Remember that picture book format is just one small component of a successful childrens book submission. You can even leave out the pages breaks, but include some information about the illustrations when it is vital to understanding the story as in the example, yabby. Childrens books need to be engaging and pleasant to the eyes. If you use microsoft word, heres how your paragraph settings should look. Remember your goal is to get the editor or agent reading your fabulous work, not your cover letter. Some journals have a strong preference as to how you address your submissions. Cover letter example for fiction writers to send to agents. Remember, you have a business purpose and so does the recipient of your letter, so dont go overboard. You can read our basic guidelines below, but i can recommend the book how to write the cover letter for your submission to a publisher. Your himilayan adventures can go into the author profile. This is the suggested formatting when submitting a picture book text to publishers.
In this case, the firsttime author had a connection to the agent. For nonfiction, platform and qualifications are very important, so your query should be 60% about the book, 40% about your platform if your book. I believe the cover letter is an important part of my writing process. How to write a cover letter for a picture book manuscript. Heres an example of how a cover letter accompanying an electronic submission. Hints for a great cover letter the steve laube agency.
Make sure your query letter makes the right impression with this selection of articles on agent submissions. Below is a sample cover letter otherwise known as a query letter sent by an aspiring writer to a literary agent. Then comes the market pitch where you need to outline the target audience. Dont let them find grammatical errors, typos, wrong use of commas, etc. When i see a picture book query done well and when i write my own picture book. Tips include formatting the manuscript, finding publisher.
As more children s book editor and agents want files they can read onscreen either on readers at home or on computers at work, more and more authors will be emailing instead of mailing submissions. Since many childrens publishers only accept from agents, this list should save you hundreds of hours combing through the submission guidelines of every childrens. A query is a business letter asking permission to send the project described. Attention to proper formatting will help your submission stand out. Robert lee brewer june 20, 2008 after more than 12 years of writing, i finally felt confident enough to start submitting my poetry around for. Neat structure and format dont make it look like a cv.
Now, in a traditional hard copy submission, you would place your cover letter on top of your childrens book manuscript. You have one page and 300 words or less to woo a literary agent into falling in love with your story and then requesting your manuscript. How to write a covering letter writers and artists. Covering letters madeleine milburn literary agency. If you use the marketplace double check the publishers website, as the policy may have changed since the books publication. The complete idiots guide to publishing childrens books. Hints for a great cover letter how to write a query letter for your book byline june 30, 2014 hints for a great cover letter 36 pieces of advice about writers conferences the steve laube agency september 22, 2014 hints for a great cover letter.
A cover letter accompanies your proposal and briefly describes your proposal. This is only a barebones guide to writing a cover letter. Of course you think the book is thematically resonant and that readers will love ityou wrote it. The sample query below resulted in a hardcoverpaperback book. I would like to submit the enclosed picture book manuscript, centipedes play soccer, for your consideration.
Sample cover letters, query letters, and comments on the art of writing them. You wouldnt, for instance, send a cover letter about your sizzling new romance novel to a publisher that is only interested in nonfiction titles related to agriculture, nor would you send your children s picture book to a house that clearly states we do not handle children s picture books. If you have multiple project proposals, please note that we will not accept more than three 3 submissions. Query letter basics for the childrens book market book editing. The main aim of your cover letter is to give the agentpublisher more detail about your. The book provides helpful information and examples of many query letters and cover letters for all genres of childrens. How to write the perfect query letter query letter example. As with any business letter, you should include your contact information. Writing a cover letter the manuscript appraisal agency. A query letter is a onepage letter sent to literary agents in an effort to get them excited about your book.
How to write a great cover letter for your childrens picture book. Because of this, and because agents are very busy people, the writer kept the letter. Centipedes is a humorous story for children in the early grades that emphasizes the joy of participating in sports. Writing childrens books for dummies, 2nd edition by lisa rojany buccieri, peter economy if you dont make a good first impression, your children s book manuscript will likely get sent right back to you accompanied by one of those dreaded rejection letters. This letter should do more than pique an editors interest. We were each given a batch of covering letters in advance, sent in by the audience. This isnt necessarily the time to get all casual or a lets hug kind of friendly. How many picture book manuscripts did you writesubmit before the king cake baby. Query letter and synopsis youve finished your manuscript and youve made the decision to look for a literary agent. Thanks for this, especially the good cover letter example. How to format a picture book manuscript for publishers. Sample query letter the query letter sample below will help you create a successful query letter of your own, so you can get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. Tips on how to address a business or professional letter.
Have you already purchased the complete picture book submissions. Never say at the end of the letter that youll telephone in a few days to follow up your submission it sounds rather menacing but do phone or email to check on progress if you havent heard anything in a month or so. From looking like a heel to a picture book deal all. This article is part of a 17part series called the best way to get a literary agent.
Many adults grew up on books such as curious george, harold and the purple crayon, madeleine and the three bears, and these books still excite and inspire children around the world. Wow children book publishers with perfect query letters. How to write cover letters for books and papers, so see samples, formats, and get tips in this free video clip. This vid is a nononsense guide to submitting a picture book or a longer piece of fiction or nonfiction to a children s book publisher. Some picture books stay with readers for a very long time. You also have your picture book query letter, and, well, the most important thing. Dear agentpublisher, please find attached a synopsis and three chapters of my genre novel, ms title, which is approximately 80,000 words in length. Sample cover letters for poetry submissions writers digest. Cover letters are what we use mostly as picture book writers. How to write a cover letter to a publisher pen and the pad. For example, agent x may be one those with a rampant distaste for queries.
How to write a cover letter for your literary submissions. How to format your childrens book manuscript dummies. The captivating features and vibrant colors of a childrens book are what will attract a child to pick it up. Have you written a book for children, but you arent sure how to get it out there to. Projects for older children such as chapter books or ya novelsshould be submitted by query letter, synopsis, and three 3 sample chapters. If you dont make a good first impression, your childrens book manuscript will likely get sent right back to you accompanied by one of those dreaded rejection letters.
This article is part of a series called get a literary agent. Check out their websites for information regarding submission guidelines and the kind of books they currently publish. How to draft proposals to childrens book publishers. Picture book submissions the great cover letter almost an author. Even in the confusion of too many legs going in too many directions, susie centipede and her friends manage to have a great time. It includes more samples of cover and query letters and guidance in writing them. Query letter sample below reveals how you can double your chances of getting the attention of book agents and publishers.
Writing a cover letter manuscript appraisal agency. If the guidelines do not stipulate this, look up the appropriate editor on the journals masthead and direct your submission to that person. Literary agent query letter example below will help you improve your pitch to book agents. That said, this still makes this letter a great example to show. For a fiction submission, ensure the letter is more about the book than you.
From looking like a heel to a picture book deal all about query letters. The one book i own on the subject is author to editor. Say for example, its a book for children having surgery, or a bed time story for. Firsttime picture book author cover letters, exposed. Both may be the only item an editor reads, unless its good. Picture book format and how to format your manuscript kidlit. The covering letter is an important part of your submission package, but it. Simple query letter for picture book tips and a sample so you can publish. Cover letters for electronic submissions to childrens. I started writing for the childrens book market approximately 6 months before pelican publishing acquired the king cake baby in june, 20. When youre pitching fiction to an agent or publisher through a query letter.
I undertook the writing of this book after discovering stumbling across a newspaper. Simply include a sentence in your cover letter stating that this is a multiple submission. Cover letters for electronic submissions to childrens book editors. If you want additional advice or variations on formatting, take a look at harold underdowns excellent the complete idiots guide to publishing children s books, available in bookstores or at your library. This is the picture book manuscript yabby set in the standard submission format. In the eyes of an agent, the presence of these could correlate later on to book sales which are good for their business. Query letter secrets of the pros, edited by linda arms white. Ogburn, published as part of a www site dedicated to children s books and the writing and illustrating of them. Query letter sample literary agents and literary agencies. How to write a darn good query letter ny book editors. Nonfiction books jane friedman for years, ive offered a lengthy guide on how to write a query letter for a novel. Making a cover letter for manuscript submission is crucial in your goal to finally be published. Sample cover letters, query letters, and comments on the art of writing them, by jacqueline k.
Since most agents ask that the picture book manuscript be included in the submission, writing a really meaty query letter for picture book, especially for that short a manuscript seems a bit silly. Spend time on your querycover letter and make it shine. I am writing in regards to my 2,000word manuscript, tentatively titled, sophias cooking class. Editors, overwhelmed by the sheer number of submissions they receive, need a. Heres how to format and write an author cover letter. The covering letter is one of the most important pages you will ever write. For example, agent x may be one those with a rampant distaste for queries beginning with a rhetorical question, especially one they can easily answer in the negative. Finally, for hard copy by mail submissions, be sure to include a stamped, addressed envelope sase for a response. You would never do a proposal for a board book, for example unless for some strange reason thats how the publisher youre targeting wants board books. The 30 childrens book publishers below all have one important thing in common.
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