Here are the most common mistakes we at Writer’s Relief see in the query letters that are sent to our Review Board. Don’t make these amateur errors when you’re submitting your work! Some of these may surprise you.

Cheesy lead. Don’t be cute. Skip the rhetorical questions. The “What if you were stuck on a sailboat in a hurricane with a mysterious killer” teasers get old fast. Better to lead with the facts; otherwise your reader may feel as if you’re trying to manipulate him or her to create more sensation than pure fact warrants.

Bobbled blurbs. The biggest problems we see with blurbs are 1) too many characters and secondary characters when only the main character should be the emotional hook, 2) a description that’s more thematic than plot-driven (i.e., this book is about peace and love), 3) the author attempts to tell the whole story, including the ending, when he or she should use the blurb as a teaser instead.

Appearance. The letter looks bad, smells, is printed on cheap paper or photocopied, etc. We also receive e-queries that are poorly formatted (all caps, colored and silly fonts, goofy pictures in the signature line) or that lose their formatting once they are sent. TIP: Do yourself a favor and test your e-query to make sure it keeps its formatting by sending it to a bunch of your family members and friends to see what it looks like in their inboxes. Then you can send it to agents.

Mentioning prior manuscripts (and/or certain self-published books). If you’ve written three unpublished book manuscripts in the past, best not to mention them. Otherwise the agent in question may be intimidated by your prior projects, thinking, “If I take on his/her current project, the writer will probably pester me to represent all those previous books that, for whatever reason, didn’t sell.” The same goes for self-published manuscripts, which agents will look at the same way as unpublished manuscripts UNLESS you have significant accolades for your self-published book. (Read more about the best way to mention your self-publishing credits.)

The multiple personality bio. Often writers will inadvertently begin their bios in first person, but wind up in third. Be on the lookout for pronouns gone wild! Also, some bios will begin in present tense, but then end in past. And, as always, it helps to have a strong bio! Read more about bios: Building Publication Credits and No Publishing Credits? Get Publishing Credentials: How To Build Up Your Writing Bio Super Fast. 

Groveling. It may seem like it makes sense to acknowledge your own humility by pointing out a lack of experience, but resist this urge. Confidence wins hearts.

TMI. While it’s always good to convey your own unique personality in your bio, be careful not to include too much information. If your novel is about sailors, it may help to include your background in the Coast Guard. Be personable and interesting, but do so with care.

Listing publishing credits that aren’t really publishing credits. Be careful that the publishing credentials you’re listing are not part of poetry contest scams or anthology scams. Including bad credits suggests you don’t know the market (and therefore don’t know good writing).

Copyright. Industry standard is to not include the copyright symbol on your work. If you do, it’s like tattooing your pages with the word “amateur.” Do it at your own risk. (For more information on copyright, read: Urban Legend: The Poor Man's Copyright).

Cover art. If you include cover art, you show a) that you don’t know how the industry works (since writers get almost no say over their covers), and b) that you might just be the kind of high-maintenance writer who wants complete control.

If you flatter, mean it. Agents can often see straight through the “I greatly admire your agency” bit; they know a generic form letter compliment when they see one. If you’re going to take the approach of flattery, be specific in your praise.

Some common phrases that authors should not use in query letters:

This is the first book I’ve ever written! If this is true, you don’t need to say it; better to position yourself as a person who knows the biz (which means you must be a person who knows it!).

I’ve been writing since I was five. Writers who feel compelled to explain that “I’ve been writing since I was X years old” or that “It is my greatest wish to get published” inadvertently declare to agents, “I am a newbie.” It’s presumed that you’ve been writing since you were X years old and now want to get a book published. That’s what every writer wants.

This would make a great movie. Almost everyone thinks his or her book could be a great movie. You want your query letter to ask your agent to do one thing and one thing only: represent and sell your BOOK—not a screenplay, not a series of action figures, not your foreign rights. Let the agent in question decide if your book is screenworthy or not.

This book will appeal to readers of all genres. Literary agents want to work with writers who understand that each genre appeals to a very specific demographic. When you say, “This appeals to everyone,” an agent will read, “This appeals to no one in particular.”

My friends/parents/teachers like my writing. We often read how new writers get a favorable response to their writing from close ones. But unless your mom or dad is a renowned literary critic, leave off any amateur praise.

Oprah will love this book. If the story is solid and the writing is strong, there’s no reason an author should feel obligated to proclaim that a book is the next Harry Potter. Don’t promise what you have no control over. Your work should speak for itself.

Writer’s Relief works closely with clients to prepare powerful query letters and target them to the best-suited agents. If you’re not ready for our intensely effective Full Service program, check out our A La Carte services. We can do as much or as little as you like, to help build up your bio and get your submissions to the literary agents and editors who will be most likely to enjoy your work!

Since we work closely with our clients to write stellar query letters (and since we read many, many query letters via our Review Board), the team here at Writer’s Relief has put together some tips to help you write a better book blurb for your own query letter.

Here are some important things to consider when writing a blurb about your book:

Characters. A good blurb will only introduce one character in an intimate way. Your book may have more than one main character, but because the mini-synopsis is limited in length, there’s usually not enough room to introduce more than one person. Pick the character who is most sympathetic and focus your blurb there. Let any other characters be introduced via the experience (and perspective) of your one main character—always keeping the focus on the “MC.” That way, the reader can develop a bond with (and root for) your character. The most common mistake we see in blurb writing is naming too many characters in a single blurb.

Focus on specific conflict. Rather than talk about how your main character wishes to “get right with her family,” go into detail about her efforts to achieve her goal. What specific steps does she take? What specific obstacles stand in her way?

Skip the thematic descriptions. Some blurbs are so burdened with theme descriptions that there seems to be no story. Toss out vague sentences like “This book is about peace and love.” Or “This story will warm your heart as the main character learns to stand on her own and make the best of things. She sees how important family is and tries hard to reconnect with those from her past.” Both of these ways of talking about theme are too fluffy to have any bite. If your theme is strong, you shouldn’t have to point it out. It will already be there, inherent in the story itself. 

Appeal to the human element. To create a good blurb, be sure that your story appeals to universal human emotions and desires—elements that everyone can relate to. Show what specifically your characters want, then go for the kill. Ask the reader (in not so many words), “Don’t you want to find out if she will make it in showbiz/save her family from danger/repair her relationship with her aunt?”

Length. A book blurb should be no more than one or two paragraphs. You want to focus on the highlights, not the details, of your story.

Flashiness. A blurb is not the best place to show off your billion-dollar vocabulary or your ability to construct sentences the length of football fields. Keep it simple for ease of reading. Agents will be skimming your letter to start with, so make it easy for them. If your story looks promising, they’ll give your letter a more thorough read. 

Subplots. A blurb should focus on the main plot of your book. Although you (rightly) love your subplots, your blurb must be short. Use the two paragraphs you have to drive the main focus of your story home, and leave out the extra.

Endings. A blurb should NOT necessarily tell the ending of your story. Think of your book blurb as a sales pitch: the idea is to make literary agents so eager to know what happens to the characters that they simply must request the complete manuscript to find out what happens.

Precision. Because a blurb can’t go into detail, you’ve got to find precise, gripping language to convey your plot. Choose strong words over weak ones. Pick exact verbs instead of spineless ones like “seem” or “being.” Also, go for language and phrasing that reflect the tone and style of your book.

If you want Writer’s Relief to help you with your query letter (and with targeting that query to the best-suited literary agents), please visit www.WritersRelief.com.

1. Get the look. If you want people to take you seriously, you’ve got to present yourself in a serious way. When making your submissions to agents and editors, skip the bright-colored paper, the “clever” query letter intros (editors get sick of them fast), the thumbnail image of your face on the manuscript. Just be brief, straightforward, and businesslike. Also, follow industry standard formatting and have your work proofread. Interestingly enough, it’s often the veteran writers who are more inclined to appreciate proofreading than the newbies—but that’s probably why they earn veteran status to begin with.

2. Write to the right people. The first mistake of making submissions is taking the “blanket” approach: wallpapering the whole country with your query and cover letters. A few well-placed and specific queries truly mean much more than 50 that are almost well-placed. Queries that are almost well-targeted will almost get you published. Do the research (or hire someone who will) to make your submissions matter. (NOTE: We’ve found that writers who take this seriously tend to be more successful. Submitting selectively is a sign of a writer who knows what she or he is about. Selective writers put so much love into their manuscripts that they won’t submit to just anyone. Selectiveness is a very good sign because it demonstrates the right attitude for success.)

3. Be the tortoise, not the hare. Make submissions part of your writing habit. Submitting your work in dribbles and drabs is NOT a strategy; it’s a crapshoot. Sustainable and steady wins the race. To a certain extent, submissions are a numbers game. When you submit more regularly, it’s likely you’ll get published more often and more regularly. And the more you build up your bio, the more likely you’ll be well-received. Don’t give up on a story just because twenty places rejected it. Plan to submit to at least 100 markets. AND create a schedule to lock yourself into making submissions. When you create a calendar for your submissions (and deadlines for your writing so that you can make submissions) you will see your publication rate increase.

4. Organization is your friend. Some people are naturally well-organized but others are not. To truly make the most of your submissions, you need to keep track of who read what, who liked what (and why), who rejected what (and why), who wants to see more work from you, and who acquired what rights. It is a TON of work (that’s why Writer’s Relief takes on this burden for our clients). When the acceptance letters start coming in, you’ll thank yourself for the extra effort.

5. Chin up! Last but not least, work to maintain a good attitude. Negative thinking, getting glum about rejections, and believing yourself less than worthy... It’s easy to fall into those traps. Positive thinking takes real work when you’re getting bombarded by rejections (and you WILL get bombarded—it’s part of the process). Start looking at your rejection letters as proof of your dedication, devotion, and all-around awesomeness. Attitude is often the only difference between a nobody and a rising star. Every rejection brings you closer to acceptance, so submit regularly and chip away at those numbers. If you’d like to stay positive and motivated, we’re willing to give you a free E-book, Rejoice in Rejection (details here). We know it will help!

If you’re not able to develop a submission strategy on your own, or you just don’t have the time and patience for it, do yourself a real favor and check out Writer’s Relief. We can take on as much or as little of the submission process as you like so that you can focus on what you love: writing.

At Writer’s Relief it’s our business to work with our clients to develop a submission strategy that 1) keeps them focused on writing, 2) eases the stress and frustration of the submission process, 3) circulates manuscripts regularly (with no spamming) to generate interest, and 4) targets the BEST literary agents and editors (those most likely to enjoy the writing in question).

For more tips on making strong submissions, visit:

How To Write Cover and Query Letters That Get Attention 

Why Length Matters When Submitting Your Stories And Poems For Publication

How To Build Up Your Writing Bio Super Fast

Seven Techniques You Must Know To Make Editors Notice Your Poetry

Our E-book will teach you all you need to know about making online submissions.

You’ll learn our easy-to-use system and have all the tools you need to properly tailor your online submissions to the best available markets. This valuable information can be in your hands within minutes!

This latest E-book includes:

* Detailed plan for submitting your work through the mail or electronically. Do you need an agent for your book? Do you still include your SASE if you’re including your e-mail address? Do you know the proper etiquette when e-mailing your work to agents/publishers?

* Cover/query letter tips to help ensure your chances of a good read by agents and editors. Do you want to know the secrets of preparing a good cover/query letter? Which type of cover letter gets the best results? Do you know how you should address your letter and to whom?

* Online opportunities and submission guidelines. Which online markets are better than others? What are the benefits and risks of submitting online? What are the accepted formats to e-mail your work to agents/publishers? Should you use an attachment?

(SPECIAL Introductory PRICING of $25.99.) Regularly $49.99.

Plus, as an EXTRA BONUS, you’ll also receive your FREE comprehensive and easy-to-read report containing over 150 editors and agents who accept online submissions. Included in these contacts are a number of journals that only publish online. You’ll also receive current Web sites and e-mail addresses in an interactive format. That is, you can click and access them directly from your report once you are connected to the Internet. There isn't an easier way to make submissions.

Click HERE to order Untangling Web Submissions: Essential Guide To Publishing Your Writing Online (In E-book format).

Guest writer Suzan L. Wiener has had numerous articles, short stories, poems, and other shorter pieces published in major publications such as Cross & Quill, Verses, Impetus, FellowScript, etc. She also has her love poetry E-book up at http://72.249.118.251/taxonomy/term/83464, and her greeting cards have been published through several major greeting card companies.

On the Internet you need to start your story where the action is. That is most important. You need to build the conflict (action) to keep the editor and reader interested. The climax of your story must be credible. For instance: If you are writing a story for children, don’t have an adult solve the child’s problem. Have the child solve it. Otherwise the editor will lose interest.

I always do a plot outline when I write short stories. Here is a rough outline that I follow to help organize my story:

I. Major characters—
            List the main character(s)
II. Minor characters—
            List the minor character(s)
III. Complications (should always move the story forward)
IV. Subplot (if any)
V. Crisis (turning point)
VI. Resolution (end of story)

Below are several tips to help you get that most-welcomed acceptance.
 
1. Write about something you love—write from the heart and from experience.

2. Look for a new spin on an old concept. (There aren’t really any unique ideas anymore, but when a person can put a new spin on old idea, that makes it interesting.)

3. Don’t be afraid of lesser known e-zines. If you do a Google search for “fiction guidelines,” you will likely find many places you’ve never heard of before. Just always make sure any magazine that you submit to is open to your kind of story. (Writer’s Relief editor’s note: OR you can ask us for help identifying the best markets for your writing!)

4. Network. Having friends who also write fiction opens up a lot of new markets to you. Don’t be afraid to share markets. You might find that your friend has had a good experience with Internet markets, or you might pass your own information along.
 
If you follow the above rules, you will most likely see a publication acceptance in your inbox.

Writer's Relief editor's note: For more help with your short stories, check out this link: Short Story Checklist: Techniques for Getting Short Stories Published. Enjoy!  

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF WRITING CONTESTS and ANTHOLOGIES! You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming anthologies, special-themed journals, and contests. Find it by visiting:
http://www.writersreliefblog.com/post/Anthologies-Contests.aspx 

So, I’m sitting here wondering why the query I sent out last week has yet to be answered. It took several months to compose that query, and another four weeks to track down a suitable agency to send it to. You could say that I have quite a lot invested in this query, and now I need answers as to why I’m being ignored.

Could it be something to do with the post office? I suppose it’s possible the neighborhood letter carrier ran into a shambling group of zombies. When he discovered he had only a banana and a toothpick with which to defend himself, my poor query probably fell to the wayside and became covered with banana goo. It’s also possible that a flock of great horned owls swooped down and mistook my query for nesting material—good taste on their part. Even supposing that the letter carrier avoided zombies, owls, and envelope-eating voodoo doctors, my query couldn’t have made it to the agency’s door, or I would have heard something by now.

Unlike the literary agency I queried, my writing group was lightning quick in responding to my complaint. They’re asking why it took so long to complete a single query and wondering why I only managed to send it to one agency. Are they negative or what? They don’t know what I’ve been facing this past year! For one thing, I had a disastrous accident on my scooter last December. Then my frontal lobotomy didn’t go quite as planned, and things started slipping my already slippery mind. Spent several unproductive months watching the Food Network and buying Hulk Hogan Ultimate Grills from the Home Shopping Network. Oh, and let’s not forget my tragic loss in the national 52-Card Pickup tournament in Vegas.

It’s been a rough year, but I hope to get more writing done, not to mention a few more queries submitted in the months ahead. It would be really cool to sell a story or two. If so, I could pay for a few of those Ultimate Grills sitting in my garage...if any literary agents are reading this, maybe we could work out a deal?

These days, authors have a relatively new venue for submitting their queries. Using e-mail rather than traditional mail, authors can send a speedy electronic query and save not only time but money.

After the anthrax scare of 2001, publishers became more willing to accept these E-queries, as bulky, handwritten envelopes suddenly appeared threatening. Eventually, fears subsided and the realization dawned that the publishing industry was probably not a terrorist target. But the E-query continues to offer authors an alternate submission venue, and many publishers actually prefer it to the US Postal Service.

If you're thinking of using this method, first determine if your targeted publisher, editor, or agent accepts E-queries. Check their Web site, or pick up the phone and ask directly. At the same time, find out the appropriate person (and the correct spelling of their name) to direct your query.

A good E-query should be much the same as a query sent by mail—a short, fine-tuned, well-crafted letter that contains your contact information, a basic premise of what you have written, and the all-important "thank you for your time." But in this world of electronic correspondence, a few rules specific to E-etiquette apply.

Subject line. Use this to make it clear what your e-mail message contains. (You don't want it to be mistaken for spam and deleted before it's ever read.) A simple "Query - Historical Romance Novel" will do.

strong>Salutation. Although e-mails are often more casual than written correspondence, now is not the time to lose your professionalism. "Dear Sam Smith" or "Dear Margaret Robinson" are preferable to a generic "Hi!" or "To Whom It May Concern."

Stationery and Signature Lines. Again, keep it professional. Don't use background stationery, fancy fonts, dancing smiley faces, or purple font. If your e-mail address is CoochieGirl or BeerLover, best to consider a new account. You'll want to make sure to "sign" your e-mail with your full name and contact information (phone, fax, address), but leave off the signature quote that may identify you as frivolous or amateur. If you have a Web site with writing samples, include that address.

Don't send attachments. Leave off the resume (unless it has been requested), and never attach an unsolicited copy of your work. Many office computer systems automatically delete attachments as potential viruses, and sending large documents clogs up systems, especially those without high-speed Internet. Offer to send samples of your writing upon request.

Keep it short. Three paragraphs ought to do it, with the first paragraph giving a brief description of the type of work, word count, and general tone and style of your work. If you're submitting a longer manuscript (novel), give more detailed information about it in the second paragraph. The last paragraph is where you can highlight your credentials—anything that pertains directly to your query.

The last sentence. You may wish to include a sentence offering interesting personal information to grab the editor's attention, such as "I set my historical novel in Ireland, as my family has lived there for over 200 years." And be sure to thank the editor for his/her time.

Multiple queries. Sending multiple queries is fine (and far easier to do electronically), but each E-query should be addressed to just one recipient. It's mildly insulting for editors to see a string of different addresses in the "To" section.

Format. E-mail programs vary, so to be on the safe side, don't indent your query, avoid special fonts (like bold and underline), and never use html. Send a copy of your E-query to yourself first to see how it comes across. Check it carefully for spelling and grammatical errors. If you rely heavily on spell-check programs, write your query in a word-processing program and then paste it into the body of the e-mail once it's been checked.

When your E-query is perfect, hit the send button—now you can congratulate yourself and start working on your next query if you choose. But remember—even though your query has traveled speedily through cyberspace, editors and agents still need plenty of time to wade through both electronic and paper submissions. Be patient, and keep submitting!