writing tips info

Ten Tips to Stay Sane, Write the Best Novel You Can, and Launch Your Career

2006-12-22T14:19:00.000+07:00

1. Do not compare yourself with others.

We each have our own path to success. Some people are shooting stars. Others are slow and steady. Each may reach the same goal, but at a different pace. Do this: compare yourself only with yourself. Is each new manuscript better than your last? Did you send out more query letters this year? Were your contest scores higher this time around? And always remember -- another author's success does not mean your failure.

2. Find your strengths.

Forget what's trendy and discover what kind of story you write best. Perhaps your writing partner writes wonderfully emotional vampire tales. Does this mean you should write emotional vampire tales? Only if you're good at it. Perhaps you write light, funny, and inspiring tales instead. Write them. No market for them, you think? Doesn't matter. Any book that is strongly written and tells a compelling story will find a place in the market, no matter what the trend is that day.
(And if you can spot today's trend, it's probably just about over.)

3. Don't be in a hurry.

Many yet-to-be-published writers yearn for publication (I know I did). Rejections can be heartbreaking. But take the time to make what you submit to be the very best it can be--no matter that it takes three years for you to finish. It will be much better for your career in the long run to confront the publishing world with a spectacular book that they will get behind, than a mediocre book that is just publishable and will languish in the warehouse.

4. Don't be afraid to write in the manner in which you write best.

Some writers outline, outline, outline then chart each scene before they can even put fingers to keyboard. Other writers sit down and start page one with no clear end in mind. Both of these writers can end up with a wonderful book. Neither is right. Neither is wrong. If you write best with charts, make charts. If you write best simply writing, then write. Never let someone else tell you that your way of writing stories is wrong. It is right--for you.

5. Be strong.

Readers read to live in a different world from the everyday one. Or perhaps they seek the same world, but one funnier, happier, more dramatic, more emotional, more passionate. Give it all you've got. If you write humor, be hysterical; if you write passion, be wild; if you write emotion, make yourself cry (your reader will too).

6. Be knowledgeable.

Market research is as simple as going to a bookstore and observing what's on the shelves. Do you love writing wild pirate tales? Who else is writing them? Who is publishing them? Find out who the publishers are and where they are. Most have their addresses printed on the copyright pages of books. Search The Writer's Market (the latest edition can be found in the reference section of any library) for names of specific editors. Mail your query or manuscript (Writer's Market will tell you which they want) to that editor.

7. Read authors you admire.

If you admire an author, it's probably for a good reason: they are wonderful storytellers, or they have a lively prose style, or their characterizations are fantastic--or all of the above. Learn from these authors, try to discover how they do what they do. That said, also read widely outside your target genre. Find strengths of other genres to pull into your own to keep it fresh. (And if you read a book that you love, that touches you in some way, write the author and tell him/her so. Authors like to know whether they have done their jobs!)

8. Critique groups are not for everyone.

Critique groups can be marvelously supportive, or they can be stifling. I personally write best in a cave, occasionally coming out to ask an author I trust whether I am going off the rails. If you feel your critique group will not you let you write the strong books you feel you are best writing, don't be afraid to go it alone. On the other hand, if your critique group gives you wonderful help and support, don't be afraid to stay.

9. Don't waste time and money.

The best way to write publishable books is to read books then sit down and write books. Everything else is optional. Develop a critical, honest eye for your own work. Many traps exist out there for the desperate-to-be-published author. Save your money. Never pay to get published. You are writing so that people will pay you, not the other way around.

10. Write every day.
If you produce only one page and you throw it away the next day, it doesn't matter. Writing every day keeps your writing muscles in shape. Continuing to write will teach you how to write better than anything else. You'll learn something new every day!

One more tip for free, have fun! Why on earth would you want to write if you didn't enjoy it? Write wild and fun stories and give it all you've got. If you are tired, frustrated, burned out, depressed, and just plain sick of it, stop! Distance yourself and remember once more why you want to write. Chances are because it makes you feel good. Never lose that

SI Units (Metric system) (3)

2006-12-20T14:27:00.002+07:00

SI Units (Metric system) (3)

This tip is the third in a series about expressing the units of the Système international d'unités—also known as SI, or (incorrectly) the metric system. October's tip concerned the purpose and structure (prefix+base) of SI units. November's tip listed the correct abbreviations of the more commonly used units. This month's tip discusses how the unit names and abbreviations are used in running text.

Name or Abbreviation?
Because SI unit names and abbreviations are linked, in use, to numbers, the choice between using a unit name and a unit abbreviation depends on how the number is expressed. If the number is spelled out, use the unit name; if the number is expressed in digits, use the unit abbreviation. For example:

We walked three kilometres.
This Formula One track is 11.2 km long.

Spacing, Punctuation, and Pluralization
The SI unit name or abbreviation is always separated from the preceding number by one space. When the unit abbreviation is used, the space should usually be a hard space, as discussed in the May 1997 tip.

SI abbreviations are never terminated by periods (except when they fall at the end of a sentence). Similarly, SI abbreviations never take an added "s" to mark the plural.

SI and "Metric"
Finally, why is it incorrect to call SI "the metric system"? "The metric system" properly refers only to the system of weights and measures created in France around the time of the French Revolution. "Metric" encompasses only the measures of length, area, volume, and mass based on the metre and kilogram. Here's what Napoleon Bonaparte ¹ had to say about the subject:

The scientists had another idea which was totally at odds with the benefits to be derived from the standardization of weights and measures; they adapted to them the decimal system, on the basis of the metre as a unit; they suppressed all complicated numbers. Nothing is more contrary to the organization of the mind, of the memory, and of the imagination.... The new system of weights and measures will be a stumbling block and the source of difficulties for several generations.... It's just tormenting the people with trivia!!!

Some people today would say the same about SI. But as nations and cultures continue to exchange ideas, world standards such as SI will become more common. And keeping to standard means keeping clarity in your writing.

SI Units (Metric system) (2)

2006-12-20T14:27:00.001+07:00

This tip is the second of several about expressing the units of the Système international d'unités—also known as SI, or (incorrectly) the metric system. Last month's tip concerned the purpose and structure (prefix+base) of SI units. This month's tip lists the correct abbreviations of the more commonly used units.

Formation of the Abbreviations
Part of the "rationality" of the SI measurement system is the simpler formation of SI unit abbreviations. Essentially, every derived unit abbreviation takes the form:

prefix abbreviation + base unit abbreviation

Looking again at the base units of length, area, volume, and mass, here are the names of the units and their abbreviations:

Length: metre, abbreviated "m"
Area: square metre, abbreviated "m²" OR are, abbreviated "a"
Volume: cubic metre, abbreviated "m³" OR litre, abbreviated "L"
Mass: gram, abbreviated "g"

The abbreviations for the common prefixes are:

µ (micro: 0.000 001)
m (milli: 0.001)
c (centi: 0.01)
d (deci: 0.1)
da (deca: 10)
h (hecto: 100)
k (kilo: 1 000)
M (mega: 1 000 000)
G (giga: 1 000 000 000)

Capital or Lower Case?
In general, SI prefers lowercase for both spelled-out units and their abbreviations. But notice the use of capital letters above. As prefixes, capitals are normally used only for multipliers higher than 1, and only when the prefix must be differentiated from a lowercase use of the same letter. For base units, capital letters are normally used when the unit was proposed and defined by an individual after whom the unit is named. Take, for example, the bel (a unit that measures the intensity of sound). Abbreviated, the bel is "B", because it was named after Alexander Graham Bell. Others include the hertz ("Hz", Heinrich Hertz), the newton ("N", Sir Isaac Newton), and the watt ("W", James Watt).

The "K", "b", and "B" of Kb (kilobits) and KB (kilobytes) are not SI. Neither is the "K" as a generic stand-in for 1000 ("He makes 50K per year"). In SI, "K" is a kelvin (one "degree" on the scale that measures temperature from absolute zero). The "K" is capitalized because the kelvin scale is named for William Thomson, Lord Kelvin, who proposed it. Ensure then, that in context, the meaning of "K" in written materials is always clear.

Also notice the abbreviation for litre. An uppercase "L" was adopted to distinguish it from the numeral 1.

SI Units (Metric system) (1)

2006-12-20T14:26:00.003+07:00

This tip is the first of several about expressing the units of the Système international d'unités—also known as SI, or (incorrectly) the metric system. This tip introduces the common base units and prefixes, and the special base units.

The New Globalization
Civilizations have always looked for ways to measure physical objects: their size, their lightness or heaviness, their capacity to hold other things. Many cultures created entire systems to measure basic physical properties: length, area, volume, and weight. Owing to the spread of the British Empire, the Imperial system of measures (avoirdupois) became the system of choice in many countries (an early expression of globalization!). Although cultural systems of measurement persist in many places, international commerce has caused the world to adopt SI measures.

Why SI?
The basic idea behind SI is to accept a base unit for each property being measured, then to add prefixes that multiply the base unit by powers of 10 to obtain larger and smaller units of the given property. Because Arabic numbering (the world-wide standard) is based on powers of 10, SI is considered more scientific and rational, and easier to learn and manipulate than systems that use more eccentric unit labels. For example, compare:

Imperial: 12 inches to the foot; 3 feet to the yard; 5.5 yards to the rod; 320 rods to the mile
SI: 10 centimetres to the decimetre; 10 decimetres to the metre; 1000 metres to the kilometre (passing the decametres and the hectometres on the way)

In the Imperial system, nothing signals that feet, yards, rods, and miles are all length measurements. You must memorize the units and their relationships. On the other hand, the base unit of length in SI is the metre, and as soon as you see a unit word containing "metre", you know that you are measuring length. The prefix (centi, deci, kilo) tells you how large a length unit you are dealing with.

Base Units
Here are the base units in SI for the most common physical properties:

Length: metre
Note the spelling. In Canada and Britain, a metre is a measurement of length; a meter is a measuring device ("thermometer"). In the United States, meter is used in both cases.
Area: square metre
Volume: cubic metre
Mass: gram
Notice that the measurement of an object's inertia is technically called mass in SI. Weight is an expression of the pull of gravity, which may differ from one place in the universe to another. In non-technical contexts, mass is not likely to displace weight ("I think I think I need to reduce my mass"). However, mass is preferred in contexts where technical precision is important ("The mass of this moon rock is unusual").

Prefixes and Derived Units
By adding the prefixes listed below to a base unit, you obtain derived units that are smaller or larger (by powers of 10) than the base unit. These are the more common prefixes:

micro	0.000 001
milli	0.001
centi	0.01
deci	0.1
deca	10
hecto	100
kilo	1 000
mega	1 000 000
giga	1 000 000 000

Therefore, a centimetre is 0.01 metre; a square kilometre is 1,000,000 square metres; a cubic decimetre is 0.001 of a cubic metre; and a decagram is 10 grams.

Special Units
While the SI base units and prefixes can be used to express any measurement, some additional "convenience" units have been accepted because of their usefulness in daily transactions:

Area: are (= 100 square metres)
The are is most commonly seen with the prefix hecto: a hectare (10,000 square metres) is the common unit used to describe small expanses of land (for example, farms, parks, and rural lots). Large land expanses are typically measured in square kilometres.
Volume: litre (= 100 cubic centimetres)
Mass: tonne (= 1,000 kilograms)
The tonne, being close in mass to the 2240 pounds of an avoirdupois (long) ton, is also sometimes called a "metric ton". Tonne, however, is the preferred term.

Expressing Numbers

2006-12-20T14:26:00.001+07:00

Spell out the whole numbers one through nine. Write other numbers using digits. (In humanistic works, you may choose to spell out all whole numbers less than 100.) Treat ordinals in the same way as cardinal numbers.

I met seven people.
John met 14 people.
I was the eighth person.
John was the 15th person.

Always spell out numbers at the start of a sentence. Reword sentences to avoid spelling out large numbers.

Incorrect: 16 cars were parked on the street.
Correct: Sixteen cars were parked on the street.
Incorrect: 2134 children attended the school last year.
Incorrect: Two thousand one hundred thirty four children attended that school last year.
Correct: Last year, 2134 children attended that school.

Spell out round numbers and approximations.

The tree is about sixteen feet tall.
I have told you a thousand times not to do that.
The car is worth less than six thousand dollars.

Round numbers and approximations greater than one million may be expressed with a combination of words and digits. Exact figures should be expressed using digits.

The city was home to 3 million inhabitants.
The city was home to 3 256 092 inhabitants.

Use digits for numbers used as nouns, exact measurements, decimal fractions, and percentages.

Multiply the result by 5.
The screws are 4 inches long.
The best price for 4.5 m is $23.50.
The sales tax was raised to 9%.

The International System of units (SI units), commonly known as the metric system, requires that digits be used with abbreviated units, and spelled-out numbers are used with spelled-out units.

Incorrect: The road was 2 kilometres long.
Correct: The road was 2 km long.
Correct: The road was approximately two kilometres long.

Related numbers should be expressed consistently.

Incorrect: He worked 40 hours the first week, and only seven the second week.
Correct: He worked forty hours the first week, and only seven the second week.
Correct: He worked 40 hours the first week, and only 7 the second week.

When two numbers are adjacent, spell out one of them. Usually, the one with fewer letters is spelled out.

The couple had their choice of two 3-bedroom apartments.
Another couple had to decide between 3 two-bedroom apartments.

Capitalization in Titles

2006-12-20T14:25:00.001+07:00

NIVA follows the general rules for capitalizing words in document titles set out in The Chicago Manual of Style (with one minor exception—see the note in rule 3):

Always capitalize the first and the last word.
Capitalize all nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinate conjunctions ("as", "because", "although").
Lowercase all articles, coordinate conjunctions ("and", "or", "nor"), and prepositions regardless of length, when they are other than the first or last word. (Note: NIVA prefers to capitalize prepositions of five characters or more ("after", "among", "between").)
Lowercase the "to" in an infinitive.

Most writers are familiar with these general rules. But some have difficulty identifying the various parts of speech, while others have internalized incorrect "rules" taught in elementary school. These individuals are therefore prone to making mistakes when capitalizing or lowercasing words in titles. The most common mistakes are presented below.

Two-Letter Words
Some writers lowercase all two-letter words, probably by extrapolation from the short prepositions "of", "to", "up", and so on, and the word "to" in infinitives. But if a two-letter word is acting as a noun, pronoun, adjective, or adverb, it must be capitalized. For example:

Go Tell it on the Mountain
(wrong; "it" is a pronoun and should be capitalized)

When is a Spade a Spade?
(wrong; "is" is a verb and should be capitalized)

Multipurpose Words
Some writers lowercase words that can function as prepositions when those words are currently functioning in other capacities. For example:

The Man in the Moon Owns a Yellow Balloon
(correct; "in" is functioning as a preposition and should be lowercased)

Bringing in the Sheaves
(wrong; "in" is functioning as an adverb and should be capitalized)

Phrasal Verbs
Some writers find it hard to decide how to capitalize a title containing a phrasal verb. Phrasal verbs are verbs whose meaning is completed by a word called a particle. For example, the verb "to give" has a different meaning than the phrasal verb "to give up".

Like other multipurpose words, words functioning as particles must be distinguished from the same words functioning as prepositions. Particles are always capitalized because they form part of the verb. For example:

My Travels up Nova Scotia's South Shore
(correct; "up" is functioning as a preposition and should be lowercased)

Setting up Your Computer
(wrong; "up" is functioning as a particle and should be capitalized)

Mistaken Notions
Grammar just doesn't sink naturally into everyone's head. To some writers, the fact that one word resembles another is enough reason to treat those words equally when it comes to capitalization in a title. For example:

The Time of their Lives
(wrong; "their" is an adjective and should be capitalized—the writer probably extrapolated from "the")

Plural and Possessive Abbreviations

2006-12-20T14:24:00.002+07:00

The formation of plurals and possessives is usually pretty straightforward, except in the case of abbreviations and acronyms. The following rules should help.

To form the plural of an abbreviation, a number, or a capital letter used as a noun, simply add an 's' to the end.

A group of MPs
The late 1940s
Mind your Ps and Qs

To form the plural of an abbreviation with periods, a lowercase letter used as a noun, and abbreviations or capital letters that would be ambiguous or confusing if the 's' alone were added, use an apostrophe and an 's'.

A group of M.P.'s (see note below)
The x's in the equation
Sending SOS's

Note that, in Canada, periods are not generally used in abbreviations, with the exception of truncated words (such as Inc.) the abbreviation of certain Latin terms (such as e.g. and i.e.), and geographic names (such as U.S.A.—although, in some quarters, USA is accepted.) In the plural of an abbreviation with periods, you may choose to use an apostrophe for a more attractive appearance (as is the American style), or omit the apostrophe (as is the British style). Be careful that the result does not cause confusion ( e.g., "the M.P.'s meeting" could refer to a meeting attended by MPs, or a meeting hosted by an MP.)

To form the possessive of most abbreviations, add an apostrophe and an 's'.

The MP's constituency
The YMCA's facilities

To form the possessive of a singular abbreviation ending in 's', add an apostrophe and an 's'. When an abbreviation ends in an 's' used to form the plural, add an apostrophe only. Note, however, that these situations are better avoided.

CSIS's headquarters (better: CSIS headquarters)
an increase in MPs' salaries (better: an increase in the salaries paid to MPs)

Metric symbols, units of measure, and certain other abbreviations do not change in the plural.

1 km
100 km
ch. (chapter)
ch. (chapters)

A small number of abbreviations have unique plural forms. For instance:

l. (line); ll. (lines)
p. (page); pp. (pages)

Latin Abbreviations

2006-12-20T14:24:00.001+07:00

Latin abbreviations are sprinkled throughout texts we read everyday.

Abbreviation	Latin	English
cf.	confer	compare
e.g.	exempli gratia	for example
et al.	et alii	and others
etc.	et cetera	and so forth, and so on
i.e.	id est	that is
N.B.	nota bene	note well
P.S.	post scriptum	postscript

N.B. Be careful not to confuse "e.g." with "i.e."

Latin abbreviations are appropriate in footnotes, bibliographies, and informal writing (e.g., in parentheses).

In formal writing, use the English equivalent of the abbreviation.

Many communication tools can be used to promote the launch of a new store, for example, flyers, press releases, radio announcements, and so on.

Because these Latin abbreviations are commonplace in the English language, it is not necessary to italicize them.

The Query Letter: Your Calling Card

2006-12-20T14:20:00.003+07:00

What is a query letter?
A query letter (sometimes called simply a query) is a one-page business letter that introduces you and your book to an agent or editor. It is NOT a cover letter (more on cover letters below).

How long should a query letter be?
Ideally, one page. If you must go to two pages, ok. Write in a legible font, like Times Roman 12.

To whom do you send a query letter?
An agent or an editor whom you want to interest in your book, and/or an editor at a publishing house that does not accept unsolicited manuscripts and partials. A query is your ice-breaker.

To whom do you NOT send a query letter?
If an agent or editor has already requested your book or partial, either through a meeting at a conference or because you won a contest, etc., a query letter is no longer necessary. With the partial, you include a cover letter (more below).

How is a query letter formatted?
Just like any other business letter. Block style with everything flush left on the margin is easiest. Include your return address (use your own letterhead if you have it), the agent's/editor's address (SPELLED CORRECTLY), the date. Write the body, conclude with "Sincerely," and sign.

Use standard white paper or stationary (ivory or parchment is ok). Don't use cute colored paper, cute colored ink, cute graphics, cute language ("if you turn me down, you'll just break my little old heart.") Be businesslike and brief. Don't waste their time.

What is included in the envelope with the query letter?
A self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with one first-class stamp. Do NOT send the manuscript or partial with the query.

What does a query letter contain?
The big question! A query letter should be a very SHORT introduction to yourself and your book.

Paragraph 1:

Tell the agent/editor why you are writing ("I am looking for someone to represent my historical romance novel.")
Lay out setting, time period, main premise of the book. ("The story is set in the year 1898 and involves a half-breed Apache and the widow of an Army colonel who must come together to help a handful of schoolchildren in Arizona territory.") Here you have told the when, the where, and some of the who and the what.

Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4:

Your blurb. You should have one short paragraph about the hero (1-3 sentences), one short paragraph about the heroine (1-3 sentences), then a short paragraph (1-2 sentences) about the main conflict. Because you are writing romance, include the conflict between the main characters ("He remembers her saving his life with a timely drink of water, but he cannot forgive her dead husband for leading the soldiers who killed his father…)
Make sure to emphasize an unusual element that makes your story stand out from similar stories ("The main action takes place high above the tree line on a sacred Apache mountain" or "The heroine secretly studied Tantric yoga when she lived with an army family in India.")
Spark the agent/editor's interest--keep it short, sweet and to the point!

Paragraph 5 (optional):

Mention your writing background (short stories, magazine and newspaper articles, other books, fiction or non-fiction) that have been published, if any.
Mention any background relevant to the story ("I grew up a half-breed Apache on the White Mountain reservation and have been writing about White Mountain Apaches in major magazines for nine years.")

Closing paragraph:

Tell how long the manuscript is and whether it is finished. ("The manuscript runs 100,000 words and is finished.") Offer to send either a partial or a full (ONLY IF YOU'VE FINISHED) at their request.
Give your telephone number and e-mail and offer to answer any questions they might have.
Conclude with the standard "looking forward to hearing from you" or something similar.

That's it!

What is the difference between a query letter and a cover letter?
A cover letter is what you send when you mail your partial or full manuscript to the editor who requested it. You also use a cover letter to send partials to publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts.

A cover letter is a brief business letter (again on standard white/ivory paper with your name, address, date, yadda yadda yadda). Here's an example of the body of a cover letter:

"I met you at the Desert Dreams conference in Phoenix last weekend. Thank you for seeing me and answering my questions. Enclosed is the full manuscript you requested of Mrs. Watson and the Apache, my historical romance set in Arizona territory in 1898. I have also enclosed a SASE for your convenience. Please feel free to call me at (phone number) or e-mail me at (e-mail) if you have any questions." That's it.

In conclusion:

Query letters are SHORT introductions to yourself and your book. The purpose is to spark the interest in the agent/editor so that he/she wants to read what you have written. Novels these days are expected to be tight and fast-paced, and your query letter should be as well. Resist the urge to tell the entire story in the query! You want to entice, not tire.

Please see links and books under What to Look For in an Agent for tips on where to research agents.

What to Look For in an Agent

2006-12-20T14:20:00.001+07:00

A good agent will:

Find the best deal possible for your type of book
Work with editors and publishers to make your contract favorable to you
Get better deals at larger houses than you could on your own
Be the "bad cop" between you and your editor if necessary
Take the guesswork out of contracts
Help you make career decisions
Never charge an up-front fee, reading or otherwise
Be a member of or plan to apply for membership in AAR (Association for Authors' Representatives)

A bad agent:

Charges reading fees, or other fees up front
Is very difficult to contact
Resents answering questions
Is coy about his/her list of clients
Does nothing in a timely fashion
Makes excuses
Gets arrested for fraud
Pretends to be dead (sadly, this is not a joke)

When seeking an agent, look for:

Experience (either at an established literary agency or publishing company)
Knowledge of your genre/type of book you write
Record of selling to reputable publishers
Good list of selling authors (the authors do not have to be famous, just selling)
Familiarity with publishing houses and editors there
Authors who report good experience with the agent
Professionalism
Fairly quick turnaround times; willingness to communicate

Resources for Researching Agents

On the Web:

http://www.aar-online.org/
Association of Authors' Representatives (AAR) Web site. Has a database of member agents, plus lists qualifications agents must meet to become a member.

http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubagent.htm
Predators and Editors: Lists agents alphabetically, and points out agents who are possibly fraudulent. Also indicates (with a $) which agents have sold to reputable, royalty paying publishers. (Not all addresses are current; double check with other resources.)

http://www.misssnark.blogspot.com/
Miss Snark--an (anonymous) agent who tells it like it is. She's snarky but knows her stuff. Check archives of frequently asked questions plus her assessments of first pages. She also links to other agents who blog.

Agent Web sites:

Check an agent's Web site (if she/he has one) for additional guidelines and lists of clients.

In the library:

Writer's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents by Jeff Herman.
Updated every few years, this is the best print guide to agents.

Guide to Literary Agents, Writer's Digest.
Updated yearly, another in the Writer's Digest series of guides. This guide takes second place to Jeff Herman, who seems to really know his stuff.

The Career Novelist, by Donald Maass.
Written by a well-known and very successful agent, Donald Maass provides excellent advice for authors wondering whether they should seek an agent, and what to do when they find one. He offers a gloves-off look at the publishing business. If you still want to be a published author after you read this book, you probably have what it takes.

Writing A Good Query Letter:

2006-12-15T05:58:00.000+07:00

What exactly is a query letter?

A query letter is what the name implies. It is a business letter inquiring whether or not a particular editor would be interested in seeing a particular piece of work.

It is any writer's strongest selling tool, and is important for several reasons. To me, the most important reason is to save time. To a serious writer, time is very important. Why waste some of that precious time, much less valuable postage, sending your work to the wrong markets? Why waste an editor's precious time having to repackage your manuscript and send it back to you because it is not at all what he or she is looking for, or because her inventory is full at the moment and it will be months before she can consider purchasing another book?

Query if you are not quite sure a particular publisher would be willing to consider your work or whether your topic is actually suitable for that publisher.

To find out if a particular house is buying at the moment, it is wise to query first, even to the beginning writer--especially if the idea being proposed is a little different. Also, be aware that some editors flatly refuse to consider anything BUT queries.

What makes a good query letter?

Remember a query is a letter in which you politely and professionally ask an editor if he or she would be interested seeing your work. You will in fact be selling yourself and you work by letter, so you will need to be certain to do both.

A good query letter has three basic parts:

The first paragraphs focuses on selling the work itself. In it, you should tell the editor the type of story it is, where and when it is set, how long the book should be (or the exactly word length if the work is complete), and give a general idea of the plot. This first part must be thorough and convincing, but brief and that is not always easy to do.

In the second part of the query letter you HAVE to sell yourself, but don't make the mistake of over sell. List your writing credits and any information pertinent to the writing of that particular piece, but don't bother telling the editor that you have a lovely house in the country, two charming kids, and a small dog that won a blue ribbon just last month for its unusual tongue tricks. The editor is only interested in details that pertain directly to your writing. And don't relate writing details not worth mentioning. Don't mention that you've had a recipe in a recently published community cookbook or that the local newspaper once printed your letter to the editor. That's not necessary and reeks of being a beginner.

If you have no publishing credits, tell what expertise you have with the subject matter you have chosen, or how well acquainted you are with the setting. If nothing else, mention that you are a member of RWA, or other prestigious writer's groups. That at least shows that you are serious about writing.

What not to do?

An editor once told me, NEVER ever resort to emotional black mail. Never include any suicidal tendencies you may have. Never mention that your children will starve and die in the streets with crooked teeth and ragged underwear if you don't make a sale soon. It doesn't work.

Nor does bribery.

Another editor once told me she'd received a two-foot chocolate bar in the same box with a manuscript. She admitted that she ate the candy bar and thoroughly enjoyed it because the chocolate was very good, but the manuscript wasn't, and she quickly rejected it.

Editors want only books that will sell.

What else do you include?

By the third section of your letter, it's time to get down to business. You mention whether or not the novel is in progress or completed, when you can have it on his or her desk, and to contact you. Suggest either by the SASE enclosed or by telephone, whichever is most convenient for the editor. And always make certain that somewhere on that page is your correct telephone number.

Before mailing, proofread for mistakes. Make your final copy as picture perfect as possible. You want your first impression to be a good one, a professional one. Also, before you mail the letter, be sure you've kept a copy for your files (never trust an only copy to the U.S. Postal System). Also make sure you have indeed enclosed your SASE.

It is a courtesy most editors insist upon.

How quick do editors respond?

Depends on the editor. A writer can usually expect a response on a query within weeks--a lot sooner than on a proposal with sample chapters or a completed manuscript. Sometimes on a full, book-length manuscript the wait can be six to eight months. I know one woman who mailed her full manuscript to a popular New York publisher without querying first and it was nearly two years before she finally received a response. Two years passed during which she could have been sending it elsewhere, and possibly have made a sale.

THAT, my friends, is why being able to write a good query letter is so important.

Home Office

2006-12-15T04:56:00.000+07:00

Don't try to make the most intimate room in your house (your bedroom) also youroffice unless absolutely necessary. Do try to find an area with very little trafficand few distractions.
Because of the time you will spend sitting, do yourself and your back a favor: don'tuse a kitchen, dining room, or folding chair for your desk chair. Invest in a qualitychair. You'll save a fortune in doctor bills and aspirin.
Establish office hours that will allow you to get enough work done yet still havetime for yourself and your family
Don't let housework or hobbies or "chatty" neighbors distract you from a workingschedule. Remember your office hours and stick to them. Post them on the doorif necessary.
Don't allow paperwork and office equipment to become scattered all over yourhome. As you need for more space grows, use space saving storage systems toorganize and keep everything in one area.
Stay out of the kitchen during office hours or your waistline could suffer greatly
Get an answering machine or a special office line if constant personal incomingtelephone calls are a problem. There's no law that says you have to answer thetelephone just because it rings. Let the answering machine handle those calls for you.
If your children refuse to cooperate with your office hours and stay constantlyunderfoot, consider child care services. A few hours of uninterrupted time couldbe well worth the investment.