The Nuts and Bolts of Getting Ready to Query

On today's Writer's Wednesday, I wanted to talk to you about the nuts and bolts of getting ready to submit to agents.  As many of us have learned first hand, you do yourself a disservice if you're not 100% prepared.  I know, you've written the perfect, unique novel, proofed it once or twice, and your neighbor's kid loves it.  No -- you're still not ready.

Here are some things you'll want to do BEFORE you send that first query e-mail (and this assumes you've fully proofed your novel, sent it through a round of critiques, and written a bang-up query):

1.  RESEARCH:  Find out which agents actually want your genre (see our Industry Terms page if you need help with this).  Follow the agents on twitter, follow their blogs, or at the very least read their bio on the agency web page.  Why take the time to personalize a query and hit send if the agent isn't looking for what you wrote?

 2.  ORGANIZE: I found the easiest way to organize my research was by creating a chart in a word processing document (or Excel if you have this knowledge).  I had categories for agent name, agency name, what they're looking for, submission guidelines, submission date, response/date.  Having the agency name is important because many agencies only allow you to submit to one agent, but it's possible multiple agents within the agency represent the same genre.  You'll want to search to be sure you're not hitting up the same agency more than once.  Organization in the beginning will save you loads of time at the end.


3.  SYNOPSIS:  Have a 2-page, single-spaced synopsis ready to go.  You don't want to have the perfect query and not be able to promptly respond to a request for a synopsis.  Even though most agencies won't request a synopsis upfront, you need to have this ready anyway.   

That's my advice anyway.  Anyone else have other must-do tips you want to share when getting ready to query?

TUESDAY TUNES

Normally, we talk about the tunes we listen to when we write, drives one of our scenes, etc. Then recently we at the Oasis started talking about industry terms, and trying to help make sense of the often muddy water of the publishing industry.

So today, I'm taking on music in modern literature. Maybe there's a song haunting you that you'd just love to fit in. Maybe you want to have a character to quote a line, or sing a phrase. Best advice I've gleaned and my CP Heather Howland helped dig up... Don't.

Do yourself a big a favorite and avoid the coming drama. Your editor may possibly growl, and will definitely take them out. Songs are not public domain, and therefore not legally yours to use. UNLESS they are truly public domain due to date released before 1921. I've heard news that you can use a minute percentage of the total word count per song... half a line, maybe a teeny bit more.

You can mention a title, especially if it has some impact to your character or the story. BUT using a title can seriously date a book. Say you sold your book--would the title, or band, even be relevent in a year or two when it's released? Think about how important it into use a title from a real song/real band. What about creating your own band, like Maggie Stiefvater did in LINGER?

Using lyrics?
Risky, like putting you hand in the cookie jar knowing you're going to get your patties slapped.
Using a song title?
Okay, but makes it a 2010, 11, etc book. Do you want your readers to look at it and think you're a fossil?

I say avoid the drama. You're creative enough to write a book, then you're creative enough to make up your own band, song title or lyric. Less stress, more kudos for you.

Anyone have anything to add?

MONDAY SANCTUARY: Mulling Over Advice

Having your manuscript critiqued is an important part of the process to publication. And it will be critiqued several times over. By your CPs. By your beta readers. By potential agents. By potential editors.

So how do you handle the critiques? I used to dread them. I used to start shaking when I'd stare at the comments section and see over one hundred line items. My heart would race as I'd see things like "I don't like this character" or "This really slowed down for me."

And, then I turned my thought process around. Now I love a good critique. Because, ultimately, a critique is helpful advice. It isn't putting down your work, it's helping you to improve it. It's helping you catch things that you didn't notice when you were in the thick of writing and buried in your own words.

Does that mean you have to take every piece of advice you receive? Absolutely not. In fact, I highly urge you to read the advice, and then walk away for a bit. Don't open your manuscript and start making changes. Mull over the advice for a bit. Take a few deep breaths. And think it all through. The good and the bad! You may have seen some advice and thought "Yes! That's it! That's a great way to rewrite that paragraph." But, ask yourself if it fits with your overall theme and voice. Ask yourself what other changes this will result in.

After you've contemplated the advice, then open your document and revise. Take the parts that work, and ignore the parts that don't. And always remember ...

It's your manuscript.