Sticky wording in submission description

Ardent Kat · Sep 9, 2009

The submissions page for Writer's House reads: *

Please send us a query letter of no more than two pages, which includes your credentials, an explanation of what makes your book unique and special, and a synopsis.

Would you take this to mean a query that includes a synopsis within it, or a query + a separate synopsis (which may go beyond the 2 pages of the query)?

I'm thinking it's the first one (a query that incorporates a brief synopsis within it) but I wanted a second opinion in case I'm reading this wrong.

suki · Sep 9, 2009

Ardent Kat said:
The submissions page for Writer's House reads: *

Please send us a query letter of no more than two pages, which includes your credentials, an explanation of what makes your book unique and special, and a synopsis.

Would you take this to mean a query that includes a synopsis within it, or a query + a separate synopsis (which may go beyond the 2 pages of the query)?

I'm thinking it's the first one (a query that incorporates a brief synopsis within it) but I wanted a second opinion in case I'm reading this wrong.

I take (and took) "synopsis" to refer to the pitch part of the query, not a separate synopsis.

~suki

the addster · Sep 9, 2009

I take it to mean to include your short synopsis in the query.

And please don't confuse unique with special. (-;

Maddening isn't it?

Danthia · Sep 10, 2009

I read that to mean a basic query. The synopsis would be the hook. I can't remember if Writer's House does non-fiction or not, but this could refer more to that than to novels. You'd need more info in a non-fic query.

I don't think you could go wrong if you send a solid one-page query with a strong hook.

waylander · Sep 10, 2009

Look at The Queryshark for examples.
Queryshark.blogspot.com

Ardent Kat · Sep 10, 2009

Thanks for the feedback. I've already got a tight one-page query letter that includes these components so I'll send as-is.

And please don't confuse unique with special. (-;

Hehe.

Sticky wording in submission description

Ardent Kat

Kill your television

suki

Opinionated

the addster

Danthia

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

Ardent Kat

Kill your television