If you registered for one or more pre-conference edits by a freelance editor(s):
You will submit the following no later than August 7, 2023 via email to Atlanta Writers Conference Director George Weinstein at awconference@gmail.com:
(a) For fiction and memoir, you will submit a 1-page query letter, 1-page synopsis, and the first 19 pages of your manuscript, totaling 21 pages, in a single MS Word document (put the query letter on page 1, synopsis on page 2, and the manuscript sample on pages 3-21);
(b) For nonfiction other than memoir, you will submit a book proposal of up to 21 pages (including a query letter on page 1) in a single MS Word document;
(c) For poetry, you will submit a query letter and 20 pages of poetry selections in a single MS Word document; or
(d) For picture books, you will submit a query letter along with an electronic copy of the entire picture book, with illustrations if available.
Note that, although the deadline is August 7, the sooner you submit your work, the sooner you’ll receive feedback and the more time you’ll have to incorporate it if you’re also doing the manuscript critique and/or pitch.
ADDITIONAL FORMATTING GUIDANCE:
– On the query letter, be sure to include the genre and the word count, and address the letter to the agent/editor you selected if you also registered for a manuscript critique. If you did not, you can address the query to an agent/editor you have in mind for a future query. (The freelancer’s job is to help you improve your submission, so they doesn’t expect you to address the query to them.)
– Be sure to include a trigger warning if your story includes graphic or even brief instances of violence, sex, strong language, disturbing themes, etc. Think of it like the movie rating notice we’ve all seen before a film trailer: what cautions would you give a potential reader?
– Please put your name and book title in the header on every page and number the pages in the header or footer (does not apply to the query letter, if your submission includes this as page 1).
– Always use double spacing of the manuscript or book proposal; the query letter and synopsis can be single spaced.- Put 1-inch margins on the top and bottom and both sides.
– Use Times New Roman or Courier New font.
– Use 12-pt. font
– Indent the first line of each paragraph and don’t include extra space between paragraphs. Also, don’t hit the Enter key at the end of each line to move the cursor back to the left side of the page–this isn’t a typewriter; any word processing software will do this automatically.
– End your manuscript sample on a complete sentence, even if this means having an additional page with the remainder of that sentence.
For tips on writing a query letter and synopsis, here are a few starting points:
https://nybookeditors.com/2015/12/how-to-write-a-darn-good-query-letter/
http://www.agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx
https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/2016/05/the-secret-to-writing-a-successful-query-letter/
http://www.caroclarke.com/synopsis.htmlhttp://www.writersdigest.com/editors-picks/learn-how-to-write-a-synopsis-like-a-pro
For a nonfiction book proposal, start here:
https://www.janefriedman.com/start-here-how-to-write-a-book-proposal/
https://www.writersdigest.com/book-proposals
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/10/nonfiction-book-proposal_n_3569043.html
These certainly aren’t the only resources, but they’ll give you a good start as well as point you to other resources. Within about three weeks of the submission deadline, the freelance editor will send a written critique of your pages to me, and I will forward this to you, along with the editor’s contact information. If you have questions about the editor’s comments, you may contact the editor directly. If you would like the editor to review additional pages of your manuscript, please contact the editor directly to arrange this private contract; this is outside the purview and control of the Atlanta Writers Conference.
Also, please note that, because this is an online activity that takes place months before the conference dates, there are no in-person/virtual activities associated with the pre-conference edit during the scheduled days of the conference and there will not be a meeting with the freelance editor you selected. This activity will be via email only.
If you registered for one or more manuscript sample critiques:
You will submit the following no later than October 2, 2023 in a Word file via email to Atlanta Writers Conference Director George Weinstein at awconference@gmail.com:
(a) For fiction and memoir, you will submit a 1-page query letter, a 1-page synopsis, and the first 19 pages of your manuscript, totaling 21 pages, in a single MS Word document (put the query letter on page 1, the synopsis on page 2, and the manuscript sample on pages 3-21);
(b) For nonfiction other than memoir, you will submit a book proposal of up to 21 pages (including a query letter on page 1) in a single MS Word document;
(c) For picture books, you will submit a query letter along with an electronic copy (a single MS Word document is preferable) of the entire picture book, with illustrations if available.
If you registered for more than one manuscript critique, you will submit a separate file for each agent/editor you chose. Please follow the directions above and below for your second critique document as well. Put the name of the agent/editor you picked on each file so there will be no confusion about who gets which file when we forward them to the agents/editors.
You will receive the agent(s) and/or acquisitions editor(s)’s feedback a day or two prior to the conference, and they will go over their comments and suggestions with you on November 4, 2023 in a scheduled, one-on-one meeting (in-person at the Westin or via Zoom based on your and the agent/editor’s decision about whether to be in-person or virtual).
ADDITIONAL FORMATTING GUIDANCE:
– If you selected an acquisitions editor(s), be sure to indicate on your query letter that you’re seeking “publication,” not “representation” (which you only will use when querying a literary agent).
– On the query letter, be sure to include the genre and the word count, and address the letter to the agent/editor you selected by name.
– Please put your name and book title in the header on every page and number the pages in the header or footer (does not apply to the query letter, if your submission includes this as page 1).
– Always use double spacing of the manuscript, book proposal, or screenplay/TV script; the query letter and synopsis can be single spaced.- Put 1-inch margins on the top and bottom and both sides.
– Use Times New Roman or Courier New font.- Use 12-pt. font.
– Indent the first line of each paragraph and don’t include extra space between paragraphs. Also, don’t hit the Enter key at the end of each line to move the cursor back to the left side of the page–this isn’t a typewriter; any word processing software will do this automatically.
– End your manuscript sample on a complete sentence, even if this means having an additional page with the remainder of that sentence.
For tips on writing a query letter and synopsis, here are a few starting points:
https://nybookeditors.com/2015/12/how-to-write-a-darn-good-query-letter/
http://www.agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx
https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/2016/05/the-secret-to-writing-a-successful-query-letter/
http://www.caroclarke.com/synopsis.html
http://www.writersdigest.com/editors-picks/learn-how-to-write-a-synopsis-like-a-pro
For a nonfiction book proposal, start here:
https://www.janefriedman.com/start-here-how-to-write-a-book-proposal/
https://www.writersdigest.com/book-proposals
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/10/nonfiction-book-proposal_n_3569043.html
These certainly aren’t the only resources, but they’ll give you a good start as well as point you to other resources.
NOTE:
If you registered for a manuscript critique waitlist, please don’t submit any materials unless a spot opens for you due to another participant’s cancellation. You’ll be informed by email immediately if this happens so you can claim the spot and pay. Then, you’ll submit your file per the above instructions and deadline.
If you registered for one or more pitches:
(NOTE: with most participants once again attending in-person, we’ve switched to our pre-COVID process)
You will bring a printed copy of your query letter with you for the agent/editor to read just before your meeting.
If you will be virtual–or the agent/editor will be virtual–submit your query letter to Conference Director George Weinstein at awconference@gmail.com by November 3, 2023 at 10 pm Eastern (this will give you a chance to rewrite it if you also registered for the Friday query letter critique).
This will be a strictly verbal exchange–you won’t receive any comments from them in writing. The agent/editor(s) will read your query letter ahead of their in-person/Zoom meeting with you so you won’t have to recite a memorized spiel introducing them to your book. The query letter does that for you. Instead, you can have an actual conversation, discussing their reactions to your query letter, answering their questions, and asking questions of your own to determine whether they want to receive your partial/full manuscript.
FORMATTING:
– On the query letter, be sure to include the genre and the word count, and address the letter to the agent/editor you selected by name.
– If you selected an acquisitions editor(s), be sure to indicate on your query letter that you’re seeking “publication,” not “representation” (which you only will use when querying a literary agent).
– Use single spacing
– Put 1-inch margins on the top and bottom and both sides
– Use Times New Roman or Courier New font
– Use 12-pt. font
For tips on writing a query letter, here are a few starting points:
For fiction and nonfiction:
https://nybookeditors.com/2015/12/how-to-write-a-darn-good-query-letter/
http://www.agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx
https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/2016/05/the-secret-to-writing-a-successful-query-letter/
For nonfiction:
http://writenonfictionnow.com/how-to-write-a-query-letter-for-a-nonfiction-book/
If you registered for one or more query letter critiques:
(NOTE: with most participants once again attending in-person, we’ve switched to our pre-COVID process)
You will bring 2 printed copies of your query letter with you for the pair of agents/editors to read just before your meeting.
If you will be virtual–or either of the agents/editors doing this critique will be virtual–submit your query letter to Conference Director George Weinstein at awconference@gmail.com by October 30, 2023 for the assigned panel of editors/agents to review right before you meet with them (if you’re also doing a pitch, you can submit your query letter for the pitch activity by November 3, 2023 at 10 pm Eastern).
If you also register for one or more manuscript sample critiques and/or pitches, the query letter critique panel you will be assigned to will NOT include anyone you selected for the manuscript sample critiques and/or pitches.
The purpose of the query letter critique activity is to help you make your query letter better, to improve your chances of success if you’re doing one or more Saturday pitches–and for any future use of your query letter.
This will be a strictly verbal exchange–you won’t necessarily receive any comments from them in writing. The agents/editors will read your query letter just before their in-person/Zoom meeting with you so they can provide you with suggestions for improving it for Saturday pitch meetings and/or future use.
You will be informed of the query letter critique panel assigned to you and the scheduled meeting time with them about two weeks before the conference.
FORMATTING:
– Address the letter to any editor/agent with whom you’re seeking representation (no need to address those giving you the critique)
– Use single spacing
– Put 1-inch margins on the top and bottom and both sides
– Use Times New Roman or Courier New font
– Use 12-pt. font
For tips on writing a query letter, here are a few starting points:
For fiction and nonfiction:
https://nybookeditors.com/2015/12/how-to-write-a-darn-good-query-letter/
http://www.agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx
https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/2016/05/the-secret-to-writing-a-successful-query-letter/
For nonfiction:
http://writenonfictionnow.com/how-to-write-a-query-letter-for-a-nonfiction-book/