Um... help with submission

[Vermilion]

I am looking to make a submission to an e-publisher, but am a little confused... am I supposed to copy/paste info into the main body of the email or add them as attachments?

We only accept electronic communication as we don't publish in print at the moment. So, it's essential that you send your script to us in e-format. We will only accept the following:

* Detailed synopsis of your book
* First 3 chapters and end chapter (short stories, please send in the whole manuscript)
* Send in 1 inch margins, 1.5 lines spacing, standard 12 pt font. Book Antiqua, Arial, Times New Roman preferred.
* Generally we accept any size of story up to around 125,000 words (see our book length info)
* Language - Please send in British English
* Books will be published only if author owns all rights
* Include your name, pen-name and contact e-mail in the Query Letter and Synopsis

x
V

 

[Anna_Malia75]

I am looking to make a submission to an e-publisher, but am a little confused... am I supposed to copy/paste info into the main body of the email or add them as attachments?



x
V

If they're that picky about the margins, hon, I'm guessing they want it as an attachment. At least, I couldn't do that in an e-mail!

Good luck!!!!!

 

[Vermilion]

Good point. Is an inch about 3cm? Because my Word programme only has centimetres!

Hrmm...

What kind of query letter are they expecting? Just a rough intro and the synopsis or something more detailed with personal info? I really would like more detail, but I've scoured the site and haven't found a thing!
x
V

 

[jomar]

Good point. Is an inch about 3cm? Because my Word programme only has centimetres!

Hrmm...

What kind of query letter are they expecting? Just a rough intro and the synopsis or something more detailed with personal info? I really would like more detail, but I've scoured the site and haven't found a thing!
x
V

Try two centimeters.

Dunno about the rest.

 

[English Lady]

email them with any queries but I say attach as attachments and you want to tell them a bit about you and your writing in the cover letter plus an indepth synopsis (they need to know all the details, this isn't the place to tease and suggest!) and i think you're right 1 inch is about 3cm

 

[neonlyte]

I am looking to make a submission to an e-publisher, but am a little confused... am I supposed to copy/paste info into the main body of the email or add them as attachments?



x
V

V, generally, companies don't like opening attachments, (bugs, worms etc). I'd post the entire thing in a e-mail format, or query them to see if they accept attachments.
I've seen your synopsis on STORY, I'll take a look and give you feedback tomorrow am.

 

[Anna_Malia75]

email them with any queries but I say attach as attachments and you want to tell them a bit about you and your writing in the cover letter plus an indepth synopsis (they need to know all the details, this isn't the place to tease and suggest!) and i think you're right 1 inch is about 3cm

1 inch = 2.54 centimeters. "Centimetres" spelled your way, I have no idea.

I'd just google query letters, but I think EL is right. As always.

 

[rachlou]

Attachments are better as .rtf files, as opposed to .doc (word) files. Many people won't accept .doc but will accept rtf. files. It's easy to save a document in that format.

But I would ask them what their preferred method is. I'm surprised it doesn't give you that information in the submission guidelines.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

query the publisher and ask.

 

[rgraham666]

I've always sent mine as attachments.

And I'm pretty sure there's somewhere in Word (or whatever word processor you're using) to change increments to inches.

 

[Frank Noir]

(Am I the only one who read the headline and was sort of disappointed by the thread?)

 

[sweetness6280]

(Am I the only one who read the headline and was sort of disappointed by the thread?)

LOL no... *sob*

 

[Vermilion]

lol, sorry girls. Am so consumed with the publishing aspect of my erotica, I completely forgot to pay attention to what I was typing in erotic terms. Please accept my humblest apologies and tell me how I can make it up to you...

x
V


ps- was that submissive enough?

 

[Noira]

My favorite post ever on query letters was from Miss Snark's blog, genius for publishing information... more for traditional, but you know. She posted, roughly (and I wrote this on my wall... well... a whiteboard on my wall) "Write six sentences of less than 10 words each that tell me WHO is doing WHAT to WHO and WHY I SHOULD CARE." This is the most important part of a query letter. Don't bore the person reading the letter by telling them every little tiny detail. They ask for detailed symphosis but this doesn't mean 'the color of her eyes and hair and his boots and'... this means exactly what I told you. Who is doing what to who and why? But you're also not writing a 'back cover' blurb. You're not being dramatic. You're going to tell them that George is sleeping with Sally because his wife Mable is cheating on him with Tom and he wants to get back at Tom because Tom has stole all his previous girlfriends and now he's going to get Tom where it hurts--Tom's SISTER. But secretly Tom's sister is gay and... well, you know. Tell them what Tom's up to, why Tom's doing it, and what happens because of it. You need to make it interesting, but it needs to also contain the crutial information which will tell them if your book is right for them.

Google "query letters" for some great examples. And I heartily recommend Miss Snark for people looking into traditional publication... and online... really, it's quite good reading. ^_^

Most publishers don't like attachments, I would query and find out how they want your submission sent.

 

[Vermilion]

My favorite post ever on query letters was from Miss Snark's blog, genius for publishing information... more for traditional, but you know. She posted, roughly (and I wrote this on my wall... well... a whiteboard on my wall) "Write six sentences of less than 10 words each that tell me WHO is doing WHAT to WHO and WHY I SHOULD CARE." This is the most important part of a query letter. Don't bore the person reading the letter by telling them every little tiny detail. They ask for detailed symphosis but this doesn't mean 'the color of her eyes and hair and his boots and'... this means exactly what I told you. Who is doing what to who and why? But you're also not writing a 'back cover' blurb. You're not being dramatic. You're going to tell them that George is sleeping with Sally because his wife Mable is cheating on him with Tom and he wants to get back at Tom because Tom has stole all his previous girlfriends and now he's going to get Tom where it hurts--Tom's SISTER. But secretly Tom's sister is gay and... well, you know. Tell them what Tom's up to, why Tom's doing it, and what happens because of it. You need to make it interesting, but it needs to also contain the crutial information which will tell them if your book is right for them.

Google "query letters" for some great examples. And I heartily recommend Miss Snark for people looking into traditional publication... and online... really, it's quite good reading. ^_^

Most publishers don't like attachments, I would query and find out how they want your submission sent.

Isn't that more of a synopsis than a query letter though?
x
V

 

[Noira]

From your first post...

Detailed synopsis of your book

So I'm assuming this means they want a synopsis with the query letter. And you should always have a synopsis contained in your query. You can't query to say "My name is (blank) and I'm writing a novel, please publish it" and wait for a reply. Well, you'd say it more politely. What you'd say is "My name is and I'm writing a novel about Tom who is doing this to Mable and (fill in blank with no more than six sentences about your novel, preferably). My novel called (name) is a (wordcount) (genre!). (Don't assume they know, be specific, include the word count and the genre, a lot of publishers do take more than one genre or subgenre) Thank you for your time."

In a query, the agent reading it isn't interested in you and your life. They want to know your name, your novel's name, genre, and wordcount, and what it's about. And any former publication credits you might have, of course. But most important of all, they will want a short synopsis. It's the story you're trying to make them interested in.

You posted this publisher wanting a detailed synopsis and the first three chapters/last chapter. The synopsis is going to be the most important part of this submission. It's what'll get them to do more than just skim read your chapters.

So, yes, that's a synopsis, but a short synopsis is easily one of the most important parts of a query letter. Agents are busy people. You've got to interest them from the bat.

Thanks for reading. And definately search for some sample query letters. In short, you want to include information about your book, any publishing credits you have (self publishing doesn't count) and a paragraph about it in a query.

 

[Vermilion]

Ok, thanks for the help, but I think I have the synopsis nailed, it's the query letter that's bugging me
x
V

 

[Noira]

Well, I told you what you need in a query letter too.

You're welcome.

 

[cantdog]

Good point. Is an inch about 3cm? Because my Word programme only has centimetres!

Hrmm...

What kind of query letter are they expecting? Just a rough intro and the synopsis or something more detailed with personal info? I really would like more detail, but I've scoured the site and haven't found a thing!
x
V

Rather doubt that. I can customize mine, use cm or inches as I like.

 

[gauchecritic]

Every man in the world knows that anything over 2.5 cms is equal to 11 inches.