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Both of these trailers look fantastic! Definitely peaking my interest in the books!

Both of these are on my to read list, thanks for sharing the trailers!

Jessica,
I'm sorry, did you say to note, or NOT note that you are resending a query because you did not hear a reply? ("Note that you are resending because you never received a reply, but simply resend.")
For instance, if an agency says you should receive an acknowledgment that your query was received, but you didn't receive one, would you just resend or send a note saying you didn't receive acknowledgment so you are resending. I'm leaning toward just resending it without a note, but now questioning that based on what you said. Thanks.
Kristi

This is good to know. I sent some queries last month and have already heard back from one agent, but not from the others. Now I know when/if to requery.

I always feel bad for people who experience this. Most agencies will respond within a reasonable time frame and this is never an issue. But there are some, and I've experienced this myself, that simply do not respond at all if they aren't interested.

Sometimes it comes down to this question:

Do I really want to work with someone who hasn't responded within a decent time frame?

I would agree with Ryan. If its taken them so long to respond, they might not be the kind of person you want to be working with for years to come.

Sarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)

My empathy to all.

All these bazillion different ways of doing things we run into in Queryland can really get our braincells in a twist.

Thanks, Bookends!

What about Microsoft Works word processor (the one that usually comes free with your computer)?

Is that Word compatible?

FYI in answer to one of the questions, I have a Sony reader, and I much prefer receiving Word docs to PDFs. In a PDF, if I want to alter the size of the text, the reader lacks the capability to re-flow the text normally in the same way it can do with a Word document. Paragraphs are totally destroyed. It's really annoying. Usually when I get PDFs I do not bother to read them from my Sony.

Re: headers on cover letters -- if you're using Word or most any Word-compatible software, look into formatting using section breaks. They allow you to control exactly which pages display header information, what info is displayed, and how the numbering is handled.

Section breaks also allow you to add a synopsis at the end of the sample pages, give it a different header (adding "synopsis" to the info, e.g.), and start the page numbering over at page 1 if it's a multipage synopsis.

Because I'm a formatting dork--you actually can do a "different" header on the first page (so it can be blank) and have the numbering begin on page 2. So if having the header on your query page really bugs you, it can be fixed in Word. Yes, I stressed over this for my first submissions, and yes, it took way too long :)

Tip: Google Docs allows you to download your document in PDF or Word format. It's free, and you have access to it wherever you have Internet access. Over the past couple years I've migrated from writing with Word 2000 to Google Docs, and love it.

Rich Dailey
http://electrolife.wordpress.com

Thanks for the explanation of why you'd want to include a copy of your query letter in your attachment. I appreciate learning why, and knowing why makes it that much easier to remember, too.

I will bookmark this for the eventual day I reach this point. Thank you for all the information you provide here on the blog.

Rich - question for you. I also use Google Docs, since I can access my stuff from anywhere, but I noticed that when I uploaded my Word 2007 docs, the paragraph formatting was horrible. I experienced the same thing going from GoogleDocs back to word. Do you have this issue? Any suggestions?

@Lorenda - I have not uploaded a Word DOC file to Google docs yet, so not sure how that works. My experience has been downloading a document created in Google Docs in Word format, and I've not had any problems with these files in Word 2000...Rich

Don't worry if this is your first time sending out a partial. It's like changing diapers. Scary at first, but after a while you can do them in your sleep. And perfectly too. I mean, would you risk having a diaper explode on you in the middle of the night?
;)

Thanks for the tip on attaching the synopsis last to get the agent/editor to read the first three chapters!

what about partial submissions ie., to publishers? am curious how that works

This is helpful. I didn't realize the writer should re-send the query with the partial. I would have assumed just a quick, per your request, would be all standard.

So, that's good to know. And I agree with Wendy - putting the synopsis last is a good tip.

Thanks!

Thanks so much for the tip about putting your email address and/or phone number in the header. I would never have thought of doing so but it makes so much sense.

I'm curious, if sending via email is should the document itself be Word compatible or PDF? And if it is Word compatible, should it be "read only" or otherwise locked?

I ask not becuase I'm concerned that an agent or editor is going to get SO excited about my submission that they are going to drop everything right then and there to dive in (lol! how fantastic would that be though?), but rather from the perspective of having accidently opening a doc and wreaked unintentional havoc with a few accidental keystrokes.

Just curious.

Thanks for the great advice! I did not know to include a copy of the query letter on the first page or as the body of the email either. I thought the way Mira said, just a quick "per your request" sort of message would suffice!

This is probably insanely ignorant of me, but when you say "attach", do you mean quite literally an attachment? Or pasted into the body of the email?

Interesting. Thanks for this rundown. I'm saving it to possibly link to in a future post of mine. (I blog for health-care providers who write.)

This may seem trivial, but I've wondered this for a while, Jessica: if we put our cover letter as the first page of the requested material (for Kindles and e-readers), then the actual front page of the manuscript will have headers and page numbers on it, which it shoudn't have. The front page becomes the second page of the document with the headers and page numbers. Doesn't that look unprofessional? When snail-mailing this is no problem, but I always put my new cover letter and copied query in the email, and then the attachment.

I've heard about sending the query again, and synopsis in the back (I think from you), so I've been doing that for a while.

My question: I recenltly rec'd a Email partial request which asked me to put everything in a Word doc attachment and snail mail it. I assume it was a typo... When I checked the website guidelines, it sounded like they prefered partials snailed, so that's what I did.

I didn't want to reply and ask, but in cases like this, would it be apropriate to email and ask? Or did I do right by just picking one way?

Thanks.

This is a repeat question, but hopefully will be answered:

All of this is an ATTACHMENT, correct? We get permission to send as an attachment at this point I'm guessing. I would hate to get it flushed.

And, a PDF works most universally, yes? no?

Thanks for the break-down on this, Jessica!

:-)

I agree with Jessica. When I request fulls ( I no longer bother with partials - just an extra step ) I ask that they be formatted as an rtf file, in Times New Roman, with the query letter cut and pasted into the beginning of the manuscript.

E-readers strip out page numbers and headers anyway so there's no problem there.

thanks for explaining that, Colleen!

Thanks for the overview. I included this post in my Friday Link Love roundup.

Cheers!

Roughly what word count would 3 chapters be- my book isn't broken into chapters...

I just sent a PDF today, they're great.

BUT what if agent says "send it in email" and makes no mention of the format? Is PDF ok at that point?

I have not once had my agent or editor obsess about my formatting (fonts, spacing, pagination, paper...). They Do want my manuscript in MS word but other than that it is the biggest subject of adversarial interest on writer message boards and yet of the very LEAST interest to editors and agents.
Worry about writing well.
Not formatting. IMHO

That kind of obsessive, controlling perfectionism makes you seem high-maintenance.

Fol-low the damn di-rec-tions.
Fol-low the damn di-rec-tions.
Follow follow follow follow,
Fol-low the damn di-rec-tions!

pdf.s suck ***.
It's a totaly crapshoot if the version that you write with is compatible with the person who's reading it. Plus they're huge.

just stick with RTF's. This world would have a lot less aggravation and violence if everybody just used rtf's and Microsoft didn't try to push new bloated programs on the public every 3 years.


btw, if you take an rtf file and change the "rtf" to "doc", microsoft word will open them no problem. Try it. ;)

Why would you need to be a control freak about the formatting of a manuscript that's going to be read off-screen? Agents don't while away the leisure hours by reformatting e-mailed manuscripts into funny fonts and posting them to all their friends and yours. As long as it's legible, the font is not important enough to get controlling about. It'll make no difference to the quality of the writing, which is all the agent will care about; if the book is accepted, it'll make no difference to how it's typeset. This is not worth making a stand on.

Anon 1 is right; making up your own rules makes you look difficult. Suppose the agent happens to have a rare form of astigmatism that makes them incapable of reading Century Schoolbook? Are you going to deny them the chance to put it in Times Roman if they wish? Suppose they're long-sighted and have broken their glasses; are you going to prevent them from increasing the font size to make it easier to make out the words?

The point of picking a legible font is that the agent finds it legible, not the author. The agent is the one who's going to be reading it. As such, they're entitled to arrange the reading experience for their own convenience. You don't get a say about the brightness adjustment on their computer screens, or the way they arrange their desks, or whether they can reformat a manuscript if it helps them read it. The point is to get the words read. You're a writer, not a designer. Let it go.

How would an agent go about marking up a pdf file for revisions? Or is the submitter too savvy to need any revisions?

I've always worked in "traditional" publishing up until recently, and couldn't understand all this concern over formatting and .doc verses PDF verses RTF, etc... Couldn't understand why it was so important to single space, rather than double space after a period (no page numbers). All this detail, when all my life I've simply submitted simple documents in times roman, 12 point to publishers and never heard a word about it. No complaints at all. I received thank yous from them all and it went to print. Simple!

And then the other day I had to submit something to an e-book publisher who wanted RTF, not .doc ... 0.5 indent (not using tabs) and a slew of other details that took a long time to figure out. It was an extensive list of details I wasn't prepared to deal with considering the only requirements I've ever seen have been "submit as a word attachment".
But more than that, after viewing other e-publishers I saw they all wanted different formatting, with explicit directions.

Now I guess this is pretty common when it comes to e-publishing, and I think I understand what everyone's talking about...but I doubt I'll do this again soon.

"pdf.s suck ***.
It's a totaly crapshoot if the version that you write with is compatible with the person who's reading it. Plus they're huge."


This is specious on nine different levels. PDF readers are free.
.PDFs are backwards compatible. PDF files are smaller than word docs, not larger. Respectfully, you are passing judgement on that which you do not understand.

"That kind of obsessive, controlling perfectionism makes you seem high-maintenance"

Yep. Using the second most common document format in the country is a pretty good indicator that an author is obsessive, controlling, and high-maintenance. There you go. With crystalline logic like that, it's amazing Adobe remains in business. You wouldn't think there were that many Type-As out there.

Suppose the agent happens to have a rare form of astigmatism that makes them incapable of reading Century Schoolbook?"

I don't even have words for this gem. Just a helpful tip: You many want to lock your keyboard up before you open your bong-of-the-month shipment.

"What if terrorists are secretly encoding viruses into Acrobat in an effort to wipe out agent PCs and literacy in America."

You got me. I'm so short sighted.

"The point of picking a legible font is that the agent finds it legible, not the author."

Kit, why would a font designed for readability only work on the eyes of those those living outside the 212? Dude, it's easy:

1. Think
2. Write

"You're a writer, not a designer."

Wrong on both counts, Skippy. But thank you for an ill-informed diatribe encouraging me to be less professional in my use of templates and technology. Because you and Orion are absolutely correct, professional presentation simply CAN NOT co-exist with good writing. They are mutually exclusive and I sold my soul to the one with the shiniest glimmer.

"How would an agent go about marking up a pdf file for revisions?"

Well, the agent COULD open up the revision tool that comes standard with .PDF, but I was thinking more along the lines of using the .PDF electronic sample pages or a partial. Not a full, 2Bedited submission.

Pat (Orion) is right.

I used automatic hyphenation on my manuscript. Neither my agent nor editor ever mentioned it.

Therefore, it came as a complete surprise to me when Nathan Bransford mentioned in his blog not to hyphenate manuscripts. Sure enough, a week later, my manuscript came back to me from the copyeditor with every single end-of-the-line hyphenation corrected by the copyeditor by hand.

Follow whatever rules the agent's site lists. DO NOT rush to identify yourself as a potential pain-in-the-ass control freak. You'll have plenty of time to do that later :)

Did everyone who isn't Dwight get that the 'rare form of astigmatism' thing was a joke? Or should I use emoticons next time?

LOL Ryan. Ah yes, but the joy of epublishers (who are a law unto themselves) is that they may demand weirdness like 16pt Garamond and 3.17 cm margins. You still do it of course, but only if 'follow the damn directions' is written on your computer screen in red Sharpie--and not with the feeling that this is a good omen.

I got it.

Also, pdfs do suck.

Arrrgh! Maya, I can't believe the copyeditor hand marked all of those eol hyphens!? I copyedit everything electronically and autohyph is a no-brainer easy option to turn on or off depending on what the pub wanted---why oh why did the publisher/whoever send the ms in hardcopy to be edited by hand? I'm astounded. Really. That's so Gutenberg.

This is a silly argument.

In my days publishing scientific papers, I once got my hands (and eyes) on the copyeditors markup of a technical paper for the journal of FUEL (one of the biggest publications in my research field)
AND it was covered in style marks and punctuation changes. A PDF would have been useless. Fonts were useless.

Those copyeditors and typesetters made the journal of FUEL look like FUEL. The same thing happened with the American Institute of Chemical Engineer's Journal. They have their style, you give up yours .

Follow the intructions and quit wasting time over stuff that means nothing.

Follow directions.

I think anon 1 is onto something. Maybe all of this is just a test to see if the author is capable of following directions. Or perhaps the test is to see if the author is a pain in the ass.

Sky, the copyedit is because a hardcopy is provided to Production with all the annotations for style and layout. If the hardcopy keeps the EOL hyphens, the proofs will include those hyphens *even if* the hyphenated words are in the middle of a line because that's what the original manuscript had.

Kitty -

I believe "damn" throws off the meter of the Yellow Brick Road song because of the voice-drop that accompanies the syllable. Probably drawing out the "di-" into two syllables instead would make it flow better.

Follow the di-rections
Follow the di-rections
Follow, follow, follow, follow
Follow the di-rections

If Garamond or Courier
Your man'script will sell hurrier
because because because because because
The di-rections was what they was -

(horn segue:
a reba da booba da boo)

You want to sell your story,
Then follow the di-rections!

I think "dwight" proved himself to be the original author who so adores .PDF files and, simultaneously, one of those dreaded tough-to-work with people.

Sarcasm, insults, and the assumption that his way is best and anyone who disagrees is a moron. Yeah, I'd want to work with that.