Comments on: anatomy of a query letter http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/submissions/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/ by Cynthea Liu Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:08:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Megan Becker http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/submissions/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-74486 Megan Becker Sat, 15 Oct 2011 07:17:56 +0000 http://www.cynthealiu.com/2006/05/29/57/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/#comment-74486 Hi Cynthea, I have a set of PB manuscripts I want to query together. Should I spend a different pararaph pitching each one in my query, or should I not go about it that way? How do I format this? Megan Hi Cynthea,

I have a set of PB manuscripts I want to query together. Should I spend a different pararaph pitching each one in my query, or should I not go about it that way? How do I format this?

Megan

]]> By: Karen Sawyer http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/submissions/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-73406 Karen Sawyer Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:15:15 +0000 http://www.cynthealiu.com/2006/05/29/57/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/#comment-73406 Thank you for your very informative site. I have a question about a query I sent four months ago. I have never heard a word back and I am wondering if it is okay to contact them again. I know that is done sometimes when a manuscript is sent. Thank you for your time. Karen Thank you for your very informative site. I have a question about a query I sent four months ago. I have never heard a word back and I am wondering if it is okay to contact them again. I know that is done sometimes when a manuscript is sent. Thank you for your time.

Karen

]]> By: Jeffrey http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/submissions/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-73228 Jeffrey Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:33:03 +0000 http://www.cynthealiu.com/2006/05/29/57/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/#comment-73228 Dear Cynthea, I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your advice to so many of us who are trying to become authors. If I may, I have a question or two that you may or may not have come upon in the past. I am disabled, I cannot travel far, and I cannot drive anymore. Will this hurt my chances of being a successful author? I cannot attend workshops, or conventions. Until such time that medical technology advances and it will, I am temporarily permitted to travel in very small areas. Because of my situation I don't have the funds available to self-publish or use any service other than agents who do not charge unless they are able to sell my manuscripts and receive their commissions. Do you have any advice? with much gratitude, Jeffrey Dear Cynthea,

I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your advice to so many of us who are trying to become authors. If I may, I have a question or two that you may or may not have come upon in the past. I am disabled, I cannot travel far, and I cannot drive anymore. Will this hurt my chances of being a successful author? I cannot attend workshops, or conventions. Until such time that medical technology advances and it will, I am temporarily permitted to travel in very small areas. Because of my situation I don’t have the funds available to self-publish or use any service other than agents who do not charge unless they are able to sell my manuscripts and receive their commissions. Do you have any advice?

with much gratitude,

Jeffrey

]]> By: Lisa http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/submissions/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-73221 Lisa Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:53:47 +0000 http://www.cynthealiu.com/2006/05/29/57/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/#comment-73221 Hi Cynthea, Thank you for the information, which I am finding invaluable. I would like to know is a query the same as a coverletter? Also, I see on this and other writing websites that editors seem to be the one to target but I get conflicting information about that, namely that you cannot even approach an editor without having an agent. From what I understand the agent will then approach editors/publishers on your behalf. I have written a picture book and have been querying agents. I apologize if this info is elsewhere on your site. I came straight to this page first! Thanks, Lisa Hi Cynthea,
Thank you for the information, which I am finding invaluable. I would like to know is a query the same as a coverletter? Also, I see on this and other writing websites that editors seem to be the one to target but I get conflicting information about that, namely that you cannot even approach an editor without having an agent. From what I understand the agent will then approach editors/publishers on your behalf. I have written a picture book and have been querying agents. I apologize if this info is elsewhere on your site. I came straight to this page first!
Thanks,
Lisa

]]> By: cynthea http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/submissions/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-73176 cynthea Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:42:11 +0000 http://www.cynthealiu.com/2006/05/29/57/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/#comment-73176 If you are sending an unsolicited pb ms, include a letter. That's my vote. Sending an unsolicited ms without a letter of some sort is a bit odd and um ... naked. There is key info being communicated in that letter (see above) that many editors would like to know. If you are sending an unsolicited pb ms, include a letter. That’s my vote. Sending an unsolicited ms without a letter of some sort is a bit odd and um … naked. There is key info being communicated in that letter (see above) that many editors would like to know.

]]> By: Mel O'Dell http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/submissions/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-73175 Mel O'Dell Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:12:59 +0000 http://www.cynthealiu.com/2006/05/29/57/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/#comment-73175 Thanks for this article! However, I'm unsure if I should submit a coverletter with an unsolicited PB MS? Some advice I've read suggests that an author should always submit a CL because it is more professional. Cynthea, what's your opinion? Thanks for this article! However, I’m unsure if I should submit a coverletter with an unsolicited PB MS? Some advice I’ve read suggests that an author should always submit a CL because it is more professional. Cynthea, what’s your opinion?

]]> By: Melodie Noel http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/submissions/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-70277 Melodie Noel Fri, 25 Feb 2011 01:56:46 +0000 http://www.cynthealiu.com/2006/05/29/57/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/#comment-70277 I started a blog a few days ago and it just hit me that I should aim higher. Thank you for providing this information! I started a blog a few days ago and it just hit me that I should aim higher. Thank you for providing this information!

]]> By: Cynthea http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/submissions/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-59992 Cynthea Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:22:35 +0000 http://www.cynthealiu.com/2006/05/29/57/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/#comment-59992 Hi Jean, if the notes are absolutely critical to the comprehension of the story, I have explained how to do illustration notes at the end of this article. Hope that helps! http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/2007/08/30/264/q-i-am-writing-a-picture-book-should-i-include-art-specs-for-each-page/ Hi Jean, if the notes are absolutely critical to the comprehension of the story, I have explained how to do illustration notes at the end of this article. Hope that helps!

http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/2007/08/30/264/q-i-am-writing-a-picture-book-should-i-include-art-specs-for-each-page/

]]> By: Jean Earhart http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/submissions/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-59554 Jean Earhart Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:01:11 +0000 http://www.cynthealiu.com/2006/05/29/57/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/#comment-59554 Hi Cynthea, I've written a 750 word picture book that I feel is ready for submission. My question to you is this -- A large part of the movement of the story takes place subtly (and not so subtly) in the background illustrations. As I am not an illustrator, I have added possible illustration notes after each page of text. Is this considered acceptable? If so, how do I format those notes? Most sincerely, Jean Hi Cynthea,

I’ve written a 750 word picture book that I feel is ready for submission. My question to you is this — A large part of the movement of the story takes place subtly (and not so subtly) in the background illustrations. As I am not an illustrator, I have added possible illustration notes after each page of text. Is this considered acceptable? If so, how do I format those notes?

Most sincerely,
Jean

]]> By: Cynthea http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/submissions/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-58834 Cynthea Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:53:17 +0000 http://www.cynthealiu.com/2006/05/29/57/anatomy-of-a-query-letter/#comment-58834 Hi Fiona, you have to keep honing your stories, and put stuff aside to come back to them later when you are ready. Everyone gets disheartened in this biz. You will feel recharged again when you hit upon a new idea for your work or start a new story altogether. Also keep in mind, kids are not the people who acquire the books. While the general public may like your stories, you have to figure out what has appealed to publishers in the past. To do that, study the stuff that has been published recently and examine the style of writing, the length, the picturability, etc. and compare it to your own text. Sometimes it's just a matter of structure or length or snappiness in the writing. I find this often helps me when I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong. Keep at it, Fiona! Hi Fiona, you have to keep honing your stories, and put stuff aside to come back to them later when you are ready. Everyone gets disheartened in this biz. You will feel recharged again when you hit upon a new idea for your work or start a new story altogether.

Also keep in mind, kids are not the people who acquire the books. While the general public may like your stories, you have to figure out what has appealed to publishers in the past. To do that, study the stuff that has been published recently and examine the style of writing, the length, the picturability, etc. and compare it to your own text. Sometimes it’s just a matter of structure or length or snappiness in the writing.

I find this often helps me when I’m wondering what I’m doing wrong.

Keep at it, Fiona!

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