Home » Write a book » What is publishing with a publisher
Once a publisher is interested in your book, he will try to take over all aspects of the production process.
Initially proofreading your work on content and layout.
Secondly, the publisher will also take on marketing your book.
If you, as a writer, wish to send a manuscript to a publisher, you best also send them an enquiry letter and a synopsis. Opinions are divided about the necessity of such a letter, but a publisher will get a first impression of your writing abilities, and this can contribute to your work being read.
Ultimately, there are many writers who are able to create characters and an exciting plot. Something as simple as writing a letter can prove to be a challenge for some. Therefore, we will highlight some important elements of a good application letter.
Enquiry letter
An enquiry letter is simply a letter that gives the publisher an idea about the manuscript. This letter is a form of advertising with the aim to sell your idea to the potential buyer, in this case, the publisher. Your script makes a better chance if it is accompanied by a good letter. Manuscripts without introduction letter are usually put aside immediately. Before we proceed to the layout and structure of a typical enquiry letter, it is advisable to take into account the following guidelines:
Length
Do not write more than one page. This means that you only give the most important details. A detailed letter, on the other hand, requires a lot of time to read and takes away attention from the overall view, and that is just the opposite of what you want to achieve.
Be specific
What details do you mention? The who, what, where, when, why and how are important, but also add details about the length of your book, your audience and why you think the script fits the publisher’s profile.
Know your publishers
A novel about vampires who conquer the world probably will not catch on well with a publisher that is focused on Christian literature. Not only the buyers of your book, but the publishers are readers too.
Be original
The general rule of thumb is to attract attention from the first line. Give the publisher a taste of what will follow. So you push him to continue reading. You only have one page to sell your script, so use vivid and eloquent words to describe your characters, the story and the end.
Be professional
Check spelling and grammar and be sure that the entire letter has a professional look. Please include the date of issue and check all names and titles. If necessary, contact the publisher to check it again. Use the standard A4 paper size and add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Just as in a resume you mention your name, address, email and telephone number in the header. If applicable, you may add some news articles, awards and newspaper clippings that give you some credit. You are, after all, trying to sell both yourself and your writing talent.
To avoid
The purpose of an enquiry letter is to warm the publisher for your work with a short introduction.
Avoid applying the next don’ts:
- Don’t provide copyright information and don’t discuss it either.
- Don’t mention if someone has or has not helped you.
- Don’t mention that your work could use an update.
- Don’t ask for advice from the publisher or literary agent.
- Don’t send several letters to a publisher if they are clearly not interested.
- Don’t add irrelevant information about yourself.
- Don’t mention anything about sales rights, price and payment.
- Don’t add any comments from others about your script.
- Don’t include previous rejections by other publishers.
- Don’t give your national identification number.
- Don’t write how hard you have worked on the manuscript.
- Suggest only one idea a script.
- Don’t use inappropriate content.
As with any professional correspondence, you’d best end your letter with an attention grabber. Ending with “Thank you for your time” or “I hope to hear from you” are good ways to express your point of view, without appearing haughtily. The guidelines provided above suggest the contents of your letter. Next, you will find a sample letter that can inspire you if necessary.
———————————
Name
Address
Telephone number
e-mail
(Space)
Date of issue
(Space)
Name contact person publisher
Title / Position of the person concerned
Company name publisher
Company Address
Dear Mrs. Smith (Always use the surname).
In the opening statement you mention the title of your manuscript, number of pages and in which category it fits.
Long Lost Love is a romantic story (570 pages) that takes place in contemporary New York City..
In the next section, you have the chance to clarify the opening line on a page. When writing this section, you can also think of the extracts on the back of each book – short and precise.
Tasha Withers was a successful editor in New York City. Young, pretty and a good catch. She could have any man she wanted. Until her long lost love Jason resurfaced and turned her world upside down. Growing up together as friends, Jason lost sight of Tasha during the war in the Middle East. After hearing nothing from him for several years, she assumed he had built a new life. When she meets him again, she shows the diamond on her finger. Without Jason, she could also be happy after all. Or was that all pretense? In the coming weeks, their love flares up again, so eventually two men have to fight for her love. Long Lost Love deals with the topic “Can only one person be the one? And if so, how do you know who is the one? ”
In the third paragraph, you can mention your achievements. Compare this section with your curriculum vitae.
I have been writing for twelve years. Love stories are my passion, but I’ve also written other genres such as thrillers and horror stories. For ten years, I have worked as a journalist for a newspaper. In my spare time, I work as a freelance writer for various magazines. I am also a member of the Romance Novelists and Associated Press. I already have five titles to my name.
Finish with a “thank you” and mention the stamped envelope:
If you are interested, I will gladly send you the full manuscript. Enclosed you will find a short synopsis. You can always reach me by email or through my contact details mentioned above. Thank you for your time.
(Whitespace)
Looking forward to your reply
yours faithfully,
Your name
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Did you know that you don’t need a publisher with Create My Books?
We help you make your book, share and even sell with Shop My Books.
The benefits of self-publishing through Create My Books and Shop My Books:
- No setup fees
- Flexible production process
- You are the owner of your book
- You have control over content, style and design
- Changes easy to implement (because we work with the print on demand principle)
- You determine your royalties
- Available to order from 1 piece
- Free online platform to offer your book
You can, in other words, finish your book and offer it online the next day.
On to the next step: Create a PDF from a Word-document