My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Whether you enjoy writing sci-fi, fantasy or fiction, join our Creative Writing forum to meet others who love to write.

Creative writing

Cover letter to agents

8 replies

BsshBossh · 03/10/2013 08:01

Hello. I'm completing my first novel and thinking about pitching it to agents. Are there any websites that feature real life cover letters to agents or editors. I know I need to keep it punchy and short and am looking at book blurbs for inspiration. Additionally, do any published authors here care to share a few of their cover letters (when they were first pitching themselves). Thanks.

OP posts:
Report
thoughtsandall · 03/10/2013 10:42

Hi Bssh, I have just completed my first children's book and having survived three rejections I am now into the second round of sending off. I found the covering letter a little tricky as there was so much conflicting advice out there. I was concerned that my covering letter was not up to the job and may have put agents off reading my ms ( at least this is what I am telling myself- easier to blame this than a ms that is complete drivel) but I found the following advice and examples from (from Gemma and Molly at The Bent Agency) an absolute godsend.

//www.wordsandpics.org/2013/07/ask-agent-with-gemma-cooper-and-molly.html
//www.wordsandpics.org/2013/07/ask-agent-how-not-to-write-query.html

Good luck and hope it helps.

Report
TunipTheUnconquerable · 03/10/2013 10:57

There's Nicola Morgan's Dear Agent as well - haven't read this one but all her other writing advice stuff has been excellent.

Report
BsshBossh · 03/10/2013 20:14

Thanks so much! I'm off to read and reflect.

OP posts:
Report
TunipTheUnconquerable · 04/10/2013 10:42

Also, if you're really having trouble you could sign up to AbsoluteWrite.com and go on Query Letter Hell, where people crit each other's queries/cover letters - you can post your own once you've made 50 posts on the site as a whole.
But tbh I think it might be a sledgehammer to crack a nut in this case - AW is mainly American and the query letter has to work much harder there because the norm is to submit the initial query before the chapters.

Report
TunipTheUnconquerable · 04/10/2013 10:43

btw if you would like me to glance through your cover letter for typos etc I would be happy to do it - I'll be writing my own in two or three months so it would be useful experience.

Report
BsshBossh · 04/10/2013 11:02

Tunip thank you :)

OP posts:
Report
bunnybing · 06/10/2013 13:44

Hi - Mslexia have a section on their website - it's under 'Get published' and then 'how to compose a pitch letter'

Report
BsshBossh · 06/10/2013 15:01

bunny thanks for that :)

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.