Good morning,
I am concerned about the COVER LETTER business.
From what I've read, people seem to be doing different things, and I'd like to know if there is somebody on here that knows (from experience hopefully) what is the correct way, in regards to the cover letter.
Some use the cover letter as a way of SELLING YOURSELF. Others use it as a SYNOPSIS.
I've read that the cover letter and synopsis are different things and should be seperate documents. But some try to blend the cover letter & synopsis together.
If the synopsis is about the book, then surely the cover letter is supposed to cover you personally, as a writer and your experience.
What is the definition of the cover letter?
So what to do?
Send a seperate document for the cover letter, synopsis and a short sentence in the email?
Or will the shortness of the email prompt the agent into not being bothered to click on the attached documents?
What should we write in the email?
Much confused,
CT
Thanks for your comments, much appreciated, I guess nothing is simple in this field.
Check each agent's website (the submission pages) - they may all want slightly different things.
Cover letter and synopsis go together, but they are different things. The letter introduces you and your work to the agent; the synopsis gives the complete story of your novel in a capsule.
Check with the agent you're considering approaching; what do they ask for? If they want letter, synopsis and three chapters, that's what you send. If they only want letter and synopsis, that's all you supply.
A synopsis without a letter is anonymous; a letter without a synopsis tells the agent about you and the fact that you've written a novel, but not what it's about in depth.
Your cover letter is your shop window. It's got to entice at first viewing - how else do you expect the agent to want to look inside the door? You don't put all your wares on show in one go, or there's no more to look at inside.
Above all, give the agent what they have asked for as described on their website - no more, no less.