Supplemental Resources

The Business of Being a Writer includes many pages of advice on how to write queries, synopses, and book proposals, but there is limited space to include full-length examples. Here, I provide even more specific direction on what good submissions materials look like, as well as other business-related information.

I am continually indebted and grateful to the writers who have been so generous in making their materials publicly available. It is a significant gesture of literary citizenship, business transparency, and goodwill toward fellow writers. If you get a chance to thank these writers, do so. Their contributions are invaluable and should be recognized.

Are all of these “ideal models” you must follow? Absolutely not. You’ll see varied methods and approaches—there is rarely a “right” and “wrong,” only best practices and ways to reduce the risk of an automatic rejection. Sometimes writers have great timing or the right connections that help make their query/proposal successful. My own book proposal example is not that great, frankly, because it was a solicited project, and I knew I didn’t have to work that hard at sections like the marketing plan. Today, if I were pitching cold, I would write the proposal differently.

In short: You’ll always find exceptions to the so-called rules. Your submissions materials should play to your strengths and address the concerns and priorities of the publisher or agent you’re pitching.

If you’re willing to share examples that can be publicly posted here, please get in touch.

Query Letter Examples

In some examples, the published novel has been retitled.

Something a bit different than a query: Novelist Kern Carter wrote a pitch to the internal team at Penguin after one of the editors expressed interest in acquiring his book. Most editors have to convince a pub board that the book will succeed, so Carter wanted to write something to support his editor’s efforts to secure a “yes” from the pub board.

Synopsis Writing

Book Proposal Examples

Query and proposal examples from others

Additional Resources

I’ve noted the chapter where I mention each resource.

Wait, There’s More

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