| Is this a correct and efficient letter? |
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| NO (please, correct mistakes) |
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[ 0 ] |
| NEED IMPROVING (please state what) |
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[ 1 ] |
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| Total Votes : 1 |
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| Author |
Message |
RafaelDavi
Newbie
Joined: 03 Sep 2009
Posts: 2
Career Advice: +0/-0
Location: London
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 Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:55 am Post subject: Literary Agent Letter - please, have a look |
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Hi there guys,
As I'm not quite that formal in speech or writing, neither is English my main language, I'd really appreciate a good opinon on the following professional e-mail:
------- E-MAIL (info changed/deleted for privacy and coz I'd be embarassed if someone found out I don't know how to write this kind of leter!  )
To whom it may concern,
I am writing in lieu of folklorists [Full Name] and [Full Name] to know if you would be interested in seeing their work (in spanish) for a possible publishing partnership.
This couple have sold, only in the Argentinian territory (a most culturally arid nation), X00.000 in a span of about six years of work in the area of Folklore and Traditional Legends, having had eleven years as professional writers. Their collection on international folklore is the biggest in Argentina* and, apparently, of South America.
In case you are interested in receiving their book collection (consisting of 14 pieces), it would be my pleasure to send it to you, requiring only the specific address of shipment.
As their agent, it would be my pleasure to answer any query you may have regarding their career, etc.
Most sincerely,
[My Full Name],
Literary Agent
* [website prooving the statemet]
Website: [writher'ssite.com]
article in the [country's] Wikipedia: [Author A and Author B]
---------- END OF E-MAIL
Thank you for your time, and please leave your sincere comments and thoughts for making it better. Please, do correct me if I'm not right!
Thanks once more! |
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Pauloz
Expert
Joined: 02 Oct 2007
Posts: 1160
Career Advice: +3/-0
Location: Sydney
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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:50 am Post subject: Re: Literary Agent Letter - please, have a look |
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RafaelDavi
This is basically OK, some amendments in italics, and suggestions below.
| RafaelDavi wrote: | Hi there guys,
As I'm not quite that formal in speech or writing, neither is English my main language, I'd really appreciate a good opinon on the following professional e-mail:
------- E-MAIL (info changed/deleted for privacy and coz I'd be embarassed if someone found out I don't know how to write this kind of leter! )
To whom it may concern,
I act as the literary agent for Argentinian authors and folklorists [Full Name] and [Full Name] to know if you would be interested in seeing their work (in spanish) for a possible publishing partnership.
This couple have sold X00.000 copies, in Argentina alone, in a span of about six years of work in the area of Folklore and Traditional Legends, having had eleven years as professional writers. Their collection on international folklore* is truly unique, the biggest compilation of these materials in Argentina and, apparently, in South America.
If you are interested in receiving their book collection (consisting of 14 pieces), it would be my pleasure to send it to you, requiring only confirmation of your interest in these works and the specific address of shipment.
As their agent, it would be my pleasure to answer any query you may have regarding their career, etc.
Most sincerely,
[My Full Name],
Literary Agent
* [website prooving the statemet]
Website: [writher'ssite.com]
article in the [country's] Wikipedia: [Author A and Author B]
---------- END OF E-MAIL
Thank you for your time, and please leave your sincere comments and thoughts for making it better. Please, do correct me if I'm not right!
Thanks once more! |
Just a slight reshuffle of your text. A brief letter is a lot better than an epic sales pitch. Publishers don't need a book in the cover letter, just basic facts. I included the materials in italics to identify the Argentinian factor earlier in the letter, for orientation. The sales figures do quite enough talking about the business angle, so no need to add anything there.
Deleted reference to Argentina as culturally arid, because even if true, doesn't add market appeal to publisher who's possibly seeing an Argentinian book for the first time. Guilt by association suggests "books sell well in cultural desert", which might puzzle some publishers. Even if they know what you mean, doesn't serve any useful purpose to draw attention to shortcomings of market where sales are good.
Question:
"International folklore" means from around the world, not specifically Argentinian or South American? I've changed the position of the * to refer to the collection directly, rather than use Argentina/South America as a market reference.
Suggestion:
Language: If you're sending these books to non-Latin publishers, do you have English translations available? Probably wouldn't be a big issue in the US, but it's a procedurally obvious situation. A translation also gives you more control over the content quality, and I'm sure you'll be aware of the somewhat tacky, unreliable nature of many commercial translations into English. |
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RafaelDavi
Newbie
Joined: 03 Sep 2009
Posts: 2
Career Advice: +0/-0
Location: London
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| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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Paul
Thank you for the amendments, sugestions and adding a very nice touch to the text. About the “culturally arid”, you’ve made a good point. I was attempting to imply “if it sold like that in a South American country, guess what will happen in the UK!” Hopefully they know the market well enough to think that all by themselves.
Actually, what these writers do is retelling the tales and legends in a very, very endearing way, while keeping true to the original content. I wonder how I could state that or if what I wrote suffices.
By “international folklore”, yes, it is meant from around the world, and the * was meant to offer proof for the bold “biggest collection” statement.
About sending it translated, major writers sent their books in the original languages, like Paulo Coelho, so I figured “hey, if that’s how the big guys play, it should be the best strategy”. Maybe it’s a good idea to say in the beginning of the letter “translation and/or publishing partnership” to that we are sending the originals, but we’re open to send it translated if that’s the way it works. Finding a good translator is not an easy task and they can usually be found working for the major publishers.
Thank you once more for your great sugestions!
Rafael |
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