Writing for Children and Teensby Cynthea Liu

You’ve come to the spot where we’re going to learn everything that could be in a submission package you put together for an agent or editor. If you’ve had a look through CWIM, the CBC member list, or other publications, you’ve probably heard the words listed above before. And guess what? People will give you different definitions of these terms all the time. It’s completely crazy. BUT I will tell you how C LIU defines everything. I hope it will make sense to you, too.

• query letter - formatted like a business letter. Its purpose is to briefly pitch your work to its intended recipient (be it agent or editor) Read post, anatomy of a query letter
• cover letter - also formatted like a business letter. Its purpose is to put something official-looking on top of your manuscript if the editor or agent has requested your work. Read post, anatomy of a cover letter
• synopsis - a ONE page summary of your book - beginning, middle, and end. Written in third person, present tense. The synopsis should be interesting to read and clearly spell out what happens in the book without belaboring it. Read post, anatomy of a synopsis
• outline - a chapter-by-chapter summary of your book- few sentences per chapter, max. Almost always reads like a run-down of events. That is not to say you can’t make it interesting!
• author bio - a couple of graphs MAX about who you are
• SASE - a self-addressed stamped envelope
• SASP - a self-addressed stamped postcard

There will be more on each of these items as I get time to write them. If you want to know now, tell me your thoughts.

Otherwise, go to step eight.

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