Maximizing Your Submission Chances

Even though, in the end, it all comes down to the manuscript and the potential of sales in the current market, there are a lot of things an author can do to maximize the chance that an editor or agent might go a bit further than a fast rejection letter. 

Consider first the fact that we are reading your submissions between a ton of other projects. I heard this from a great editor when I first started, Ms. Kate Duffy, who stated, "Until I sign you as an author, you are the least of my priorities." This is not to say we are not interested in reading your work, it is the simple fact that reading new submissions is sort of, "outside" of what we are really doing, which is working with our current clients. 

I want you to also consider that many of us don't really have to read the entire query letter when it comes in. We utilize that wonderful READING PANE.

Now, the example you see here has the pane to the right side. For me, I keep it below the list of emails. This means that if you are not maximizing the space at the vert beginning of your query letter, you may lose us. If you find a way to show us, early on, that you really have no clue what you are doing, you will get that rejection letter. In the end, you can see that we can make a decision relatively quickly.

So, let's get to the point of those submissions and how to really make it work in your favor:

1. KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY - You have to know how this business works. That means the time it takes to move a book along from submission to the bookshelf. It means knowing what editors and agents do. 
2. KNOW HOW TO WRITE - Yes, this sounds silly, but a lot of authors out there just wrote something, their friends like it, and immediately they think they are the next Tom Clancy. Writing is a skill. It is not just about typing words on a page.
3. KNOW WHY YOU ARE SUBMITTING TO THAT EDITOR OR AGENT - Yes, this is something I talk about all of the time and it is still true. We all acquire different genres. We all have likes and dislikes. And, more importantly we ALL clearly post that information on our websites. Read the information. It is not rocket science.
4. SHOW YOU WANT TO WORK WITH US - When I teach resume writing, one of the things I point out is that the hiring process is not just about you. It is about how the employer sees you as a part of their system and their company. The same works for publishing. If you write a generic letter and don't showcase why you fit with my agency, I am less likely to want to look at your writing. 
5. SHOW YOU AREN'T A ONE HIT WONDER - Editors and agents are not interested in one book, but a future with you. You may only have one book right now, but show you have a career planned out.
6. DON'T SHOW US YOUR FAILURES - Telling me you have written 20 self-published books and you now realize you are getting no where fast tells us something. You can't write or you don't understand the business. If you have gotten a ton of rejections, consider that a sign but certainly, don't tell us about the problems.
7. DON'T OVER HYPE YOURSELF - I always laugh at this approach so many authors try in their letters: "This project is currently under consideration by Oprah for her bookclub." or "This book has personally been praised by James Patterson." Ummmm, right. Think about this. Oprah is not going to consider an unpublished author, and James Patterson, if he truly loved it, would have pulled strings with his editor to get you signed.

Look, it all comes down to how you present yourself. Try doing what I tell authors all the time during my presentations. Look at your query letter. Without knowing who you are, or knowing the project, would you hire you?