1. Do your homework — target proper agents/editors.
2. Query letter should be typed, on nice stationery, and addressed to a specific person. It should be one page.
3. Include the title of the work and if fiction, the genre and word count. If nonfiction, tell what type (i.e., how-to, self help, biography, etc.).
4. Include a brief summary of the work.
5. Tell a little about yourself If it’s non-fiction, tell why you’re qualified to write it.
6. Include an SASE.

• Manuscript Has Improper Format

1. Must be double-spaced
2. Name of author, or name of manuscript and name of author, and page number on every page except page one
3. Short paragraphs
4. Normal margins
5. First-time novelists should stay under 100,000 words.
6. No misspellings

• Grammatical Errors

1. Proper use of commas in dialogue: "I am enjoying this conference," she said.
2. Subject/verb agreement: both singular or both plural
3. Proper use of "I" and "me": She and l are going to the conference. The speaker approached her and me.
4. Proper use of "myself" A pronoun that ends in self must have a clear relative antecedent within the sentence: The owners paid themselves a cash bonus.

• Problems With the Telling of the Story

1. Generally, write in active voice, not passive voice. Active: He hit the ball. Passive: The ball was hit by him.
2. Show, don’t tell. Avoid summarizing.
3. Rule of 99%: Don’t make anything 100% clear until you have to. Let the reader feel smart.
4. Problems with scenes: coming in too early; staying too late; point of view changes within same scene

• Problems With Dialogue

1. Nothing wrong with the use of the word "said," instead of "exclaimed," "grunted," "snapped," "uttered," "stated," "growled."
2. Each character must have his or her own voice. Use words people would actually say.
3. Avoid breaking up a conversation with internalizing.
4. Avoid "on the nose" dialogue.

• Problems With Characters

1. Central character cannot be passive — she must be compelling.
2. Actions must make sense.
3. There must be a central character.
4. Characters don’t have to be likeable, but they must be understandable.
5. Central character cannot be stopped by something small.

• Not Enough Conflict
• Problems With Non-fiction

1. Write for a larger audience.
2. Don’t make it too technical.
3. Don’t assume the reader knows as much about the subject as you do.
4. Don’t just report. Make it conversational. Make the reader enjoy learning.

• Incomplete Book Proposal

1. Title page: the title, your name, and contact information
2. One- to three-page overview of the project: Explain the thesis of the book and how you will prove the thesis.
3. Biographical section: Explain who you are and what your credentials are for writing the book. Include past writing, past publishing experience, honors and awards.
4. Marketing section: What is the target audience and why will people buy this book?
5. "Competition" section: List other works that are comparable to yours, at least in tone or subject matter. Take the next step and show how your book is different, better, or bigger than the competition.
6. Include a chapter-by-chapter outline of the book.
7. Attach sample chapters.

• Not Enough of…..Rewrite, Rewrite, Rewrite

By Farris Literary Agency, Inc.
Michael D. Farris
Susan Morgan Farris
P.O. Box 570069
Dallas, Texas 75357
972-203-8804
www.Farrisliterary.com
farris1@airmail.net