Dear Authors:
In addition to the Submission Guidelines below, I suggest reading a couple of my Medium posts as people still make a lot innocent mistakes that will deter me and other agents from reading your material or, in many cases, even responding to you.
Even though the post below is about pitching agents at a conference, there’s still a lot of good info that can translate to your written pitch, as well.
Best wishes to everyone as they go forward in their journey.
NON-FICTION INTERESTS:
I do mostly non-fiction, and would like to see more work from current journalists who have investigated a particular topic, especially true crime, though I represent a variety of categories, and our agency has been strong in everything from tech books to cookbooks and much more. Non-fiction is completely different than fiction. I can sell a project based on a strong proposal, which should include a sample chapter or two and a detailed outline.
PLATFORM:
Most authors are going to need a strong platform in the category in which they are submitting!! So, if you’re a captain of industry, I can probably sell your leadership book, but probably not your book on how to re-invent education. If you are a known chef, I can probably sell your cookbook, but not your book on dancing — I think you get my drift. If you are previously unknown, but are the first researcher to discover an Amazon frog that creates an enzyme that kills cancer…. well, send it along by all means! That’s something unique.
What the Heck is an Author Platform and How do I Build One?
Publishers feel that an author’s “platform” is more important than ever before. Are you an expert in your field, regularly appear as such, and are often quoted in articles or on television? In other words, do you already have a machine in place to sell books? I don’t need to hear that you plan to hire a publicist (not usually a great idea) or other things that you “will do,” but need to know what you’re already doing. Preferably you’re employed in an area about which your book is a logical and organic outgrowth. I also need to know why you want to write this book, why you’re one of the best people, if not the best person to write the book and why you’re so interested in this subject.
There are many sites with advice on how to build a platform on the web, as well as books on Amazon. Here is a good place to start: http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/build-a-platform-start-blogging/building-a-writers-platform
Writing Sample
Very important — As with fiction below (especially important for memoirs!): Please submit a short synopsis and the first chapter or two pasted into the body of your email query so I can get a feel for your style. The synopsis shouldn’t be too mysterious, (in other words, not a back-of-the-book style blurb) and should reveal the main points of the book. Don’t just include a link to your website and expect agents to go clicking around the internet in search of your material as we all get tons of material every day and have devised our own individual workflows in order to evaluate queries, so if we’re directed to read material on a remote site, we’re unlikely to click through unless the site is a vital part of your platform.
FICTION INTERESTS:
DEAR AUTHORS — I AM PRESENTLY TAKING ON VERY FEW NEW FICTION PROJECTS — mostly MYSTERIES, SUSPENSE and THRILLERS, but will consider all genres in which you have a strong story and memorable characters. *
Please note, I see a lot of vampire, werewolf and zombie material, so unfortunately, I am unlikely to take any of it on. Also, about 90% of thrillers coming in are terrorist related, so a story along those lines will have to hit on all cylinders with a fresh plot, memorable characters, scintillating dialog, not too long, not too short.
Very important! — Please submit a short synopsis and the first couple of chapters pasted into the body of your email query in the Contact Form below so that I can get a feel for your style. I get dozens of queries every day and the quality of your writing will make your query stand out. The synopsis shouldn’t be too mysterious, (in other words, not a back-of-the-book style blurb) and should reveal the main plot points of the book. Please note, the most common “epic fail” seen in fiction manuscripts — even those with very good prose — is some kind of plot hole. I can’t count how many times I’ve spent eight hours carefully reading someone’s novel, only to ask “well, why didn’t they just do such and such (usually something pretty simple)?” The author has usually been aware of the problem, and responds, “I was afraid of that. I was hoping readers wouldn’t notice.” Wouldn’t notice? Agents, editors and your ultimate reader will spot these holes.
HOW TO SUBMIT
Sorr
y — the Spammers have won! I must now ask authors to make their initial query through a “Contact Form.” If you utterly hate the below form, email me for an address… through the form, of course.
You can easily cut and paste your material from Word into the box. It should keep all normal text formatting, such as paragraphs, though not special fonts or italics. If you use italics, DON’T PANIC! Perfect formatting is not a prerequisite of good writing! If you have a non-fiction “How To” book, for instance, that must be formatted for sidebars and so on, just let me know.
* Please Note: The amount of submissions has become astronomical, especially after the Oct Writer’s Digest profile was published. While I have always tried to contact authors, even if I am passing, it has become a bit difficult. So if you do not hear from me within 3 weeks, it means that I am unable to take on your project — and please understand that it is absolutely not personal!! I can only take on a small percentage of even the most promising submissions. It might be that your work is too similar to something I already have, or it may be too different from what I usually take on, or that a work is too long or too short… etc.
* Checklist — Did you include:
Full name.
Email address.
Detailed synopsis.
Author Bio.
Writing Sample — please include at least the first chapter. I’m sorry, but due to the amount of submissions, I will no longer be able to answer queries that do not include a writing sample.
Contact: