Dear Editor…

My wife and I have collaborated on a 4,000-word children’s book with hybrid animals as the main characters and are growing a brand built around them. Although we have not done the illustrations, we own the copyrights to them and need them to be depicted as conceived. In a query letter to an editor and/or agent, would it be appropriate to include these illustrations and would color be acceptable? As an alternative, could we insert a link to our website?

Sincerely,
Nick

Dear Editor…

I’m writing a book featuring a 13-year-old main character that has a lot of cursing. It’s completely integral to the story and the character’s arc, and she really can’t be older because of her maturity level. I have no issues with using abbreviations (e.g. f-ing, effing, etc.) so that the book can reach a wider audience, but I doubt I should do that in ms form. What do you think?

Sincerely,
Karol

Dear Editor…

Writers Digest asked Robopaclypse author Daniel H. Wilson how he got his agent. His answer? “I wrote a query letter to an editor — a friend of a friend. The editor called me an idiot, told me never to contact an editor directly, and then recommended three literary agents he had worked with before. Laurie Fox was one of them, and I’ve never looked back.” So, do NOT contact an editor directly nowadays?

Sincerely,
Kate

Dear Editor….

I’ve signed with a small press for the first two books in a trilogy. The first is coming out very soon, but I’m almost finished with the second. Would it ever be okay to query the second book (or even the series) even though it’s already sold?

Thank you,
Emily

Dear Editor…

Is it appropriate for an unpublished writer to query agents before her MG/YA manuscript is complete? Provided there is an outline and a synopsis of the work, is it okay to test the waters halfway through? Another thought: Agents are seasoned professionals and would know right away whether they like a manuscript or not. It makes more sense to have someone guide you along the way to completion before you finish the project than to take you through numerous revisions once you have. What say you?

Sincerely,
Rosie

Dear Editor…

I follow an agent blog where books are reviewed and the agent says why she would or would not represent the book. Very often, she loves the books, but then says, “I wouldn’t represent it.” I mean, why not? If you love a book, others might too. If you can sell it, you make more on commissions. Isn’t that what it’s about? Selling books that you like and making money in the process? Why so picky? Is this common or just this one agent? Seems very unbusinesslike.

Signed,
B.

Dear Editor…

I’ve written a couple of chapter books and would like to find an agent. However, very few list “chapter books” as something they look for. Should I query agents who say they represent “PB, MG and YA,” assuming that chapter books fit in between the PB and MG so the agent would be interested?

Thanks so much.
Heather

Dear Editor…

A friend and I are considering submitting a collection of our poems for publication. We have each written about half the poems. How do we handle this in our query? We each have some publishing credits for our poetry.

Sincerely,
Rosi

Dear Editor…

My current manuscript is different from my others, which are high fantasy. High fantasy is such a select genre—do I say something about those manuscripts when I query this one?

Anon.

Dear Editor…

I’ve written a contemporary YA novel in epistolary format. All of the professional feedback I’ve received is positive (I even won an award for the 1st 15 pages). Most agents tell me the writing is excellent, BUT they are passing strictly due to the format. A favorite author told me that epistolary novels are dead. Dead? I don’t believe it. How do I find agents/editors who will consider an epistolary novel?

T. S.