Hi,

I've written my first novel and have been lucky enough to receive some publicity in the press and on a few websites despite it not being published. I will be approaching agents next month and I was wondering whether I should include URLs, press cuttings/screen grabs in my cover letter or is it ok to just mention that I've had publicity? Also would you recommend including a photo of myself in my submission? Although if I do include web links they will see a photo of me anyway.

Many thanks

Remy

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Do you reckon adding press cuttings would make a difference to whether an agent would be interested in a person or not? Or is the synopsis and first few chapters far more important?

Fundamentally either they'll fall in love with the book and be sure they can sell it, or they won't: what you look like or anything else is pretty much beside the point at this stage.

But if the publicity was the kind which a publishers' publicity department could make use of when the book comes out, you could mention it: every little helps. Don't forget, though, that even if an agent took you on tomorrow you're at least a year and more likely 18mths away from being published. They'll be more interested in print media, and perhaps the biggest blogs: the details really aren't worth going into until you get to the stage of actually meeting an agent, I'd have said.

Emma

The most important part of the submission is the first three chapters. If they like that, then they'll read the synopsis. If they don't like the writing in the opening chapters then nothing you add in support of the submission is going to help that, and it's best not to clutter up the covering letter with 'puff' - far more important in covering letters are a bibio. of publication credits and competition wins/placements. Agent's prefer to make up their own minds, so I wouldn't include press cuttings. It would be better to put those on your website, and include the url in your covering letter, then the more media and internet savvy agents can visit it if they are interested in discovering more about you.

Don't include a photograph unless that is included in that particular agency's submissions criteria (I know of a couple of the large agencies that like photos, but my perosnal opinion is it's only worth doing if you are young and attractive/handsome).


We have a Synopsis and Outline Group if you'd like any feedback on your synopsis & covering letter before you submit them.



- NaomiM

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One thing to watch out for, if you have chapters of your book in the public domain, eg, on a googlable blog, it's best to remove them before submitting the novel to agents. Some of the less internet savvy agents are funny about such things as they see it as self-publishing, and won't touch anything that's been self-published.

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It is, however, useful to have samples of your writing - such as short stories - on a blog for the internet savvy agents to look at

Someone at one of the large agencies told me to include a large photo in sub packages.

Of course she hadn't met me then...

I've never had the nerve to follow this advice though, and tend to veer on the side of conservatism when it comes to subbing.

If it doesn't say anything in the guidelines, I think there are more agents you'd piss off by including a photo - 'What does she think this is, a modelling agency?' - than you'd tip into wanting to take you on.

Emma