Marketing Query letters

[Rkcapps]

I've used this and I like the result. https://www.writersdigest.com/publishin ... ry-letters

[alan]

Useful advice. Did you get an agent?

[Rkcapps]

For my memoir, yes, in a week. A respected Australian agent. But getting an agent is only half the battle, then they need to sell it to a publisher. My memoir was liked by editors, but not their financial teams. It was too niche a market for them to make money. But I didn't write it to make money, but to help people experiencing a stroke. After a year, my agent recommended I self-publish, which I have.

I haven't tried for my fantasy yet, it's not ready (and my agent from before doesn't rep fantasy).

[alan]

Interesting. My impression is that agents are hard to crack for unproven writers.

[Rkcapps]

Yep, you'd be right I'd been learning the craft nearly 25 years at the time (with a break for kids). I've submitted my first ever novel to agents and been rejected lots. Curtis Brown even rejected my memoir. It's all about finding the agent who likes your work, and you only have one shot with them, so you need to show them you're serious and that shows in the writing.

I'm beta reading for someone who hasn't taken the time to learn grammar, but on Grammarly it comes up fine. If I can spot that, an agent will spot it quicker than me. It'd receive a form rejection if they sent it as is.

I initially wrote bits of my memoir in hospital (on my Ipad) and then wrote something that wasn't in a narrative format. Once another writer pointed me in the right direction, I started again from scratch and wrote it again, but in a narrative style. And keep in my mind, all that work was typed with 1 half functioning finger on my non-dominant hand.

[alan]

Am I right in gathering you'd suffered a stroke? Well done on bouncing back. Perhaps the determination to push through will serve you well in the perennial setbacks the writer is heir to. Or vice versa.

[Rkcapps]

Yes, the kind of stroke 90% of people die from. Thanks But, I haven't bounced back physically, I'm permanently disabled and unable to walk, although I can stand with something like parallel bars. And I have no use of my right arm. But I have bounced back mentally, it's a low ride after anything traumatic and that's in my book.

Yep, determination is my middle name

[alan]

Wow. All strength to you Rachel.

Alan

[Rkcapps]

thx