SHORT & SWEET #10

Short and Sweet #10
by Annette Dammer

Study Your Target Market

You wouldn't give a gift of chocolate - even the best - to someone who doesn't like it or has allergies, would you? If you didn't know them well, you might even ask, "What do you like?"

If you don't ask - and they're nice - they'll be gracious. But they won't be ABLE to use your Gift... Publishers are EXACTLY the same. Even your best writing - even Shakespeare's BEST sonnet - sent to the wrong place - will NEVER be used.

And, in a way, it's an insult. You didn't even ask what they like. You didn't take the time to find out.

A couple of weeks ago, we shared the writer's guidelines for Bethany House. GUIDELINES tell you what a publisher WANTS - what they're looking for. Bethany House takes it a step further. They say they want One-Page Queries - and then give you this list of HOW TO's.

Here are Bethany House's tips: Handy, Helpful Hints for a Successful One-page Query!
http://www.bethanyhouse.com/index.asp?inc=generic&page=161

Address your query to the appropriate editorial department—Adult Fiction, Adult Nonfiction, Young Adult/Children.

Review our guidelines carefully. Does your book idea match our areas of interest? Are you familiar with the kinds of books we publish? If not, take some time to peruse the books listed on the Web site.

Read one of our books in the same genre as your own to familiarize yourself with our line. . . .

To read the rest, you'll need to go to their site. Or bookmark the page for later use! It may bring immediate smiles! Even if you don't submit to your work to Bethany, you'll enjoy a trip to the bookstore, the library, and a few good reads. And when you're ready, your GIFT will be ready, too!

Let us know what you find... or what you're writing!
publisher@teenlight.org

Or visit one of our sites for writers: http://www.teenlight.org

Or JO: Journalism Online at: http://www.teenlight.org/JO

Ready, Set, Go! By Baker Books (Amen!) http://www.teenlight.org/readyset.htm