Talcott Notch Literary Services, LLC

Query letters should be one to two pages long and can be accompanied by the first ten pages of your manuscript. We strongly prefer email queries and by January 1, 2011, will only consider queries by email. Email queries should be addressed to editorial@talcottnotch.net. Please do not send any unsolicited attachments.

We receive a very large volume of queries and cannot always reply as quickly as we would want. If four weeks have passed and you have not received a reply to your query, please email us with a reminder for a status update on your query. It's faster and easier to include the original query with your reminder. 

What should an ideal query include? 

Fiction

Your fiction query should include your genre, such as mystery, science fiction or mainstream, whether the project is for adults or for children, and the length of the complete project in number of words (for example, 86,000 words), not pages. The query should give us a brief overview of the book's plot and main characters, but does not have to include a complete synopsis. For first-time authors, we do prefer that the project be complete before you query us. 

Nonfiction

Your nonfiction query should include your subject area, such as history, biography or business, the main concept of the book, the word count you project the book will be when completed, and your credentials to write the work. Unlike many first novels, many first nonfiction projects do not require that the book be finished before it can be marketed successfully, and we'll be looking to see that the book proposal and a sample chapter is available here instead. Let us know how long you feel you will take to complete the book. Be realistic with your estimations. It doesn't matter if you give us an estimate that sounds good if you cannot deliver the book on that date. 

Things to Avoid In a Query

Don't stress the fact you are a new writer if you are. Stress your qualifications to write the project and your ability to promote it successfully. 

Don't suggest a book length that is simply not marketable. Research the publishers' websites, author guidelines and new releases to know what they're publishing right now. 

Don't quote nice things other people told you when they were turning down your query or book. It might seem like a good idea to tell us that Fabulous Editor X or Amazing Agent Y told you your writing was compelling or your characters were complex, but the next person reading this is going to wonder why that editor or agent didn't sign the book. In fact

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