Sample Chapters and the like

LittleFlowerLei · Feb 4, 2010

I'm querying an agency through snail-mail (Sense the agent I want doesn't have an email listed and there isn't a general-submission email listed in the "Submission guidelines" part of the website) and it says to add a "Sample chapter" and I was just wondering if the sample chapter has to be the FIRST chapter, or just any chapter in the book I like best.

suki · Feb 4, 2010

LittleFlowerLei said:
I'm querying an agency through snail-mail (Sense the agent I want doesn't have an email listed and there isn't a general-submission email listed in the "Submission guidelines" part of the website) and it says to add a "Sample chapter" and I was just wondering if the sample chapter has to be the FIRST chapter, or just any chapter in the book I like best.

Yes, it has to be the first chapter.

For fiction, it always has to be the first chapter.

Are you sure these are the fiction submission guidelines, because they almost always say first X pages or chapters.

And if they are indeed the fiction submission guidelines, send the first chapter(s) - because to do anything else will make you look like an amature and will broadcast that you don't have faith in the beginning chapters.

~suki

LittleFlowerLei · Feb 4, 2010

suki said:
Yes, it has to be the first chapter.

For fiction, it always has to be the first chapter.

Are you sure these are the fiction submission guidelines, because they almost always say first X pages or chapters.

And if they are indeed the fiction submission guidelines, send the first chapter(s) - because to do anything else will make you look like an amature and will broadcast that you don't have faith in the beginning chapters.

~suki

Okay, thats true. I'll send the first chapter. And yeah, I'm sure these are fiction submission guidelines, since they say:

please send us a query letter, a synopsis of the work, a sample chapter and a brief resume.

and just so I know, what sorts of things do I need to include in a brief resume if I'm still in HS and haven't had anything published before?

suki · Feb 4, 2010

LittleFlowerLei said:
Okay, thats true. I'll send the first chapter. And yeah, I'm sure these are fiction submission guidelines, since they say:

and just so I know, what sorts of things do I need to include in a brief resume if I'm still in HS and haven't had anything published before?

I'd either include no resume, or simply say that you are in high school. And I'd advise including no resume, if you don't want them to know you are in highschool. if you don't care, just say that you are still in high school.

LittleFlowerLei · Feb 4, 2010

suki said:
I'd either include no resume, or simply say that you are in high school. And I'd advise including no resume, if you don't want them to know you are in highschool. if you don't care, just say that you are still in high school.

Would it make a difference either way?

Lady Ice · Feb 5, 2010

They might think that you aren't mature enough to publish yet if you mention that you're young.

suki · Feb 5, 2010

LittleFlowerLei said:
Would it make a difference either way?

It could - some agents might form preconceived notions about you and your work if they know you are young - now, the hard part is for some agents it might be negative impressions and for others positive impressions.

So, I think I'd be inclined not to include it at the query stage, and only mention it later. Like if they ask for a partial or full, and then ask again for the bio, then mention you are in high school.

But I think it's your gut call to make, and there are a lot more teens finding agents, so you need to decide - Even on a per-agent basis - when to mention it. Prior to signing you would have to if you are under 18, and frankly it likely would come up in that call with the agent before signing.

And if you have a blog or page, it might come up sooner.

But if I wasn't sure that the agent is receptive to teen clients, I might not mention it at the query stage.

Libbie · Feb 5, 2010

Whether you include your age totally depends on the agent, and in the case of young writers, it's really worth doing a lot of extra research on individual agents to find out their preferences and opinion regarding young writers. My agent, for example, tends to have a soft spot for young writers, and likes to know when she's being queried by teens. Not all agents feel the same way, and you'd be better off not mentioning your age at all.

As for the brief resume, though, you may want to keep it to "_____ is my first novel." Try to keep bio stuff relevant to writing only, and if you don't yet have any publication credits, that's fine. Nobody will refuse to read your query just because you've never published anything before.

DeadlyAccurate · Feb 5, 2010

LittleFlowerLei said:
I was just wondering if the sample chapter has to be the FIRST chapter, or just any chapter in the book I like best.

When you're at the bookstore deciding if you want a book, do you open to a random chapter and start reading, or do you open to the first page? Think of the potential agent as a bookstore buyer who just picked your book off the shelf.

geardrops · Feb 5, 2010

A note to everybody saying "Maybe you shouldn't be up front with the fact that you're in high school"...

Look. The agent's going to find out if they like your writing. Be up-front about it. The agent who will look down on you for being a high school student isn't someone you want to put up with. Most agents, though, say they don't care if you're seventeen or seventy, just write a good book.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 5, 2010

If your work is any good, they'll grab you faster if you're very young. It makes for great, free publicity. If your work isn't any good, your age isn't going to matter.

maestrowork · Feb 5, 2010

First chapter. And if your first chapter is not enough to grab someone's attention, consider rewriting it.

James D. Macdonald · Feb 5, 2010

suki said:
Yes, it has to be the first chapter.

For fiction, it always has to be the first chapter.

If you send anything other than the first chapter, the message you're giving is, "All the chapters before this one suck."

Gillhoughly · Feb 5, 2010

Age doesn't matter in writing.

But you DO have to write well.

That's the only catch one cannot escape.

shaldna · Feb 8, 2010

The sample chapter should be the first chapter.

Think about it, you don't start reading a book in the middle, do you? Nor does an agent or publisher. If they aren't interested by the end of the first chapter, then chances are they won't be interested in the rest of the book either.

James D. Macdonald · Feb 8, 2010

Here's something you can try:

Take all the chapters before the one you want to send.

Discard them.

Sample Chapters and the like

LittleFlowerLei

Reverse psychologist

suki

Opinionated

LittleFlowerLei

Reverse psychologist

suki

Opinionated

LittleFlowerLei

Reverse psychologist

Lady Ice

Makes useful distinctions

suki

Opinionated

Libbie

Worst song played on ugliest guitar

DeadlyAccurate

Absolutely Fazed

geardrops

Good thing I like my day job

Jamesaritchie

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle