Impress an Editor in 9 Steps: Part 5

Dear Editor,

Here you go. Talk to you soon.

Signed

Me

No, this isn't a real cover letter. However, some proposals have come through our offices with nothing at all in the email, not even a signature. 

It's hard to say if a cover letter/email like that is being used to force an editor to open the proposal or from an author who is too busy or too shy to actually use the skills they want to sell.

When you write to an acquisitions editor… WRITE to the editor. After all, you are a writer. This is a person you’re emailing. Engage him or her just like you would if you met on the street. An e-mail is a letter after all. Take a moment to introduce yourself and share a little about why you're righting.

Not only is the email a letter, the person to whom you are writing is representing a business. Professionalism is always a plus. Talk to them in your initial email. Tell them why you’ve chosen to email them. Give them a little background on your story that might not fit into part of the proposal attachment.

Publishing companies, even small ones, receive hundreds of proposals every year. Sometimes, they receive hundreds of proposals every week! It’s easier for them to reject a project than it is to accept one. Especially from an author with no publishing experience. Show how well you can engage your audience by engaging them. Give them every reason to pick you.

My best advice: Show, through that initial email, the passion you have for your topic or the enthusiasm you have for your story. Enthusiasm is contagious and can go a long way in moving your book through to publication.

And if you have a question about publishing, queries, proposals, or what type of publishing is right for you, drop a line right here! Our executive director, Marji Laine Clubine, might use your question on her radio show, February 7 at 7PM Central (Publishing Laine). If she uses your question, she'll send you a free book.