a reason for approaching them particularly - that they represent authors on your sort of patch, or who you admire. But fundamentally, either they like the look of this one, or they don't.

For what it's worth (and other WWers will have other views) I would stick to a sentence with title, genre (if it has one, 'literary' will do) and wordcount, a two-sentence description of the novel (setting, main character, chief problem MC faces, some idea of how the story plays out), add in how you know about arctic spy-bases if you do, add in if you have any other writing experience (journalism, Masters, the bigger short story/poetry prizes, whatever), and end by thanking them for reading the sample chapters, and saying that the novel is finished, and you can send it straight away if they're interested.

Good luck with it, anyway

Emma

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Crossed with Jess - I think we're saying much the same thing.

Welcome to the site.
Good advice from both Jess and Emma. There is a Synopsis & Outline Group if you'd like anyone to cast an eye over a synopsis &/or covering letter before sending them off.

With regard to your question:
"you need to tell the agent that you are serious about writing, i.e. will write other books."
I wouldn't bother putting anything in the covering letter, but it might just be worth having a rough outline or two for future novels (even if you don't go on to write those ones), and have made a start on your second novel, if & when you are chatting with an Agent. That, more than anything, will show them you are serious about writing.


- NaomiM

Thanks for all of this - it's very useful.

Of course I don't have any writing experience to add to the letter either; I once wrote an article for an architectural magazine, oh, and I did write some factsheets for a BBC1 decorating programme...

It may just boil down to: I have written a book, here it is.

I will post my letter and synopsis in the group - I had a look in, but it seemed a bit quiet though.

I will post my letter and synopsis in the group - I had a look in, but it seemed a bit quiet though.

It is a different animal to the fiction groups where members are regularly posting extracts of their work, but it does get busier as & when people are ready to post their synopises, etc.


- NaomiM

It may just boil down to: I have written a book, here it is.

It usually does!

Emma

I remember worrying about the exact same thing and so said I had virtually finished my second one which was so not true.
When my agent found out he could have kicked my butt but fortunately he just laughed. It's not a strategy I'd advise.
HB x

And don't rush into submitting. Agents like you to cross your eyes amd dot your tees first.

I started it in 2001, so not too much of the rush about it...

Hi Vonsudenfed (I'm never going to be able to get that right again!)

My advise, for what it's worth, is that researching as much as you can is important and that will automatically help make your submission letter more relevant and also will mean that you will be targeting someone suitable who will (hopefully) like your kind of work.

I think it is a good idea to know what they represent, what kind of work they are interested in etc.

But here is a link to a video that is quite helpful that talks of sub letters.

http://www.videojug.com/user/UKEX0073

Good luck! And welcome to the site.

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Advice

(I hear that getting your spelling right is important too!)

It may just boil down to: I have written a book, here it is.

Nothing wrong with that... of course opinions will differ, but I have heard more than one agent say that that's basically what they want.

Hi, vonsudenfed, and welcome (sorry to be so late to the thread).

I think I agree with the concensus so far. I wouldn't tell them that I was serious about writing - I absolutely certainly wouldn't suggest I wanted a career out of writing, becuase that is a pretty crazy-sounding motivation given that only a tiny percentage of published writers can actually make a living on their income from writing. If I had anoter book nearly done I might mention it, but otherwise, as Emma says, I'd keep the what-comes-next part for if an agent showed an interest in the first book. Yes, you will need to have the next idea ready if it comes to serious negotiations (and if it were commercial rather than literary, probably the next two) but I think it may be a distraction in a query letter, if all it is so far is an idea.

Keep it simple, I'd say.

Best of luck!

Rosy