August 26, 2008
by  Chuck Sambuchino
Before you dive in, check out these essential tips on submitting your work to an agent.

1. If you write across categories (let’s say you write both picture books and adult fantasy), look for an agent who handles everything you write. She might just be your perfect fit.

2. Mass mailing (or e-mailing) agents without considering each one’s specialties is a waste of time and postage. Not every agent listed here will be a good fit for you. In fact, the fewer true matches you find, the more you’ve done your research. Agents love when you query them individually and provide a reason, such as, “Because you represented such-and-such book, I think you’d be a great agent for my work.”

3. Make sure your work is edited, revised and polished. Rewriting is a crucial step to bettering your work, so be sure to have trusted peers give you an honest critique, or consider seeking a professional freelance editor to evaluate it. And never query an agent for a novel until the work is complete.

4. Single-space your query letter, and keep it to one page. Double-space your manuscript and synopsis.

5. If you lack a good opening for your query letter, just give the facts. A simple yet effective opening line would be, “I am seeking literary representation for my 75,000-word completed thriller, titled Dead Cat Bounce.” In one sentence, you can tell the agent the length, genre, whether it’s complete and the title. After that, follow with the pitch and a little biographical information.

6. Follow submission directions (found at writersdigest.com) to a T. If an agent requests “no attachments,” your query will likely be deleted should it arrive with an attachment. If they say “query first,” do just that. If they reply to your query and ask for an exclusive read of your manuscript for four weeks, make sure you give them that exclusive look. 

7. If you have an automatic spam filter, turn it off. If you’re lucky enough to garner a reply from an agent interested in your work, the last thing they want to deal with is a spam filter requiring them to prove their existence.

8. Remember that publishing is a business and there’s much to learn. If you’ve finished a novel, make sure you know how to construct a good synopsis. If you’re pitching nonfiction, you’ll likely be asked to submit a full proposal detailing the book and how you intend to sell it. If you don’t know everything that goes into a book proposal, now’s the time to learn.

9. Realize that these listings are an excellent start, but there’s still work to be done. Research the agent’s website to confirm that he is indeed still seeking “electronic queries for romance novels,” etc. Also, remember the frustratingly sad reality that the publishing industry is constantly in flux. Agents quit; they switch agencies; they suddenly stop representing fiction and move completely to nonfiction. The best way to deal with this is to cast a wide net.

10. Be persistent. Every famous author has a story about how many agents rejected their work before they made a connection. Work hard, work smart and don’t give up.

http://writersdigest.com/article/10-submission-tips-for-querying-an-agent/

Absolute Magazine, South Africa’s premier luxury lifestyle publication goes on sale in Exclusive Books, countrywide, for the first time in June 2008.  The June/July Space Issue examines all aspects of space and the implications thereof, be it personal, interior, living or outer space.

Cape Town, South Africa (NVISION PR) June 05, 2008 — Since its launch in February 2006, Absolute Magazine has been a Verified Free Distribution (VFD) title. From June, the magazine shall employ a dual distribution strategy of retail sales as well as continuing with the VFD for the foreseeable future while the subscriptions and sales base increases.

Absolute Magazine offers its readers truly unique content that they won’t find anywhere else. All editorial content is specifically commissioned for Absolute and no use is made of syndicated press articles. Home décor, fashion, travel, health and beauty, motoring and food features are complemented by a wide range of local content covering the arts, entertainment and business. Beautiful photography and contemporary design make each issue of Absolute Magazine a must-read.

“Being on sale in a retail environment is a new direction for us. It was the next logical step after we merged the two regional titles, Absolute Cape Town and Absolute Johannesburg, in February 2008,” says founder and editor, Fraser Dodge. “The decision was taken after careful consideration, and a lot of prompting from our readers.”

Absolute Magazine targets the most affluent homes in our communities, and its readers are discriminating, well-travelled and passionate about the finer things in life.

To coincide with the title being on sale, excellent introductory subscription offers are being made available at a 40% discount from the cover price.
 

What South Africa needs more than anything else is a growing number of entrepreneurs – individuals who have the passion required to start businesses and make it successful. This is the only sustainable way to create wealth for themselves and much-needed employment for others. Unfortunately, South Africans are a little reluctant to do that, probably because historically, entrepreneurship was never seen as a viable career option.

Eric Parker, who is passionate about entrepreneurship and determined to promote it as a career of choice, decided to change all that. The first edition of his book Run Your Own Business and Make Lots of Money, first published in 2003, kindled the entrepreneurial flame in thousands of South Africans of all walks of life. In the small South African market, where a book of this nature is considered a best-seller when it sells 2 500 copies, Run Your Own Business and Make Lots of Money sold over 30 000.

Throughout the period the book was on sale, Eric hadn’t been idle. He took every opportunity to discuss the book with prospective and established entrepreneurs, gave lectures and wrote articles on entrepreneurship. At the end of each one of these interactions, he extended an invitation to his diverse audiences to provide feedback on their experiences. They responded magnificently and the gist of the wisdom that was distilled from their experiences is contained in the new edition of this book.

The book before you is not merely an update of an existing title but a comprehensive rewrite that brims over with practical advice. Regardless of whether you have read the original version or not, it will provide you with fresh insights and unlock the entrepreneur in you. It will take you from self-assessment – will you be happy as an entrepreneur – to the implementation stage, all presented in simple and easy-to-follow steps. Best of all, it will teach you how to achieve your dream of creating wealth for yourself and your family to enjoy while having fun along the way.

Eric Parker is widely sought-after as a strategist and speaker on entrepreneurship, business renewal and expansion. Working closely with his long-term collaborator Kurt Illetschko, he has published a large number of books focussing on the promotion of entrepreneurship and franchising.

As he says on the back cover of Run Your Own Business and Make Lots of Money: “If you haven’t made the move to entrepreneurship just yet, this text will assist you to make up your mind. Before you know it, you’ll be ready to reach for the stars and achieve your dreams – I personally guarantee it!” The mere fact that he follows this by giving his personal email address: eric@franchisingplus.co.za is a measure of his passion for entrepreneurship.

Run Your Own Business and Make Lots of Money is published by Frontrunner Publishing and is available from 31 May 2008 at all leading bookstores for R139.00