Guidelines for Your Fiction Proposal
No zip files. While I will represent secular work, please do NOT submit any material that would conflict with the Christian worldview(graphic sexuality, profanity, etc). I'm a paperless office, email submissions only to--mail to: linda {at} hartlineliterary {dot}com PLEASE, 12pt, New Times Roman, 1" margins, not fancy fonts, in a WORD doc, be professional
Your fiction proposal should include the following items:
- Proposal Cover letter
Addressed to the appropriate agent with title/genre/word count and appropriate contact information in the letter, this letter should interest us in reading your proposal. In an email the attached file name should be descriptive - author name / fiction or nonfiction proposal / slugline. - One-page sell sheet
A one page overview that summarizes your novel. And you can be creative here, if you like. The one place you can let me see your personal side. - Biographical sketch
Please do a short jacket blurd bio, and well as a detailed one. List your writing experience, your education, your achievements, and your prior publishing history. - Story Synopsis
Prepare a one page synopsis of your story. I would also like a full synopsis that details all aspects of your story. 3-5 pages single-spaced - Market analysis
Identify your novel's audience (the specific categories of readers your book is aimed at). - Competitive analysis
Identify novels published within the past five years that are similar to your proposed work. Tell us why your book should be published, and explain how your book is superior and/or provides a new slant on your topic. - Marketing strategies (what will you do to sell your book in cooperation with the publisher?)
Increasingly, fiction and non-fiction authors are encouraged to promote their novels themselves through writers' conferences, book signings, and web sites. We suggest you establish a web site, and you'll need to create promotional giveaways, arrange your own book signings, or attend writers' conferences. Think outside of the box. - History of the manuscript
Please tell us if the manuscript has been submitted to editors and/or publishers by yourself or another agent. - The first three chapters
For fiction send the first three chapters. Non-fiction can be your choice of the first three or what you feel best showcases your book...
