Pitching Literary Agents

I've been researching literary agents to query for a nonfiction book I'm writing. It's a time consuming task but it's so very important to learn as much as you can about each agent before sending a pitch letter.

Key: Your pitch letter needs to sound confident, intelligent and professional.

Remember: It's all subjective!!! For example: not every agent is into "self-help" books. Hence, if your book is a "how to stop your eating disorder" or "how to manage your stress," then not every agent is going to jump at the chance to represent you, but that doesn't mean your book idea sucks. If you feel confident about your book proposal, then keep pushing forward. Find another agent to pitch...and another...and another.

1. Get to the point in your first sentence...it's gotta grab them! Tell them about your book. Why it's important. What need does it meet? Who is your audience? Nonfiction or fiction? Do you use story-telling? What makes it unique and why would anyone want to buy it? Your first paragraph should not be longer than 175 words. If you can't say it in that allotment, then you're being too wordy. My entire query pitch is only 306 words and that includes my greeting and closing.

2. Read "The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters" or at least scan it for rich nuggets of truth.

3. Personalize your query (e.g., Dear Ms. Smith)

4. Save reject letters (or at least a list of who responded) to prove to yourself that you're working hard...it gives me inspiration. I've even been given great advice from agents who rejected my book proposal. For example, one agent suggested I continue building my platform because publishers want to know you have one. He will receive a big thank-you in the credits when my first solo book is published!

5. Send your email in plain text...not html b/c you never know how it will come through on some else's computer.

6. Don't forget to breath!

7. Don't attach photos or graphics to your email.

8. Read your query out loud to yourself and your best friend, making sure it sounds GREAT! It also helps you catch typos and mistakes.

9. Don't tell the agent your entire life history. Just give the facts as they pertain to the query.

10. Let your personality come through...while keeping your word count to 350 or less.

11. Put yourself in the agent's shoes. What would you honestly think if you read your query letter?

12. Give yourself daily affirmations. (e.g., I am a fabulous writer, there's an agent out there who would love this book proposal, Stephen King even got reject letters....)