·      With FICTION, you must have a completed manuscript before contacting us, unless you are a multi-published novelist (this does not include self published).

·      With NON-FICTION, you can query when you have a completed book proposal and three sample chapters.

·      The first step is to send a query letter. We prefer queries by e-mail, not snail mail.
Rachelle@WordServeLiterary.com 

·      In the subject line of your email, include the word QUERY along with your genre to make sure you don't get tagged as spam. (Example: QUERY—women's nonfiction or QUERY—romantic suspense.)

·      The query letter is a short pitch (equivalent to one page, about three to six paragraphs).

·      For NON-FICTION, include the felt need, your approach and main ideas, your expertise, and how much material you can send if it is requested. Make sure you tell us a little about yourself, enough to let us know why YOU are the person to write this book.

·      For FICTION, don't give a synopsis of the whole book—just tell us enough to make us jump out of our seats and yell "I must read this book!" Also, include some information about yourself, your writing and publishing background, and what you've already done to ensure your work is of publishable quality.

·      Important: Please also include the first five to ten (or so) pages of your manuscript pasted in to the body of the email. Don’t include any attachments to the email—they won’t be opened. Please also refrain from asking us to click on a link to find out more. If you have a link to your website in your signature line, and we are interested in your query, we might click on it.

·      Please remember this is your first writing sample and it may be your only chance to WOW us... so write your query accordingly. There are numerous books, websites, and blogs on how to write great queries.

·      RESPONSE TIME: We try to respond to all queries within one to three weeks. If you do not hear from us in that time, you may re-submit because it may have gotten caught in our spam filter.

·      We respond to queries by either passing, or by requesting a proposal and sample chapters (known as a PARTIAL). We will let you know if we want you to send it via email or snail mail. With all correspondence, make sure your email address and phone number are clearly visible!

·      RESPONSE TIME FOR REQUESTED PARTIALS: Allow three months for a response before following up.

·      We DO accept simultaneous submissions and we ask that you notify us if you are simultaneously submitting to multiple agents.


GUIDELINES & PROTOCOL

·      Our policy is to respond to all queries that are properly addressed and follow the submission guidelines. We may delete a query without responding in the following circumstances: If it is not addressed to us personally, if it is clearly a mass submission, or if it simply contains a synopsis with no salutation and without the other elements we ask for in a query.

·      The only way to guarantee your email doesn't get caught in our spam filter is to make sure your subject line includes the word "query."

·      We will email back an acknowledgment that we received your query, within a week to two weeks of getting it. If you don't get an acknowledgment, we didn't get your email. Resend using a slightly different subject line, or from a different email address. Still no response? You may query by snail mail.

·      Please DO NOT CALL unless: (1) You are a client of WordServe; (2) You are already personally acquainted with Greg or Rachelle; or (3) You are a multi-published author (with a commercial, widely distributed, royalty-paying publisher) seeking new representation.

·      Submit your query to either Greg or Rachelle, not both. If one of us passes on your project, please don’t send it to the other. Unpublished authors, please query Rachelle (not Greg).

·      Always make sure your e-mail address and phone number are clearly visible no matter what you are sending.

·      If you send something in the mail, we don't require a stamped #10 envelope. Your email address will suffice. Only include an SASE if you want your entire submission returned, and in that case, be sure your envelope is big enough and you include enough postage.

·      Do NOT include any attachments unless one has been requested of you. They will not be opened. Also, don't expect us to click on a link in your email to find the information we need.

·      When you send your proposal or manuscript in response to a request from us, please include a dated cover letter, reminding us of your project and the email correspondence we've already had.

·      When you send email attachments in response to our request, please consolidate into ONE attachment, or two at the most. Don't have separate chapters in separate files.

·      If we have not responded to your query, and you have an offer of representation from another agent, it is courteous to send us an email letting us know of your offer and giving us the opportunity to respond before you make your final decision. It’s okay to ask us for a response date, e.g. “I hope to make a decision by June 20th so I would appreciate hearing from you before then.”