“Will Your Query Letter Sell Your Manuscript?” by Joan Y. Edwards
Does your query letter have what It takes? Does it contain all the components of a good query letter? Does it have all the necessary ingredients? Will your query letter sell your manuscript? Check it out for all the components listed below:
A great query letter:
Contains a great selling pitch that leaves the agent or publisher so moved by the story that they can’t wait to see your full manuscript.
Convinces an editor or agent that they are the right publisher or agent for this book.
Compares 1-3 books published by this publisher or represented by this agent.
Explains why you are the best person to write this story and gives your credentials.
Thanks the editor or agent for considering your work.
Asks the question: “May I send you my manuscript?”
Tells when you expect to hear from them.
Gives name, address, city, state, zip code, phone number, email, websites, and blogs,
Includes a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) when the guidelines ask for one.
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“22 Literary Agents Who Are Looking for You” by Joan Y. Edwards
I am not a publisher or an agent. I am a writer. It’s frustrating when you find a publisher you like and in their guidelines they state: “We are no longer accepting unsolicited manuscripts. We only accept from an agent.”
Horror of all horrors. That’s not what we writers or illustrators want to hear.
After I wrote the post about 50 Publishers Who Accept Unsolicited Manuscripts, I researched agents. I found 22 agents who are looking for your manuscripts.
Remember that many agents will accept your query (a letter explaining your project and asking if they are interested in seeing your manuscript) but not a manuscript unless they ask for it. Thank you to all publishers and agents who accept unsolicited queries and manuscripts from writers. Hurray for you.
Read the agent’s guidelines carefully to make sure they are still accepting unsolicited submissions – queries and manuscripts.
Follow their guidelines.
Updated these October 20, 2021. Please let me know in a comment when a link no longer works. I’ll find another agency to replace it.
Agent for Authors Who Are Already Published – Adult
Irene Goodman Literary Agency Submissions This agency is always looking for the finest in commercial and literary fiction and non-fiction, including mysteries, romance, women’s fiction, thrillers, and suspense. Some agents represent young adult. They do not represent poetry, inspirational fiction, screenplays, or children’s picture books.
Query Tracker-Literary Agentshas lists of agents, too. It lists the agencies and tells if they accept unsolicited submissions. It also lists all of their agents. It tells whether to send email or snail mail.
Resources for Screenwriters
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