SUBMISSIONS
HOW TO get discovered
Anna Davis of Curtis Brown Creative tells you how to write the introductory letter and synopsis that will give you real agent appeal
Anna Davis
J anuary is a great time to pitch your novel to literary agents. You’ll find them re-energised and keen to discover something fresh and exciting to start the new year. To maximise your chances of getting an agent’s attention amid the deluge of submissions, it’s worth making the effort to perfect your pitch package. I’ve read thousands of pitches in my time as an agent and as managing director of the Curtis Brown Creative writing school – so here are my tips to help you nail the tricky documents that go alongside the opening of your novel as the essential ingredients of the pitch package: the agent letter and synopsis.
THE LETTER
1 Target the right agents
Take time over your research when deciding who to write to. There are lots of directories and databases you can consult – but always cross-check them with the agencies’ own websites as they may not be up-to-date. Read interviews, social media profiles, and look in the acknowledgements of books you like, as agents are often thanked. Pick agents who are interested in the kind of book you’re writing and are eager to find new writers.
2
Address
the
agent
by
their
first
name
Only the most old-fashioned agents are uncomfortable about being addressed by their first names – and those are not the people you want to represent you.
3
Keep
the
letter
short
–
just
three
brief
paragraphs
You pitch your novel, say why you’ve targeted this particular agent, and then tell them a little about yourself. People will tell you the letter should be no more than a page – actually I’d say it should be much shorter than a page. Whenever we run agent-letter workshops with our students, we end up telling at least 80% of the students that their letter is too long…