As we leave you to your brainstorming for our Desire submissions call, here’s one last thing: a checklist to comb over before you submit your proposal!
Final Submission Checklist:
Query Letter:
- Does it explain what the story is about? Will the editor understand what your story is about based on your query?
- Does it include relevant writing or publication history? If you don’t have writing experience, not a problem. We care about the story. A short query letter describing your story is preferable to a query letter that is all about your personal life but with no explanation of what your manuscript is about.
Synopsis:
- Do you have a clear synopsis that is between one and four pages?
- Does it cover the plot including the resolution? We need to know how the story ends – don’t keep that a secret in hopes that it’ll prompt us to read your full manuscript!
- Is it clear what internal and external conflicts both main characters face?
- Does it clearly show the hooks and tropes driving the story?
Chapters:
- Did you carefully proofread the first three chapters? Reading out loud helps! Don’t worry about it being perfect—few submissions are. We just need to be able to read it.
- Are your chapters free of too much explanation and backstory that slows the pacing?
- Do you have a good balance of exposition and dialogue? If your chapters have nothing but dialogue, we can’t see what’s happening very well.
- Do the main characters meet in the first three chapters? We’d prefer in the first or second chapter, but certainly no later than the third.
- Did you make sure that the hooks and tropes used in the story actually help drive the story, instead of being dropped in to meet the requirement?
- Are your chapters emotional, dramatic, juicy, and/or enthralling? Will we want to keep turning the pages? Will we finish your chapters understanding what the problems are that the characters face, and be invested enough that we need to know more?
We’re ready over here in the offices and are excited to find new authors to work with. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Happy writing, and we wish you the best of plot bunnies!
The Desire Editorial Team
3 replies on “Desire Special Call: The Final Checklist”
In your call for submissions you said that if we have more than three chapters we should include it. My manuscript is finished though the last fifty percent still need some work. Should I submit the whole manuscript or only the first three chapters?
Thank you for this great opportunity.
Hi Marie,
You’re welcome to just include the first three chapters. If you very strongly feel that there is a better place to leave off (i.e. at the end of chapter five), feel free to include more, but please don’t send in the full if it’s not ready yet!
Best,
Tahra
Likely a silly question, but what are the line initials? HD for Desire?
A second question. There submit page says to submit a cover letter. Is this where we place our query, or is it separate and sent with the synopsis?
Thank you!
Comments ( 7 )
I spent the entire shutdown working. Had no time to wind down. I didn’t see my son much when school shutdown. My one co worker was told to stay home for 3 weeks so I picked up her hours. This year has been really crappy.
Ugh, Janell. Here’s hoping the rest of your summer is better.
Thanks for the info, Carol! Everyone is different in how they deal with the shutdown! I stay at home all the time since I don’t work so I haven’t been too effected but my shopping and errands sure have been effected!
Valri, I’ve been doing most of my shopping online. My local Target is still low on some items – mostly cleaning supplies. Grocery store is pretty much back to normal. Most of the dining in our town is outdoor. I can’t imagine have school-age kids!
Wow–getting your creative process on track must have been daunting–especially with “extra-large dog” glad to have you home. You don’t like coffee–I love coffee and have enjoyed my fortifying 2 cups in the morning even more than usual! How as COVID affected your story lines and characterizations? Best Wishes for all releases!
Interesting question, Virginia. You’ll have to tell me if the tone of my “COVID” books changed any! LOL
Life has changed so much! My dad passed Feb 2. The assisted living facility my folks were at went into hardcore lockdown the beginning of March. Mom couldn’t leave her apartment for 4 months! She was on the third floor, Will be 89 in two months & doesn’t use the phone. My husband and I remodeled the lower level completely and moved her in with us July 1. What a life change and difficult transition for the 3 of us! But we’re working thru it!