After months of research and writing, you’ve finalized the proofreading and editing of your manuscript, scrutinizing your text to hunt down every imperfection, stylistic awkwardness, and repetition. You’re finally ready to send your book to a publisher, and to present it, you’ll need to write a summary that will pique their interest and help you stand out among the millions of French people who took advantage of the lockdowns to write.
This summary, which you are about to write, is one part of what is commonly called the letter of intent. For an author, the letter of intent is what the cover letter is for a job applicant: a task that seems “outdated” and “thankless” (to borrow the words of Pierre Ménard in his Grand Roman de l’écriture, published by Novice) but which proves essential to facilitate the reading of their text.
Authors should never neglect the cover letter, and especially the synopsis, as it must pique the publishers’ interest and convince them to delve into reading their manuscript. You all know David Swanson’s quote: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
Let’s look together, step by step, at how to write this letter of intent and how to make a good summary of your book, which you will be able to present in the best conditions.
HOW DO I INTRODUCE MY SUMMARY?
For the format, opt for a simple layout, with body text in a standard font (such as Times New Roman) in black and of sufficient size (between 12 and 14), with a minimum line spacing of 1.5 and margins.
Pay attention to spelling and typography: we cannot stress this enough; an uncorrected cover letter and summary jeopardize your chances of being read by publishers.
Regarding structure, unlike cover letters, there are no clearly defined standards for writing a letter of intent. We even recommend avoiding template letters that you could conveniently reuse for each of your manuscript submissions. Reading them is often very unpleasant and doesn’t encourage the reader to discover your work.
The most important thing is to follow a plan that will allow you to organize the essential and expected information, while personalizing your message as much as possible.
Start by providing your personal contact information, which will allow the publisher to easily get back to you (avoiding a tedious search): your first and last name (especially if you’re using a pseudonym!), your postal address, your email address, and a phone number where you can be reached. If you’re addressing your manuscript to a specific editor, it’s a good idea to mention this in the letter’s heading.
First, explain how your manuscript fits within the editorial focus of the publishing house you’re writing to. This is the perfect opportunity to personalize your text by demonstrating that you know your target audience and why. The more your approach reflects a thoughtful consideration of the fit between, for example, the style and subject matter of your novel and a publisher’s catalog, the better your chances of success. If you discovered this publisher in a particular context, such as through reading one of their authors, in a bookstore, or at a book fair, don’t hesitate to mention it to illustrate the emotional connection that may have led you to entrust them with your manuscript.
FIRST, TALK (A LITTLE) ABOUT YOURSELF!
Before offering a summary of your book, you’ll have the opportunity to talk a little about yourself. Some publishers recognize that an author’s personality, which shines through in how they present their background and life, is at least as important as their writing project. Publishers, like journalists and readers, are always very curious to learn more about the author of the book they hold in their hands. The publishing world is no exception to the rules of marketing: a compelling story to accompany the release of a novel, an anecdote from the author’s life, or an atypical career path will all enhance the text itself.
We recommend introducing yourself briefly, simply, and (why not?) with a touch of originality. Avoid pompous language and excessive self-promotion. The reader should already hear your unique voice through these few lines. Carefully select the biographical elements that have informed your writing, led you to writing in general, or to a particular genre. This is also a good time to mention if you have written other books, published or not. If you are particularly prolific, select the most significant works that have marked your writing career.
As a general rule, publishers appreciate conciseness and the absence of unnecessary details that have little or no direct bearing on the manuscript you are submitting. They will be grateful if you refrain from sharing details of your private life in a lecture-like style, details that will only interest your closest friends and family (if that). Conversely, there is no need to shroud your biography in an aura of mystery; you can save the suspense for the reader to discover your text.
PRESENT YOUR MANUSCRIPT: HOW TO WRITE A GOOD SUMMARY?
Your book summary will be the focus of your attention, the climax of your letter of intent: it’s the key moment that must spark your reader’s desire to read your work, convincing them to dedicate time (there’s no commodity more precious than time in a publisher’s daily life) to discovering your text. To delve into your manuscript, your reader will at least want to know the general idea. There’s no magic formula for writing a good summary, but there are some pitfalls to avoid and some best practices.
You can start by finding a catchy opening line that will pique their curiosity, drawing inspiration from the best back cover blurbs . Once you’ve captured their attention, you can continue by presenting your book and explaining the context of its creation. For example, you could describe the circumstances under which it was written, whether it’s your first book, if you’ve already considered a sequel, and so on.
A good summary isn’t simply a description (of the plot, the subject, the main characters) but rather a skillful blend of all the elements that make your text compelling, structured very clearly. If you’re lacking inspiration, you can write this summary following a chronological plan, which is very practical for fiction:
- The initial situation
- The disruptive element
- The adventures
- The resolution element
- The final situation.
Name your characters, the places, reveal your plot, the structure of your story (don’t hesitate to reveal the end, the conclusion) and work on the angle of the presentation (how do you bring in the publisher who is also your first reader?).
Don’t forget the usual polite closings at the end of the letter; elegance and good manners have never been a disadvantage to any author!
In France, with the various lockdowns, almost 10% of the population is estimated to have started writing a book. While not all manuscripts will leave their authors’ drawers (or hard drives), some have already reached the doors of publishing houses. Publishers have, in fact, noticed a significant change very quickly. In Paris, Véronique Cardi of Éditions Lattès observed a 20% increase in the number of manuscripts received following the first lockdown. Publishers were already overwhelmed by the sheer volume of manuscripts; the competition will be even fiercer and will leave no room for half-measures.
THE ESSENTIALS
- The summary of your book must capture the attention of your readers. Say enough… without saying too much, clearly but with style and just the right touch of originality.
- Proofread carefully to ensure that your spelling, grammar, syntax, and typography are impeccable. A letter of intent riddled with errors is often a deal-breaker. Needless to say, this advice also applies to your manuscript: a publisher won’t get past the first page if it contains as many mistakes as commas. Don’t hesitate to use professional proofreading and editing services to ensure that nothing compromises the quality of your text.
- Conciseness is key. The editors you submit your manuscript to will need to spend time on your text, not your cover letter. You should aim for no more than one page.
Summarizing your book well and presenting it harmoniously in your letter of intent is a difficult exercise, both highly codified but without clearly established rules.
Edith & Nous offers a completely different and unique experience! In just a few minutes, you can introduce yourself and your manuscript to publishers. The formality of the letter of intent gives way to a user interface designed to allow you to submit your manuscript to as many publishers as possible under the best conditions.
After submitting your manuscript to the platform and describing it using categories that allow the algorithm to match it with the right publishers, you can then enter its title and choose up to five keywords to help publishers find it through targeted searches. You will then have 400 characters to summarize your book, applying the helpful tips we shared with you in this article. Finally, you can (also within 400 characters) introduce yourself so that the publisher who has read and discovered your work can immediately learn more about you.