THE QUERY TSUNAMI creates the battle for attention

Among the blessings of the digital age, at least for writers, is the ease of submitting manuscripts to agents, acquisition editors, or publishers. Easie-Peasie. Tuck your query, synopsis, and sample pages into one email and Shazaam! Off it goes.

Whoopsie! This has triggered the law of unintended consequences. The ease of submissions has created a submission avalanche and created a battle for attention! This impacts every writer.

Here's the situation. Non-writers with keyboards and typing skills, submit their manuscripts endlessly. These author wannabees reason, "I have the tools of a writer, ergo, I am a writer." HAHAHA! That's like deciding if you possess a hammer and a box of nails, you're a carpenter and can build a porch. Not on my house!

Right away you can see how the flood of submissions has become problematic. Agents have to scan everything submitted to them. Otherwise, they might miss the next Clancy, Rowlings, or Patterson.

At first glance, your submission looks like every other one on the agent's inbox. There could be hundreds, every single day. What causes the agent to click and open one submission instead of another? The SUBJECT line. Write a “ho hum” subject line and your email will be sent to delete-ville. Write one that is clever and inviting and causes the agent to think, “Hmmmm, that sounds interesting.” CLICK! Your email is opened.

BTW: If the agent requests "query" in the subject line, do this. Begin your subject line with QUERY: (and then add your snappy line or intriguing title). Some agents want you to write QUERY: (their name) and then add your snappy line or intriguing title. Keep the goal in mind. You want to follow the agent's instructions, and motivate them to "CLICK" and open your email.

Your next challenge is to craft a first paragraph that keeps the agent reading. This needs to explain your story core . . . but, whoopsie, that's a blog for another day. If you feel challenged about having to learn how to write a query letter, CLICK HERE to check out my Agent/Query Tutorial. It’s inexpensive and incredibly helpful.

(BTW: The word “agent” is used to describe the person who opens submitted materials. This could be an acquisitions editor, intern, or the agent. It depends on the size of the agency and the amount of submitted material waiting to be reviewed.)

If you’d like to re-post this blog, help yourself. Please reference it as being from The Publishing Wizard, Molli Nickell, at www.getpublishednow.biz. Thank you.