but how do you define a person being too weird?

One publisher relates an anecdote from one of the book trade fairs, of having a couple stare at her for a long time before approaching and thrusting a manuscript in her hands. Now, a) writers are not encouraged to be at such fairs - it's for agents and publishers, not the authors themselves - and b) anyone who stares at you long enough to make you uncomfortable, is simply going to freak the person out, and is not going to get their mss read, let alone get signed up if it's any good.
If, however, you dress as a Goth, but are a lovely sweet person inside who's kind to grannys and stray puppies, then I'm sure you'd be fine.......well maybe.


- NaomiM

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Well, on second thoughts leave the heavy black makeup at home if you're going to see the Agent.

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Useful checklist on this agent's blog:

http://need2bpublished.blogspot.com/2009/01/things-not-to-say-to-agent-publisher-or.html

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Just to add that Steph Penney who wrote the award winning The Tenderness of Wolves suffers from agoraphobia which has not hindered her publishing career.

Dwriter, one thing you could mention in your query letter is if you are writing or planning another novel, especially if it's in the same genre. Agents like to know they aren't dealing with a one-book wonder. Only mention briefly, though, in conclusion.
Susiex

Lol, Dwriter!

I state my genre at the top, title of the book and wordcount.

In the letter i introduce myself and then, i suppose, do the equivalent of a brief blurb about the book - the main character's problem, the themes... And then a sentence about why i feel qualified to write it, if appropriate.

Some people say to maybe suggest which readers might enjoy your book, ie 'i feel readers of such and such an author would enjoy my book' - without comparing yourself directly to that author.

I don't crawl now either - you know, ' i'd be honoured if you'd read this bla bla'! - i just say 'i hope you enjoy reading these chapters and look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your time' - something along those lines.

Essentially, when you're talking about fiction, no one really gives a toss about experience or 'credentials' (if you're talking about non-fiction it's different, both in terms of knowledge re subject matter and also because non-f books are often sold on proposal, so a publisher will want assuring that you will actually be able to finish the thing). If there's something really relevant or interesting then sure, put it in your covering letter, but the only credential you really need as a novelist is to be able to write a good novel.

Re blogs, Casey, I would probably only mention it if it's relevant to your book and therefore something you want to take a look at, and/or if it's particularly popular (so you can say 'I write a blog at blahblahblah.blogger.com which has an average of five million unique readers a day), which indicates people already like your writing and/or has been sustained for a while. And which you want them to look at.

no one really gives a toss about experience

That's a relief.

Hmm, fair point, Jess. Strictly Writing has a bit of a way to go then

Dwriter, one thing you could mention in your query letter is if you are writing or planning another novel, especially if it's in the same genre.

Funnily enough, I have actually started making plans for a sequel for the book (and the first one hasn't even been published. How sad am I? hehe). I could always mention that in my letter. But what would be the best way to phrase it?

I remember reading ages ago - and discussing it on here, in fact - that all beginner writers (not referring to you, Dwriter) plan sequels and that it is considered amateurish to mention this until you acutally have an agent hooked on the one book.

My book is - i hope - the first of a series and i am also wondering whether to mention this in the cover letter. I think i will.

x

Fair enough. Maybe I'll just leave that part out. Then again, I guess it would be a good thing to mention you intend to keep writing. But what would be the best way to say it?

I think it could be worth mentioning that you have other ideas for the characters - rather as you might have other plots planned for your detective. What you don't want to do is make them think that they couldn't sell a single book on its own.

The warning signal for agents is anything which makes you look amateurish, because so many beginners can't self-edit, and just have far, far too many words in there to do the story-telling job and make a coherent (however many-stranded) novel, then when someone tells them it's too long for a single book they just chop it up into several, and refuse to cut so much as an elf, or a space shuttle.

Emma

Hmm, that might be a way around it then, Dwriter - say that the book is a stand alone (I'm assuming it is) but that you have other ideas for the characters.

Do you think it might help in my letter if I put in my covering letter something along these lines.

"I enclose a synopsis, sample chapters and a fifty pound note (mum's the word)"

Hehe. Of course, I'm just joking. But life would be so easy if all you had to do was bride a publisher. Not that I condone that of course. lol

LOL!

I bet agents get sent all sorts. One agent told me to include a massive photo when subbing but seeing as i always get red-eye, i decided this might be a tad off-putting for anyone opening my envelope.

i always get red-eye, i decided this might be a tad off-putting for anyone opening my envelope.

unless you're subbing vampire or werewolf romance, I guess.

Emma

Maybe i should kohl my eyes and wear a headdress then. Themed cover letters...

x

Vampire romance eh? That reminds me of the Twilight film thats come out. I haven't heard much about it, but isn't it something about a vegetarian vampire? I only heard about the story from what people have told me. The whole plots sounds a little like Duckula to me. Do they also have a hunch backed butler and destructive nanny? hehe.