...Get Published Now Online Academy: helping writers become authors
Publishing trends that impact all writers
Agents are scanning query letters more quickly than ever before.
Over one billion personal computers exist on the planet. Millions of the folks who own these computers believe, since they possess the tools of the writer, they are (therefore) writers. NOT!
But, they continuously submit poorly written material to agents and it all becomes intermingled with yours. The competition for attention increases exponentially.
This creates a nightmare for agents: submission tsunami. Slush piles are becoming larger and more enormous, and huge. YIKES!
In the good old days (like last year) agents allocated 20 to 30 seconds to quick read a query letter, meaning they read the first paragraph and part of the second. Not any more. Now, they've cut back to scanning query letters and submissions for 10 or 15 seconds before making a "yes" or "no" decision.
Their solution becomes your challenge
Agencies are beginning to offer “query slams.” They open a three-or-four-day window of opportunity and invite writers to submit the first 100 words of their query letter.
This means your first (100 words) paragraph becomes even more of a make-it-or-break situation.
Therefore, you're in for a brief but intense learning curve as you hone your skills in writing this 100-word, “sales pitch” paragraph to demonstrate your writing skills and introduce your timely and interesting manuscript.
Can you learn to do this? Of course you can.
Does it take some effort and expert coaching? Yes.
You’ll find both in the Query Classrooms. Also, study the winning entries posted in the "Previous Contest Winners" classroom.
If you still need assistance, my Query Letter First Paragraph, the “Sales Pitch” tutorial is available in the bookstore.
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Back to the Home page and Academy Directory
Agents are scanning query letters more quickly than ever before.
Over one billion personal computers exist on the planet. Millions of the folks who own these computers believe, since they possess the tools of the writer, they are (therefore) writers. NOT!
But, they continuously submit poorly written material to agents and it all becomes intermingled with yours. The competition for attention increases exponentially.
This creates a nightmare for agents: submission tsunami. Slush piles are becoming larger and more enormous, and huge. YIKES!
In the good old days (like last year) agents allocated 20 to 30 seconds to quick read a query letter, meaning they read the first paragraph and part of the second. Not any more. Now, they've cut back to scanning query letters and submissions for 10 or 15 seconds before making a "yes" or "no" decision.
Their solution becomes your challenge
Agencies are beginning to offer “query slams.” They open a three-or-four-day window of opportunity and invite writers to submit the first 100 words of their query letter.
This means your first (100 words) paragraph becomes even more of a make-it-or-break situation.
Therefore, you're in for a brief but intense learning curve as you hone your skills in writing this 100-word, “sales pitch” paragraph to demonstrate your writing skills and introduce your timely and interesting manuscript.
Can you learn to do this? Of course you can.
Does it take some effort and expert coaching? Yes.
You’ll find both in the Query Classrooms. Also, study the winning entries posted in the "Previous Contest Winners" classroom.
If you still need assistance, my Query Letter First Paragraph, the “Sales Pitch” tutorial is available in the bookstore.
Back to the top of the page
Back to the Home page and Academy Directory
PILOT PROGRAM for self-published books
Boulder Bookstore now offers shelf space for books by self-published authors. Fees are reasonable.
- $25 to stock five copies
- $75 for placement on the “recommended reading” shelves.
- $255 for the store to host an in-store reading and book signing which includes website and newsletter mention.
- Everybody benefits!
In the same manner as Amazon's hybrid publishing program, inventive story tellers and customer-hungry story sellers are developing novel (pardon the pun) marketing concepts.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This unique ebook, a 36-page workbook / tutorial (written by Molli Nickell), can help you write your first paragraph, the "sales pitch," effectively to motivate the agent to read your entire query letter. You'll learn:
- why you must learn to sell your skills and your story in your query letter first 100 words.
- query techniques that insure submission requests
- how to write story paragraphs to help you write not only your query, but also your synopsis and first page.
- writing exercises to help you learn to make the vital shift from "telling" to "selling"
- Cost? $14.95
(That's less than a movie ticket, gallon of chemically flavored cola, and bucket of trans-fat laden popcorn, and a whole lot more beneficial to your writing career.) - Available at the Bookstore