Query Letters

[Emily]

Good afternoon!
I have a question about query letters. I am one chapter away from
completing my first children's novel and was wondering if I should
begin the query letter process, even though I haven't finished the
novel. Or... Should I finish the novel, have it edited, and THEN send
out the query letters. OR! Should I have both my novel AND the query
letter edited, and then send it out?

Am I confused? You bet I am!

Thanks for all your help!
Emily

[bze...@aol.com]

Susan will answer first, then Bobbie.

>From an agent's point of view, I would like to be able to see the
entire manuscript if I am interested in it. A lot of authors send out
manuscripts that are in dire need of editing, although I think it is
out of ignorance rather than trying to get a jump on things, like
you're talking about.

So for a first-time author, I think it would be better to have the
manuscript and the query letter completely ready to go and then start
sending query letters out. Always put your best foot forward, as they
say.

You can find helpful tips for writers, including a special page for
children's book writers, on the About Words Agency website here:
(http://writers.aboutwords.org/)

Thank you for your question! Keep them coming!
-Susan Graham

Bobbie adds:

Be ready to strike when the agent is hot; that is, if you send out
query letters before the manuscript is finished and edited and an agent
responds, what will you do? Send a sloppy manuscript that might get
rejected? Tell the agent you jumped the gun, and now he or she has to
wait three more months while you finish the process? If you do either
one, what will the agent think of you? If you delay, will the agent
even remember you, when your manuscript is ready? If you tell an agent
the manuscript will be ready in three months and it takes five, what
sort of impression will you make on the agent? After all, every project
takes longer than expected, according to Murphy's Law.

Finish the book, write the synopsis and query letter, get everything
edited, and only then should you send out query letters.

Thank you for asking. --Bobbie Christmas

[Emily]

Thank you so much for the answers to my questions. I will take your
advice and finish the manuscript first, edit it, and then get my query
letter in order.

I recently took a writer's course, and the teacher had suggested that
we send the query letter out BEFORE it was completely finished. I was
confused by this and didn't think it was the proper thing to do. Now
I'm convinced that it isn't.

Thank you, again!
Emily