Transatlantic query etiquette

UrsusMinor · Aug 4, 2006

I'm not sure which forum this question should be posted to, but most of the agent/publisher questions seem to be here...

I am about to query some UK publishers and agents. Many of them ask for the first three chapters/first fifty pages of a novel.

Many of them also give some formatting instructions (margins, etc). My question is, to what extent should attempt to comply with UK publishing conventions? Do I need to print it out on A4 paper? Do I need to change all of my dialogue quotes from double curlies to singles? Do I need to change "color" to "colour"? Do I risk being sent to gaol if I skip these things?

[I've had nonfiction published in the UK (by The Economist), and they didn't seem to care about any of this; but, on the other hand, those were monographs they solicited me to write, so putting my best foot forward wasn't an issue.]

Any advice? And, if the answer on the A4 paper is "yes, you must," any suggestions on how the heck I can manage to print it? My HP LaserJet printer tray doesn't accept A4...

arrowqueen · Aug 4, 2006

If it's a good enough story, I'm sure you'll get away with a multitude of sins. You can always apologise in advance in your cover letter. Mind you, if it's got a British setting, it might be an idea to conform to our spelling.

arrowqueen · Aug 4, 2006

(Though I'm sure James will pop in any minute and kick me.)

UrsusMinor · Aug 4, 2006

Thanks, Arrowqueen...

No, it's not a British setting (mostly US, with some scenes set in Baja, Vienna, and Damascus). Just something no US press will touch in the current political climate.

Cathy C · Aug 4, 2006

My HP LaserJet printer tray doesn't accept A4.

Don't you have an adjustable envelope guide on your model? Mine does, and it handles A4 just fine. You might ask this part of the question over in Tech Help. I'll bet someone over there knows how to do it.

But in answer to the rest of the question, if the publisher has stated guidelines, you're cutting down your chances with each rule you break. You might skim past, but every OTHER tiny mistake will thereafter be made more noticeable. Your goal in querying is to be certain that you leap through all of the hoops possible so your WORDS are all they notice.

JMHO, of course.

L M Ashton · Aug 4, 2006

Ursus, does your laser printer have paper trays that only fit letter-sized paper and are not adjustable? If that's the case (I've seen some laser printers like that), then it should have a manual feed slot as well. You might want to check your instruction manual for that. I've printed up long reports that way using specialty paper and it worked fine.

Sassenach · Aug 4, 2006

It doesn't matter. UK agents know that the US uses 8.5x11; US agents know UK writers will submit on A4. No one is going to disregard a promising submission because of paper size.

I've judged a number of RWA contests, and that's their policy.

UrsusMinor · Aug 6, 2006

Thanks to all for their replies.

My laserjet tray is not adjustable, but there is a page-by-page manual feed option...

I'd much prefer to adopt Sassenach's POV, though!

James D. Macdonald · Aug 6, 2006

UrsusMinor said:
I'd much prefer to adopt Sassenach's POV, though!

Sassenach is correct. I'm sure you have better things to do than special-order off-size paper then spend the afternoon hand-feeding it through your printer a sheet at a time.

HapiSofi · Aug 6, 2006

UrsusMinor said:
...Just something no US press will touch in the current political climate.

Are you sure? Fortunate Son and various books about L. Ron Hubbard have gotten published. The Anarchist's Cookbook has been continuously in print since grandma wore hotpants. And so forth and so on: we needn't multiply entities any further to make the point.

If you're talking about general-readership trade publishing, the British industry is harder to break into, and it sells to a significantly smaller audience. Why wish that on yourself if you don't have to?

mistri · Aug 6, 2006

Don't worry about paper size. As for spelling, as long as you're consistent you should be fine

Roger J Carlson · Aug 6, 2006

UrsusMinor said:
Just something no US press will touch in the current political climate.

Seems to me you ought to let the US publishers decide that, rather than presupposing it yourself.

UrsusMinor · Aug 6, 2006

Roger J Carlson said:
Seems to me you ought to let the US publishers decide that, rather than presupposing it yourself.

Good advice in principle, Roger, but in this case I'm not presupposing. I've already had rejections from the big kids in the US.

"Page-turner," "great characters, "wonderful premise," but "the fact that the bad guys are Americans makes it an impossible sell for us in the present climate."

I'm not talking one or two presses here. I'm talking senior editors at the half-dozen major houses, all saying roughly the same thing. My agent says it clearly isn't the writing, but the subject matter. Maybe everyone is just being nice to me, but it's kind of odd that they all say the same thing.

My agent has given up on the book; she doesn't want to go with anything smaller or more distant than a major US house.

I am looking overseas based on the advice of published novelists who have read the book. And a half-dozen major American novels have had to be published in the UK first, so there is plenty of precedent. I'm just trying to keep from shooting myself in the foot while I seek representation over there

UrsusMinor · Aug 6, 2006

James D. Macdonald said:
Sassenach is correct. I'm sure you have better things to do than special-order off-size paper then spend the afternoon hand-feeding it through your printer a sheet at a time.

I'll take that as conclusive, Uncle Jim...

JanW · Dec 27, 2006

Am I correct to assume that it works the other way round? I'm in Australia and print on A4. It's narrower, so my laser printer wouldn't even handle the wider letterhead (I think it's the same as foolscap paper size here).

add: Is there any danger of not fitting some magic file cabinet size? A4 is longer than letterhead.

Someone also mentioned word usage differences in American and British English. We use British English mostly, but I've edited our manuscript to US English in hopes of publication there.

Question: does one mention the form of English used in the query letter or on the cover sheet, or just assume the staffer will figure it out?

James D. Macdonald · Dec 27, 2006

I expect that when they see your return address mentioning New South Wales that the nice folks at the publisher will figure it out. Leave your spelling as it is -- if the story is compelling enough for them to buy, it'll be compelling enough for them to hire someone to change the spelling (if they choose to do so). And folks in America know that folks elsewhere use A4 paper. They aren't going to hold it against you.

What you need is a first page that demands that the second page be read, and a second page that demands the third be read as well....

Popeyesays · Dec 27, 2006

I'd start with agents who accept e-mail submissions first. The cost is going to be unGodly for many manuscripts to be sent at once. Lots of British agents will accept e-mail queries and samples.

Regards,
Scott

Carmy · Dec 27, 2006

You'll find a list of UK agents here: http://www.bloomsbury.com/WritersArea/AgentsUK.asp?Page=2

Popeye's right, it's going to cost to airmail manuscripts. This is one time when you ask them to destroy the manuscript rather than return it.

Good luck.

roach · Dec 27, 2006

I think changing the spelling and grammar from American to British English adds just another chance for mistakes. Better to stick with the usage with which you are already familiar.

If you're sending a submission package overseas spend a little time with your local PO clerk to figure out the most economical way to ship. Part of me wants to suggest flat rate global priority (the rate is $9 IIRC) but it's been a few years since I've had to ship anything substantial overseas.

Good luck

JanW · Dec 27, 2006

Thanks all. I'm in Victoria, actually. NSW is Sydney

Yes, I've been going the email route for agents, mostly in the US, but got nowhere. I often wonder if that is too limiting, but the expense is not something I want to pursue until it's a fair dinkum interest. (And no, I don't use Aussie speak in my novels unless they are set here!

)

I'll pursue the UK ones next. Cheers

scarletpeaches · Dec 27, 2006

I use " as quote marks and ' as an apostrophe.

And I'm British! I've never thought it mattered...

JanW · Dec 27, 2006

This is one of my quandaries, peaches. I use single quotes for dialogue and double quote for embedded quotes. It can get quite silly looking when there are possessives within dialogue and embedded quotes as well!

The other thing I do is leave out the full stops (periods) on Mr and Mrs etc. My critter often points that out, but it's Australian style.

England and America are two countries separated by a common language. --George Bernard Shaw

James D. Macdonald · Dec 27, 2006

What it all boils down to is use your national standard paper size, and use your national standard spelling.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is trying to get a local agent (local to you, that is) who has a business relationship with an agent in your target country.

Best of luck to everyone.

Transatlantic query etiquette

UrsusMinor

arrowqueen

RIP, our sarky besom

arrowqueen

RIP, our sarky besom

UrsusMinor

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

L M Ashton

crazy spec fic writer

Sassenach

5 W's & an H

UrsusMinor

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

HapiSofi

Hagiographically Advantaged

mistri

Sneezy Member

Roger J Carlson

Moderator In Name Only

UrsusMinor

UrsusMinor

JanW

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Popeyesays

Now departed. Rest in peace, Scott, from all of us

Carmy

roach

annoyed and annoying

JanW

scarletpeaches

JanW

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle