A Good Reminder!

Cathy C · Sep 21, 2005

I just noticed this bit on the blog of my editor at Tor. It's a cautionary reminder to take that second look at our queries before we seal the envelope:

- I found a manuscript I wanted to request the full of in the slush pile. But the author did not include any contact information at all. So then I felt like less of an idiot today, since here was someone clearly stupider than me! Woo!

Buy or make letterhead and then USE IT, folks!

Now back to our regularly scheduled questions...

KTC · Sep 21, 2005

WOW! How painful is that. The poor writer had a foot in the door and forgot to wear their shoe! Sucks to be them. A good lesson to be learned, though I would hope that it was just an oversight and we all know this lesson already. Wow!

JackieG · Sep 21, 2005

Holy Toledo, I'm crushed for that person.

Recently my hubby and I had a discussion about whether I ought to use letterhead, or if it was over the top. He was for it, I was hesitant. In the end, I acquiesced, and now I feel much better for my decision.

Since the editor now has an empty slot where a request for ms ought to be...maybe he/she can read mine?

Saanen · Sep 21, 2005

I wonder how many of us thought, "Oh GEEZ, could that be ME?"

I'm good. Nothing out at Tor right now. But oh, that poor person--if only they knew!

Yes, I think ordering letterhead is in my near future.

Jenny · Sep 21, 2005

Ok, you just ruined my day. Please tell me having your surname and book title as the header on each page is sufficient. Please. I have a YA query in at TOR. Obviously, I mean in addition to a query letter, title page with full contact details, etc. Um, am I just panicking in a headless chicken kind of way?

scarletpeaches · Sep 21, 2005

If you are, Jenny, then I should be too as that's exactly what I do.

I make sure all my contact details are in the letter and the rejection slips always find their way home to me...

Jenny · Sep 21, 2005

There is something very calming about the reminder of rejection slips. Yes, all mine find their way home, too. Thanks, Peaches.

JackieG · Sep 21, 2005

Yeah, Jenny, looks like you're putting your info in all the right places, according to all the references I've ever learned from.

inexperiencedinker · Sep 21, 2005

holy crap what a great tip! LoL. It's people like me that rules like "Don't smoke, flammable substance" and "Point blow dryer towards hair, but not too close!" are needed.

kristie911 · Sep 21, 2005

I never got the hang of making letterhead, I never like how it looks. Instead, I use the typical format for a business letter...you know, senders name, address, blah blah; double space; date; double space; recievers name, business name, address, blah blah; double space; Dear so and so...

But I KNOW I've never forgotten it...wow, that would suck! The only good thing...that writer will never know how much they screwed up.

aruna · Sep 22, 2005

One other thing: your contact information should ALSO be on the cover page of your manuscript/partial ms. That for me is even more inportant that a letterhead - your ms could be separated from your cover letter, after all.

Kasey Mackenzie · Sep 22, 2005

Jenny said:
Ok, you just ruined my day. Please tell me having your surname and book title as the header on each page is sufficient. Please. I have a YA query in at TOR. Obviously, I mean in addition to a query letter, title page with full contact details, etc. Um, am I just panicking in a headless chicken kind of way?

Yes, you're just panicking in a headless chicken kind of way. *grin* What the agent in question means is that there wasn't ANY contact information on the query submission at all. As in no name/address on the submission itself and no SASE for the agent to send her request for the manuscript in. As long as you are including at least one (preferably both!) of these (i.e. contact info on the cover letter/cover page and a SASE) then you should be golden!

A Good Reminder!

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

JackieG

Saanen

Jenny

Who should be writing ...

scarletpeaches

Jenny

Who should be writing ...

JackieG

inexperiencedinker

kristie911

Happy to be here

aruna

On a wing and a prayer

Kasey Mackenzie

One Hit Wonder?