by Angela Denk

Created on: January 25, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

Professional writing can be a very difficult field to break into, and many people do not know where to begin. Obviously, you start by...writing. Regardless of publication, a writer writes. What next, though? There are steps and protocol to be followed, and below is a basic guideline to help you on your way.

Fiction:

Once you have completed your manuscript to your satisfaction (I say that because no matter how much editing you've done on your own, no matter how many opinions of friends/colleagues you've received and taken into account, you're going to have to edit more once you have a publisher), work up a query letter. A good query letter should be no more than one typed page and will include brief biographical information as well a succinct synopsis of your book. The query letter also needs to explain why you believe the agent or publisher (if you are unpublished, I highly suggest going through an agent...they have connections and are much more likely to persuade a publishing house to read a manuscript from an unknown author than you are) should represent you and your work. You're selling yourself in the query letter. Include any credentials you have. If you've written a murder mystery and you spent 20 years as a beat cop, let them know. It's polite to include a SASE with your query. THANK THEM IN CLOSING FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ YOUR QUERY. Before you send your letters out, do your homework! Don't send a query letter regarding your romance novel to an agent who represents children's authors. You can find agent and publisher listings online, as well entire books updated annually at large chain bookstores (Borders, Books-a-Million, etc.). The listings will give the specifics on each one: type of work, whether or not they accept e-mail queries, etc.

Several weeks (or possibly months) later, you will either receive a rejection letter or a letter of interest that will dictate specifically what to do next.

Nonfiction:

The process here is slightly different in that you do not have to have a completed manuscript to query agents/publishers. Your query letter will be exactly the same; follow the same steps, courtesies and precautions. What you need to have prepared, in this case, are several sample chapters from your book (typically you want your introductory/first chapter as well as one or two really "meaty" chapters), and a complete working outline of what you intend your finished work to be. This package is called your proposal. Again, after sending you will eventually receive either a rejection or a letter of interest. The letter of interest will basically be a request for your proposal. Have it ready, and ship it off immediately...along with a letter thanking the agent/publisher for considering your text. If your work is chosen for representation, an advance amount will be offered. The advance money funds the rest of your research and writing process of your eventual finished work. The advance amount is determined by the agent or publisher who projects how much revenue they expect to make off of your book. This money is taken off the top of sales once the book is published, and only after the full amount of your advance has been recovered by the publishing house will you be eligible to receive royalty/sales checks.

Once you reach the point of gaining representation for your manuscript, fiction or nonfiction, get a lawyer who specializes in publishing/copyright law. Sign nothing until he or she has okay-ed it.

I hope this helps, and best of luck.

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