submissions

Passive-Aggressive Voice

July 14, 2011

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve seen a huge rise in passive-aggressive overtones in query letters. I’m not sure if it’s just trending on its own or if a new piece of advice has been posted somewhere and lots of people are following it. I make a commitment to avoid calling out specific query [...]

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Speaking on the Slush Pile

April 25, 2011

Doing a bit of catch-up here… I did a fun guest post for the Dead Robots Society, which can be found here. It’s all about adding value to your query and succeeding in the slush pile. Enjoy!

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Last-minute Query Tips, Part 2

December 9, 2010

In preparation for the open submissions period I’m reading for at Dragon Moon Press, I posted a list of quick last-minute tips for sending out query letters. Here’s the continuation. Tips, part two: some helpful things to keep in mind when giving your queries a last look-over, to help you avoid some common mistakes. In [...]

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One Book at a Time

November 15, 2010

Multiple queries are not usually recommended Unless otherwise stated, publishers and agents usually want you to select your strongest manuscript, or the one that best fits their guidelines, and just query one. If they’re open to multiple submissions, they’ll say so. if they don’t say so, just pick one to send. Hinting that you have [...]

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Last-minute Query Tips

October 28, 2010

With Dragon Moon Press about to reopen for submissions in a couple of days, I thought I would take the opportunity to refresh readers on some helpful things to keep in mind when giving your queries a last look-over, to help you avoid some common mistakes. In no particular order: If you know the name [...]

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Dragon Moon Press — Open Submissions 2010

October 18, 2010

Dragon Moon Press will be reopening its virtual doors for another open submissions period: November 1 – December 31, 2010. WHAT WE WANT: Completed 80,000-110,000 word novels, not previously published. As always, we’re looking for strong, compelling fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal fiction of all flavors. We are particularly seeking fresh, original urban fantasy. WHAT [...]

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Reading Between the Lines

September 30, 2010

Form rejection letters give you very few words to work with, so it’s natural to try to read between the lines and squeeze out a little more meaning; a little more of an explanation. Don’t bother. Really. You’re just putting yourself through unnecessary stress. I don’t mean to be harsh here, but I see a [...]

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Professional Address

September 27, 2010

I know I’ve compared the query letter to the job application before. I find it a useful comparison to make because, in essence, when you’re asking a publisher or agent to take on your manuscript you are asking for a job. I’ve discussed professional greetings and professional tone on this blog, but I’d like to [...]

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Spring Slush

May 24, 2010

I didn’t receive many queries during the two weeks of open submissions, but I wasn’t expecting many. I only opened the gates to the listeners of the Podioracket interview I did on Blog Talk Radio, for one thing, and any announcement that doesn’t receive much publicity won’t get much of a response. And it was [...]

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Slush Metrics

May 6, 2010

Editors and agents reach a certain point in their slush-reading careers where a quick glance at a query will tell them whether it’s worth reading onward. You start to learn a certain set of warning signs, over time. For example, you learn after reading lots and lots of submissions that a query letter riddled with [...]

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