I’m not positive I’m putting this in the right forum - I think my questions have factual answers but I apologize if it should have gone somewhere else.
I’ve written a children’s story (ages 5-8) and want to submit it to a publisher.
I’ve edited, edited, edited, rewritten, rewritten, and rewritten. I submitted it to a couple of critiquing groups I belonged to, and edited, edited, edited, rewritten, rewritten, and rewritten again.
I’ve researched in depth what’s being published these days, and the various Canadian publishers and what they publish. I’ve attended a couple of open industry seminars and workshops, I got a package from a Canadian children’s book organization with tips on submissions, and I have the addresses, contact names, and specific submission guidelines for the various publishers that I think would be appropriate. I’m not planning on doing multiple submissions.
So, I am now struggling with my cover letter. I’ve seen some sample cover letters in a few books and websites, but still have some questions:
- I know you should give an outline of the story in the letter, but how much of the story should be told in the cover letter? Should you “give away” the ending? Or should it be more like the teaser on the back of a book?
- I understand that it is a good idea to state why you have chosen a particular publisher. I have chosen the ones I chose because they currently publish books with similar styles to my own story… why else would someone select a certain publisher? Any tips on how to word that part?
- I read that it’s best to let them know that if you haven’t heard from them in a certain period of time you will be submitting it to other publishers. I can’t figure out how to word that without it sounding sort of like a threat of sorts. “Please note, if I have not received a response from you within 6 months, I will be submitting my manuscript to other publishers”. I don’t know, it sounds like a cocky ultimatum to me – answer me or else!
- I know too that my cover letter should SELL! my story, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do that without sounding naïve and cocky, like I think my story’s gonna be the best thing they’ve read all year (I mean, it will be, but I want to appear humble, of course. ;))
- What size envelope should I send it all in, or does it matter?
Any help anyone can give me would be greatly, greatly appreciated!