I'm in the process of submitting to agents and was looking for any useful pointers on covering letters, do's and dont's, that kind of thing.

Also many want a CV or details of previously published work, as I don't have any should I simply omiy this from the letter or state that I don't have any?

Also when an agent wants details of your future plans and ambitions, how did others answer this? As part of my answer to one I've stated that Feeling Gravity's Pull, being dark, literary and unconventional is unlikely to be a commercial hit but other projects have a much more commercial appeal, should I ditch this or might it show that I have at least some grasp of the genre/market?

Geoff, have you tried looking at individual agent's websites?

Sheila

Hi Sheila,

I've looked at quite a few and umpteen blogs/sites all giving contradictory information. Sometimes I think it's just best to ignore all advice and send out the first thing that comes to mind. I'm sure there are thousands of writers who have landed agents without receiving a single of word of advice from anyone prior to submission, that may be an ever dwindling number in the age of the internet but I think that sometimes taking information from too many sources only confuses the issue.

Having said that, the reason I posted here is that we have a number of agented authors, whereas the blogs and other sites are largely people I've never heard of.

If you don't have any previous publications, I'd just keep it positive by not mentioning that at all - just mention the interesting things and keep it snappy but not gimmicky. I wouldn't go into your views on what's commercial and what isn't - let them be the judge of that (they will anyway), but mention briefly future books so that they know you're in it for the long haul. Give a few catchy lines about the book you're subbing, and a few interesting snippets about yourself and leave it at that.

Whe you look for advice on this endlessly awkward question you have to start by ruling out anyone who's talking about submitting in the US, because it's completely different over there, and not only because the Yanks are so much less inhibited about selling themselves and unembarrassed by being sold to.

I think the request for a CV is much more for non-fiction authors, where how and why they're qualified to write the book (and then promote it...) is much more important. For fiction, yes, it's a plus if your background feeds into the book - what my US editor calls an author's non-fiction hook - or if you've got a writing track-record of some kind, but it's not a deal breaker at this stage. The deal breaker is whether the chapters and synopsis pull them in. Other than that the function of a CV is simply to give them an idea of what sort of person they're likely to encounter if they want to meet you...

I really, really wouldn't say it's unlikely to be commercial, even if that's true. They can work that out from the MS: you don't want anything remotely negative in your letter, even if you think it shows professional realism. Not a whiff, not a word, not a thought. Relentlessly upbeat is the order of the day, I fear, at this stage. I would stick to dark and literary (not unconventional, it kind-of goes without saying if it's literary, and you don't want to make it sound too weird and unlikely to find a decent market), and then say something brief about other projects you're working on in a way that makes them sound catchy (i.e. commercial by another name). In other words, I wouldn't emphasise their difference from FGP. Since they're likely to be looking for a two-book contract, the last thing you want to do is make it sound as if Two would be hugely different from One. They want to know that you're likely to have mileage as an author, but fundamentally what they're thinking about is, will they be able to get a contract for this book, and can they finesse that into a two-book one?

FWIW (and I am sooooo not the queen of submissions) I used to have a very brief letter only mentioning anything on my CV directly relevant to the novel, a synopsis, sample chapters as requested, and a CV which was basically like a very brief job one, though biassed towards anything remotely writing-ish or to do with the novel (not much, in my case). They can always ignore it, after all, and I'm sure they mostly do.

Best of luck with it.

Emma

As Myrtle says, include a few catchy lines about the book, especially stuff you've left out if the synopsis, such as word count, and the fact it's written in the second person. Also mention any novels (if there are any) that it's similar to - helps the Agent to visualise where it'll fit on the bookshelves.

As for CV, if you've not had anything published (eg, short stories, e-zines), or that has won, or been shortlisted in any writing competitions, then don't say anything.

- NaomiM

I ran mine past the Writer's Workshop (they will look at cover letters for free and are very quick to email back a response).

Here are the things that 'should' be in a cover letter (not in any particular order):

FIRST PARA:
- Genre
- Word count
- The fact that it's completed
- Title
- Theme
- Setting

SECOND PARA:
A blurby paragraph to 'sell' the book

THIRD PARA:
Anything relevant about you - if not any publishing history, then anything about your work, life or experience which makes you qualified to write the book.

FOURTH PARA:
What you're enclosing - first three chapters, synopsis and SAE.
Then thank them for their time and consideration.

Some people say you could add any personal knowledge/contact/research you've done on that particular agent, or that your book would appeal to readers of... etc., though I'm not doing that.

Of course, there are loads of other ways of doing it, but it seems to me that this gets across the info an agent would be looking for, and can be done on one single-sided sheet of A4.

Best of luck with the submissions!
Susiex

That's a great list, SusieAngela. Hope it bears fruit.

Emma

Thanks, Emma!
Susiex

Thanks for that Emma and Susie,

Was just thinking would it be worth adding say the first chapter of a new project to the pack just to show that there's more to come?

I wouldn't (unless, just possibly, you were trying to sell a series, and even then I probably wouldn't). It'll just confuse the message: are you asking them to consider this other book as well, or not? They're really not terribly interested at this stage: whether or not you have mileage as a writer is something they'll be thinking about further down the line, if/when they've read the whole book and are wondering whether to take you on.

Emma

Great list, Susie.

Was just thinking would it be worth adding say the first chapter of a new project to the pack just to show that there's more to come?

Just as a general comment - and something I recent read on an Agent's blog - avoid saying it's one's first novel, even if it is, as some Agents won't touch first novels as they think writers need more practice. Conversly, avoid saying it's your nth novel, as that implies failure.


- NaomiM

Ok, after my first rejection I've been having a little think about my covering letter and came up with this? Am I headed along the right lines?

I am writing to seek representation and have included the first three chapters of my novel for your consideration. In a society with more ways to connect than ever we seemingly find ourselves to be lonelier than ever, Feeling Gravity’s Pull is about looking for a way out of the loneliness and isolation that modern life can bring about. It’s the tale of a man trying to escape his mundane life and his past and in doing so he develops an unhealthy obsession with a woman he finds on television. Stylistically, it has been described as Murakami meets Palahniuk; thematically, it deals, amongst other things, with the nature of identity within modern society, obsession and desire, depression and suicide and ultimately redemption. A literary novel with a commercial edge it runs to just under 73,000 words. With regards to myself, I’m twenty nine and have been writing since my early teens though I have never sought to be published until now. I shall shortly be giving up my role as a trainer in the Probation Service to relocate to Japan where I intend to study the culture and the language and concentrate more on writing. I am currently working on a children’s novel alongside a more commercially minded adult project. Please find enclosed the opening three chapters, along with a brief synopsis. Should you wish to contact me to discuss anything or request further details could I ask that you initially contact me via email as I shall shortly be moving. Yours faithfully,

Hi Geoff,
I think it's pretty good, though would suggest a few things (others may disagree):
- Would include the name of your novel (in italics) in the first paragraph.
- Would lose the comma and substitute a full stop after 'than ever'.
- Would also break up the following into two parts by putting in a colon:

It’s the tale of a man trying to escape his mundane life and his past: in doing so he develops an unhealthy obsession with a woman he finds on television.

- Again, would name your novel rather than calling it 'it'.
- Personally, wouldn't put in the bit about Murakami meets Paluhniuk and begin with 'Thematically' etc. Would also lose 'amongst other things' and 'With regards t myself'.
- Would also not mention the other genres of writing that you're doing - it might put off an agent if they know you've stopped working on literary fiction, because if they like your book, they'll want more of the same.
You can run this letter past the Writers Workshop for free - they will look at it by email and were very quick in coming back to me.
All the best with it,
Susiex

I am writing to seek representation and have included the first three chapters of my novel for your consideration.

Maybe something simpler:
I enclose the first 3 chapters of my novel title. It is complete at word count and I would classify it as genre. It is written in the second person and told from the narrators pov.
Couple of lines about the theme.

Murakami meets Paluhniuk

I would only mention names and titles if they are authors/titles on that particular agent's list, to show you have done your homework and are targetting your submission to them.
In all other submissions leave them out as you don't want to tell an agent that your novel would suit someone else's list.

As for the paragraph about yourself, I would simply say something like: I am 29yrs old and have been writing novels in both Adult and Childrens fiction for a number of years.


- NaomiM