Is 500 words to long for a cover letter?

by Mykie Hall
8th May 2016

I'm currently getting my Manuscript professionally edited. I'm starting to sway more toward self publishing and I'm currently doing my due-diligence. However I think I would get great value from at least hearing what an agent has to say. I've prepared a cover letter which is 500 words, is that too long?

The format goes something like this:-

1) I have completed a novel of 100,000 words...

2) The central concept is...

3) The genre is Science Fiction set in....

4) I think my audience is....

5) The story is about...

6) I enclose the first three chapters...

7) About me...

8) I've chosen you as an agent because...

Replies

This is an excellent site:

https://janefriedman.com/novel-synopsis/

Profile picture for user helenbag_41683
Helen
Baggott
270 points
Practical publishing
Fiction
Business, Management and Education
Autobiography, Biography and Memoir
Romance
Speculative Fiction
Adventure
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Helen Baggott
10/05/2016

Thanks Helen. Yes, I will enclose a synopsis, although it's proving to be harder to write than I thought.

Any advice?

Profile picture for user mykie@ho_27304
Mykie
Hall
270 points
Ready to publish
Fiction
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Adventure
Autobiography, Biography and Memoir
Media and Journalism
Speculative Fiction
Gothic and Horror
Sports
Mykie Hall
09/05/2016

I would remove the 'think' from point 4. You must know your audience. Are you also enclosing a synopsis?

Profile picture for user helenbag_41683
Helen
Baggott
270 points
Practical publishing
Fiction
Business, Management and Education
Autobiography, Biography and Memoir
Romance
Speculative Fiction
Adventure
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Helen Baggott
09/05/2016