How to Get Your Manuscript in Front of a Publisher
Writing or conceiving of a book is only the first part of becoming a published author. After you finish writing, you have to get your book in front of publishers and out into the world. All the most famous writers stood in your shoes once and had to work to share their writing.
There are numerous ways to get your writing in front of the right people. As with every aspect of the publishing industry, times are changing. As such, the methods of doing this have evolved with the times. Traditionally, prospective authors relied on writing and sending a query letter. This article will explain what a query letter is, its somewhat-outdated role in publishing, and a more modern approach.
What is a Query Letter?
At the most basic level, a query letter is something a writer sends to potential publishers or agents. Authors without representation can have difficulty getting proper publishing and marketing, so a query letter can help.
When writing a query letter, the writer must always keep the audience in mind. This is for publishers and other industry professionals willing to put their weight behind the author. While each query letter is individualized to the specific author and their work, there are some common elements.
At the start, one writing a query letter should identify their work at hand to set the scene. From there, the next section should provide a brief plot synopsis to pique the publisher or agent’s interest. This should not be a complete start-to-finish summary, just one similar to what will appear on marketing materials. The goal is to hook the reader into taking a chance on this unrepresented author.
After the specifics of the book are laid down, the next segment is about the author themself. A huge part of being a successful author is selling one’s image. This can be educational or professional history, previous writing, and any specific niche audience. With the sign off, the author can include excerpts of their writing or any other relevant samples.
Why Are Query Letters Outdated?
Despite being the industry norm for decades, the query letter is quickly becoming outdated. Gone are the days when books need a professional publisher or distributor to get seen. With the internet, anyone can write anything and gain an audience. This can be anything from a short blog to an entirely self-published online book.
Query letters certainly have their time and place for specific authors, but there are 21st-century alternatives. Some authors have been able to leverage massively successful careers just from self-starting their writing dreams. Similarly, some classic books struggled to get published at all, showing that the industry can miss potential greatness. A slight misstep in a query letter can deprive the world of literary excellence.
What Is Cloverly’s Process to Solicit Manuscripts?
With a more modern approach to publishing comes new ways to share your writing. Here at Cloverly Publishing, we provide in-depth self-publishing services that will make your book stand out. Each of our speciality divisions are equipped to handle the specific needs of your book.
However, we still have a process for reviewing and accepting manuscripts for publication. To ensure quality for the books we attach our name to, we thoroughly screen every submission. This takes time, so we do not accept unsolicited manuscripts to make sure we can effectively review every manuscript.
Once you request an Author Submission Kit, you will be put in touch with one of our literary agents. They will coordinate the submission process with you. From there, our in-house review board assesses each manuscript for quality, potential, and brand fit across our speciality divisions.
Most people who reach out to us are permitted to submit their manuscript; you just have to reach out. Instead of relying on a query letter to have someone read your writing, you can talk to a real person.
Your book is an extension of yourself; at Cloverly, we understand that. We want your manuscript to receive the attention it deserves without having to fight to be seen.
