Apples to Orangutans

Thanks to the digital age, your submission documents (query, synopsis, first pages) can be sent inside one looooong email. But first, your submission adventure begins with an attention grabbing SUBJECT line.

If it motivates a "CLICK" to open, the agent reads your query first paragraph (often the only one ever read). Your "tease ending" of this paragraph generates the desired reaction of "Hmmm, interesting."

The agent reads your second paragraph.

If you've crafted a slam-dunk "tease" at the end of your second paragraph, (tease endings are further explained in my Query Tutorial) the agent will shift from interested to curious and wonder. "So, what happens?"

TAH! DAH! That's exactly the response you want.

Motivated by curiosity, the agent scrolls down the screen to read your synopsis. Because you have wisely expanded the emotions and actions of your protagonist (main character) and revealed the resolution of your story, the agent has their answer to "what happens?"

Next, they'll scroll down to read your sample pages.

Give yourself a high five! Mission Accomplished!

In less than two minutes, you've achieved your submission goal. The agent reads your manuscript.

Why does it seem so challenging to write a query and synopsis? On the surface, it appears simple. You only need to create two, 350-word documents. Easy-peasie! NOT!

Here's why. You've shifted from "telling" to "selling" and moved into unknown territory. You know how to tell your story. But, sell is an entirely different animal. There is no way to compare tell to sell. It's like comparing apples to orangutans. Not the same.

Many of you are preparing your query, synopsis, and first pages to convince (sell) agents that you are the real deal: a talented and capable writer with a salable story.

You can do it. Consider this.

• 30 million+ authors with books listed on Amazon.com have moved from tell to sell.
• 30 million+ authors have advanced their careers from writers to authors.

You can do the same thing.  

Write on! May the words be with you!

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