GLOSSARY OF PUBLISHING TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

Cathy C

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS– Learning the Lingo

by Cathy Clamp

New authors are often confused by acronyms and abbreviations used by publishing houses, agents and other writers. So, for you beginning writers, here are a few of the common terms that you’ll hear as you start the process of publishing your book or story:

Advance: Money paid to an author by a publisher before a book is published and purchased by the public. It’s usually paid in installments during the course of creation of the book (i.e., part on contract signing, part on delivery of the manuscript and part on publication.)

Agent: A person or company which acts as a liaison between the author and the publishing house for a fee based on sales of the book. Money is NOT paid to the agent until money is received FROM the publisher. Never use an agent who requests up-front money from the author.

ARC: An acronym for "Advance Reading Copy" or "Advance Review Copy." This is a book that has been through editing, and occasionally copy editing, but may contain some errors and isn’t yet available for sale to the public. They are usually printed from first pass galleys several months in advance of publication to send to magazine and on-line reviewers so the book can be read and the review prepared in time for the release date.

Auction: When a book is sent out to various publishers and more than one is interested, the agent will start the publishers bidding against each other for the privilege of publishing the book. There is a strict protocol involved, often involving sealed bids. The agent will look for the best money and the best overall contract terms to decide the winner. The author gets the final say in where the book winds up based on a vetting process which occurs before the auction formally begins.


Backlist: An author’s list of books that were not published in the current season (usually based on calendar year or quarter) and may or may not still be in print.

Beta Reader: Another person, sometimes a writer themselves, but can be just a regular reader of the genre, who assists an author by reading a manuscript. The goal is to have the beta reader point out plot holes, characterization problems and timeline before a book is sent out for review by an agent or editor.

Bio: Abbreviation for biography. A brief paragraph about the author.

Boilerplate: A standardized contract presented by a publisher to an author. Usually, a boilerplate requires changes to clauses that could be detrimental to the author before signing.

Category: For romance, this term means the books published by publishers Harlequin, Silhouette and Zebra that are part of an established world or series. Like dairy products, they have a shelf life and are usually shorter than single title books. Short category generally runs from 50,000 to 60,000 words, while long category can be anywhere from 65,000 to 85,000 words.

Copyediting: Editing a manuscript for grammar, punctuation and spelling errors, rather than subject content, plot or characterization. A copy editor also checks for inconsistencies and checks information/facts.


Copyright: A way to protect the work of an author by registering with an office of the government of the country where the author lives. Copyrighting is NOT required to occur before submitting to an agent or a publisher. An unpublished manuscript is protected from the moment it is created in printed or virtual form. You can read more about your rights on the U.S. Copyright Office’s website, at: http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq

Cover Approval: A contract term in a publishing contract that allows the author to approve cover art for their book. While highly prized, it's seldom agreed to by publishers unless the author shows an aptitude for art and marketing savvy.

Cover Consultation: Another contract term that provides that the author have INPUT into the cover's design (suggesting minor changes that could increase buyer purchases,) but final approval rests with the publisher. Also highly prized by authors, and occurs more often than cover approval as a contract concession.

Cover letter: A brief letter which accompanies a manuscript, which gives your name, mailing address, email address and phone number. This is NOT a query letter.

CP: Short for "Critique Partner."

Critique Partner: A critique partner is another writer who helps with the writing process. Sometimes it can be during the creation stage of the book or during the actual writing process. Often they will read the book and make suggestions which may or may not be incorporated into the final book.

CV: An acronym for "Curriculum vita." This is a Latin term that is more than a bio. It’s more similar to a job resume. It is a brief listing of publications of the author and other writing credentials.

D&A:An abbreviation of "Delivery and Acceptance," usually referring to a manuscript. This does NOT mean what an author would normally expect. In publishing, delivery and acceptance of a manuscript often means AFTER initial delivery of the manuscript, and sometimes even AFTER editing of the manuscript has been COMPLETED to the editor's satisfaction. Some publishers accept the book upon delivery, but several publishers wait until after editing, which can be many months after initial delivery, depending on the edits required. It's also important to note that if edits are not completed to the editor's satisfaction, the publication may be cancelled at the publisher's discretion and no further advances need be paid.

Earn Out: Same as "sell-through." When a book sells enough copies to have the individual royalties per book repay the advance to the publisher. A fast earn-out of a title is a good sales point for a second book to the same or to another publisher. The author "earns-out." The book "sells-through."

Edition: An edition of a book generally refers to format. There can be a hardback edition, a mass market edition, a book club edition, an audio book edition, etc. Occasionally, a "same-format" second (or third) edition will occur when a major change occurs, from changing the price to a discounted version, or reprinting an old, out-of-print title at the current format price. Often, a new edition will bear a new ISBN on the face, but that could soon change with the updated EAN-13 number, which will allow for a "permanent ISBN" that follows minor changes in the same format.

Editor: An employee of a publisher who assists with production of the book once purchased by the publishing house. Within the structure of editing---which varies from publishing house to publishing house, there can be: Acquiring Editor (the person who reads queries, slush and agented submissions for the purpose of "acquiring" the book for the house), Editor or Production Editor (who performs "style" or content edits of a book---looking for structural problems, plotting, characterization, timeline, etc.,) Senior Editor (often tasked with working with the marketing department and sales department to determine which of the manuscripts proposed by the acquiring editor are best for the bookstore and/or the other books already acquired for a line/imprint), Copy Editor (who performs "line" or grammatical edits on the book, from sentence structure to spelling, punctuation, etc.)

Exclusive Reading/Viewing: A publisher who is interested in a book will sometimes request an "exclusive" viewing of the full manuscript. This means that they do not want any other publisher to be reading it at the same time. It’s important for the author, if they wish to allow this, to limit the time an editor/agent has exclusive use of the manuscript. It shouldn’t be out of the marketplace for more than 2-3 months.

Frontlist: 1) Opposite of backlist. This is a publisher’s list of CURRENT books in their catalogue; and 2) The lead titles of best selling authors (depending on use in context.)

Galleys: A typeset version of the final manuscript. It is often created for the author and editor to check one last time for typographical or other errors before being sent to the printer.

Hardcover: A type of book which produces a larger sized product with a pressed cardboard cover. It often uses pressed, finished paper for the pages, rather than pulp paper.

Imprint: The name applied to a publisher’s line of books of a particular genre or style. "Tor" and "Forge" are imprint names of Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.

Lead Author: A lead author of a publisher is usually a best-seller with a first print run in excess of 250,000 copies, but this number varies from publisher to publisher and often from month to month. The "super-lead" generally has more than one million copies in a first print run. J.K. Rowling is Scholastic's super-lead author.

Lead time: The time between acquisition of a manuscript and the date of release.

Line Editing: Sometimes called "content editing," this is when an editor will make recommendations about the plot, timeline and characters in order to speed up, slow down or smooth out the book. It can entail removing subplots, changing a character's motivation for taking an action or inserting/deleting elements in the timeline of the book.

Mandated Publication: A clause in a publishing contract. "Mandated publication" means that the publisher must publish the book within a reasonable time (often 18 or 24 months from contract signing) or return the rights to the author free of charge. Frequently, any advances paid to the author to that point would be retained by the author as damages. In a multi-book contract, it usually only applies to the specific book not published, and the remainder of the contract remains in force.

Mass market: Literally, it means books of wide appeal that are directed toward a large, national audience. By application, it’s the size and construction of a book which is generally 6-3/4" x 4-1/4" and contains pulp paper in a perfect binding

Midlist: 1) The entry level titles on a publisher's list. 2) The titles on a publisher's list that are expected to sell through their advance and earn back costs, but not be major sellers.

MS: or ms. Abbreviation for "manuscript." When written as MSS or mss. it refers to multiple manuscripts.

Multiple submissions: Sending out more than one book idea to an agent/publisher at the same time.

Novella: A short novel or long story, usually defined as being between 7,000 to 20,000 words.

Pen Name: Also called a pseudonym, many authors prefer not to have their given name on the book’s cover. However, contracts are entered in the given, legal name of the author.

Pre-empt: The stuff of dreams to an author. In an auction, a publisher who is hot to get a book will offer an obscene amount of up-front money in order to stop all bidding and make an immediate deal.

Print Run: Major publishers use a method of producing a book that involves an offset press, which prints and binds many copies of the book all at one time. The first print run of a new title is based on orders from distributors, wholesalers and secondary markets, plus an additional quantity that is kept in the warehouse for re-orders. The more copies ordered, the less expensive each individual book will cost the publisher, because each time a printer starts the press, there is additional cost. The number of books produced in the first print run often determines whether an author is a mid-list or lead author.

Proofreading: Careful reading and correction of errors in a manuscript.

Publisher: An entity or person who: 1) contracts with an author and (when a print book) a printer, to prepare and produce a manuscript in book form and make it available to the general public to purchase. "Prepare" means to edit and format the book so that it will fit comfortably on the printed or electronic page for ease of reading by the buyer. It includes preparation of appropriate cover art, spine art and back cover art (if a print book), and usually includes preparation of back cover description to entice the buyer; 2) owns sufficient ISBN/EAN-13 numbers to assign to each individual final book in order for bookstores to track the sales; 3) distributes the book to stores (if a print book). The group of "publishers" an author might see advertised are: a) Commercial publishers; b) small press publishers; c) electronic or ebook publishers; d) self publishers; e) subsidy publishers; f) POD (print on demand) publishers; and g) vanity publishers. Another class of definition has sprung up, being a "traditional" publisher, but this definition does not exist in the industry. Typically, a publisher advertising itself as a "traditional" publisher is one which falls into the class of subsidy publishers. A self-publisher is an author who has taken the extra step to produce their own book and accomplishes this by hiring the same employees, as contract labor/vendors, to achieve the final book: editor, cover artist, printer and sales force. A subsidy publisher relies on monetary contributions from the author or a higher-than-normal price point of the book to the end buyer to recoup their out-of-pocket costs so that they receive a higher profit on each book than the typical industry model. This method of recoupment is unusual in the publishing industry, which is normally structured so that the publisher pays all costs up front and doesn't recoup until actual sales to the public. A POD publisher is one which is able to sell only one book at a time---thus "print on demand". This lowers the cost of production, but many POD publishers also rely on the "net" royalty structure, turning them into subsidy publishers. A "vanity" publisher is a negative slang term for a subsidy publisher with a known or proven poor production/royalty model. Please note that there is a difference between POD technology, or the machinery capable of producing one book at a time, and a POD publishing model, which relies on the subsidy accounting method to recoup expenses. It's important for an author to determine what publishing model a publisher intends to use if using a small press of POD publisher. If the publisher employs a "net" royalty structure (defined below) it may be that the publisher uses the POD model, rather than just the technology.

Query: A letter that SELLS a book idea to a publisher or agent. The letter is generally no more than one page, contains contact information, a short summary of the plot, and requests permission to send either a synopsis or a full manuscript of the book.

Remainders: Copies of a book that were slow to sell on the shelf and the publisher sells to discount outlets for a fraction of the initial price.

Returns: Copies of a book that didn’t sell at all in a particular store. The store sends back the book to the publisher (or the cover of the book, in the case of paperbacks) for credit against their invoice.

Royalties, net sales: A royalty is the percentage of the sales of the book that is paid to the author. The royalties will vary depending on the form of the book (mass paperback, trade paperback, hardcover, audio, electronic, etc.,) or the method of sale (high discount, direct sales, premium sales and remainder sales), and can increase within a form if sales are very good. There are two ways to determine how much the author is entitled to, and it’s VERY important that you know which one your publisher is using. One way is to give the author a percentage (let's say 6%) on the net price. The net price is the retail price of the book, less the costs to produce it. So, let's say that from the $6.99, the publisher removes 40¢ for the cost of paper and ink, removes 19¢ for the salaries of the publisher and staff, another 11¢ for insurance and equipment leases, and another 70¢ for other miscellaneous things. So, instead of receiving 42¢, the author will receive the royalty on a lower book price of $5.59, which would give them 34¢ per book. But quite often, the costs removed are MUCH higher. Often, a publisher offsets this deduction by increasing the percentage, guaranteeing that if sales are good, the author will benefit, and the publisher will still get their costs paid. However, if a contract is based on net sales, it’s important for the author to know what costs will be removed from the book’s list price before royalties are paid.

Royalties, list/retail price: The author’s percentage (again, we'll use 6%) of the list price or retail price of the book. So, a paperback selling for $6.99 would give the author 42¢ on every book sold.

SASE: Self-addressed, stamped envelope. This envelope should be included with any query or full manuscript for the editor/agent’s use in replying. It should have a return address (yours), a mailing address (yours) and proper postage to get from the publisher back to you. It’s very important to ensure that you apply the postage of other countries if you’re approaching the publisher from a different country from yours. Ask your postal agent if you have any questions.

Secondary Markets: A secondary market in publishing refers to stores and locations which don't sell books as their PRIMARY business. Wal-Mart, Target, and airport gift stores are examples of secondary markets. Secondary market orders often account for 1/3 to 1/2 of first print run orders, but returns of unsold copies can be as high as 50%.

Sell-through: 1) When a book sells enough copies to have the individual royalties per book repay the advance to the publisher. A fast sell-through of a title is a good sales point for a second book to the same or to another publisher; and 2) When a book's first print run is all sold to bookstores and a second print run must be ordered.

Simultaneous submissions: Sending out queries for a single book to more than one editor/agent at a time. Many publishing houses refuse to consider simultaneous submissions.

Single Title: A single title romance is one that is a stand-alone world or story, rather than part of an established world or series in a category. A single title book is often longer at 80,000 to 100,000 words.

Slush pile: A stack of unsolicited manuscripts at a publishing house or agency. While the slush submissions are most always read, it is a slow process, and an author should be prepared to wait for many months for a response.

Subsidiary Rights: Any right in a novel that is less than the first publisher’s claim to print and sell the book (called the "primary right") is known as a "secondary," "serial," or "subsidiary" right. Many authors have heard of audio books, eBooks, book clubs, foreign editions and movies based on a novel. These are all subsidiary rights, and an author (or agent) who knows their stuff can ensure that the lion’s share of the profit from the sale of these rights will go to the author. But it’s important to consider whether you have the ability to deal with the right, too. You can keep the audio rights, for example, but they will do you little good if you don’t know how to sell them. Some authors happily allow the publisher to keep the subsidiary rights, because it’s in the publisher’s best interest to make as much money from your book as possible, so they will sell any right possible. Naturally, this also benefits the author, who will either earn a flat fee for the sale of foreign rights or audio rights, or will earn a royalty percentage.

Subsidy Publisher: A publisher who charges an author to publish a book or charges a higher than normal price for a book to the buying public, rather than a royalty publisher, who pays the author for the privilege of publishing the book. Some of these publishers are also called "vanity" publishers, because they prey on a writer's wish to be a published author without the time and effort of finding a traditional publishing house.

Synopsis: A summary of a book, often 2-5 pages long, which describes the plot, the characters and the resolution of the book.

Trade Paperback: A trade paperback book is a product between a mass market paperback and hardback. It uses the better quality paper of hardback, but the soft cover of mass market. The size is usually 6" x 9".

Unsolicited manuscript: A book that an editor did not specifically request to see.

WIP: "Work in Progress." A term used by writers to discuss the manuscript or story presently being written.

**********
Hope these definitions help some of you out!

Oh, and for AbsoluteWrite specific things or internet jargon (like FWIW--for what it's worth) check out the AbsoluteWrite dictionary. :)
 
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Susan Gable

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Cathy C said:
Category: For romance, this term means the books published by publishers Harlequin, Silhouette and Zebra that are part of an established world or series. Like dairy products, they have a shelf life and are usually shorter than single title books, from 50,000 to 60,000 words.

I hate to seem like I'm correcting you, Cath, but since category is my area...<G> My category romances run 85,000 words, but then, I write for the longest of the category lines. But I just wanted folks to know that word length can be longer than that. In fact, 50-60K only covers the short contemporary categories. Long contemps (Blaze, Sil Intimate Moments, Intrigue, Sil Special Edition, Supers) are all over 60K.

:)

Susan G.
 

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Susan Gable said:
My category romances run 85,000 words, but then, I write for the longest of the category lines.

I have a ms that I'm cleaning up that I would like to submit to the Superromance line. The story is roughly 85,000 words and since the site states 75,000-80,000 words, do you think I'd be safe submitting it at 85k?
 

Cathy C

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Susan Gable said:
I hate to seem like I'm correcting you, Cath, but since category is my area...<G> My category romances run 85,000 words, but then, I write for the longest of the category lines. But I just wanted folks to know that word length can be longer than that. In fact, 50-60K only covers the short contemporary categories. Long contemps (Blaze, Sil Intimate Moments, Intrigue, Sil Special Edition, Supers) are all over 60K.

:)

Susan G.

LOL! Feel free to correct me anytime, Susan! I want to make sure that the information is the most accurate. What would you say the proper range is, so I can correct it above?
 

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Sonarbabe said:
I have a ms that I'm cleaning up that I would like to submit to the Superromance line. The story is roughly 85,000 words and since the site states 75,000-80,000 words, do you think I'd be safe submitting it at 85k?

The site says Super is 75-80? That's news to me. <G> I thought we were 80-85. Hmmm...wonder if they changed the guidelines? I always submit at 85K. :) Go for it. My ed always knows where to trim. LOL.

Good luck!

Susan G.
 

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Cathy C said:
LOL! Feel free to correct me anytime, Susan! I want to make sure that the information is the most accurate. What would you say the proper range is, so I can correct it above?

Short category is 50-60K, and long is 65-85. 85 is definately the high end. Maybe you should say 65-80, especially if Super changed the guidelines when I wasn't looking. <G>

Susan G.
 

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Ooops! Oh God, I am such an airhead! I just double checked the site and yes, Susan you are right!!! 80,000-85,000 for Superromance. The one I'd been thinking of Silhouette Special Edition. Theirs is 75,000-80,000 words. :Smack: Sorry!
 

Cathy C

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Thanks Susan! :Hug2: I've changed it above. Does anyone have a term that they've always wondered the meaning of, or like to include one that often gets asked? I've tried to pull from lots of different forums to include the most commonly confusing terms, but the more comprehensive, the better! Thanks! :D
 

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Cath, the first times I heard about Alpha heroes and beta heroes, I dind't have a clue. Maybe you want to tackle those? <G>

Susan G.
 

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:idea: Great idea, Susan! But maybe a glossary of those particular ROMANCE terms should be a separate thread. The Alpha/beta stuff really doesn't come up except in romance, and there are any number of other things that newbies are confused about, like HEA and "with romantic elements." Let me play around with that for a few days.
 

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I would definitely call the first list publishing terms, not writing terms. Writing terms would be things like genre, milieu, initial incident, conflict, denouement, scene and sequel, note-card method, archetype, plot and character arcs, theme, register, atmosphere, character dynamic, etc.
 

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Thank you, Cathy, for the list. I always wondered what the difference between copyediting and editing was.
 

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There is a new genre out there that I'm confused about and don't remember what it's called. It is mostly ethnic, features gangs, drugs, and violence. It's gritty, very uncensored. It might have the words "street" or "ghetto' in it. There are some publishers that deal inclusively in this type of story.

I just can't remember it.

Tri
 

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I believe Tri is referring to the genre I write most. It's been called many names: Street Lit, Gangsta Lit, Urban Lit, Hip Hop Lit, etc. But it is now indeed a recognized genre, with its own BISAC and all, and its official name is Urban Fiction.

Urban Fiction focuses on inner-city hardknock life from a Black (African American) and/or Latino cultural perspective. Its largest readership is 15-25 year olds; usually the rap music crowd.

Urban Fiction isn't really new. Donald Goines and Robert "Iceberg Slim" Beck are credited as pioneers of the genre, with works published by Holloway House in the 60s and 70s. Ann Petry, a Harlem Renaissance writer, is said to have written the Urban Fiction of her day (1940s). Some even throw James Baldwin and Richard Wright into the mix. However, Sister Souljah is credited with reviving the genre in the late 90s with her novel, The Coldest Winter Ever.

Holloway House, Triple Crown Publications, Teri Woods Publishing, G-Unit Books, and Q-Boro Books are among today's top Urban Fiction publishers.
 

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Thanks so much for the info, Gigi! Since you write in it, would you be so kind as to explain the elements that would put a book in this genre? I'd like to update my genre list. :)

Thanks!
 

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My, my, my, what can I say about Urban Fiction - it’s not for the faint at heart! It’s often described as a voice from the street, similar in language and subject as gangsta rap music. Urban Fiction generally depicts gritty coming-of-age stories that serve as cautionary tales to readers.

Urban Fiction’s high-charged language is direct, filled with slang, profanity, frequent use of the N-word; and features graphic violence and sexually explicit content. The stories revolve around the drug trade, prostitution, gang life, prison life, and the strife and struggle of everyday living in impoverished inner city ghettos. The need/desire for fast (easy) money and willingness to do anything to get it, often prove the protagonist’s downfall.

The best known authors of the genre are: Donald Goines, Walter Dean Myers, Ann Petry, Robert “Iceberg Slim” Beck, Chester Himes, Sister Souljah, Teri Woods, Vickie M. Stringer, Solomon Jones, Danielle Santiago, Eric Jerome Dickey, Omar Tyree, and Nikki Turner.
 

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Thanks so much for the info..can anyone let me about alpha heroes and beta heroes..

Staffingpower.com

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n00b Terms I needed and need to know still.

Does anyone have a term that they've always wondered the meaning of, or like to include one that often gets asked?

I still call myself a n00b.
Some/most of these I offer did puzzle me, some still do.
If they are declared elsewhere, perhaps you will list them and link them to where their definitions are?

Beta Reader
Agent
Editor
Publisher
Query: Business Letter not a howdy doodee, friend, joking context email.
Synopsis: Business Letter not a howdy doodee, friend, joking context email.
Cover letter: Business Letter not a howdy doodee, friend, joking context email.
MC: Main Character
Literary Fiction: ?
Contemporary Fiction: ?

NB: I did include something that I was told and that was that those assorted letters are BUSINESS Letters and not casual or friend stuff. Unjtil I was told that, I didn't know and was liable to include levity etc.
 

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Welcome aboard, Herman! Some of these are defined above:

Agent
Cover Letter
Query
Synopsis

Some are not:

Beta Reader
Editor
Publisher

Good idea! I'll add those in a few minutes.

The rest wouldn't belong in this list:

Literary Fiction
Commercial Fiction
MC

You can find the definitions of Literary and Commercial Fiction in the first chapter of my Genre workshop lecture.

As for MC, we've discussed having a thread like this that discusses writing terminology. I'd started to put it in this one, but several people objected saying it didn't fit. I agree, but just haven't had a chance to put together one for literary terminology. It would be pretty broad and encompassing, which means it would be time-consuming. But hey, if any of you out there are interested in starting one, I'd be happy to sticky it and then we could add to it as time permits. :)
 
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Letters

Cover Letter
Query
Synopsis

Cathy, I did not miss your definitions of these but I felt that an important thing about them that I was told later on was that they were not to be frivolous in anyway, they were a Business Letter.
Prior to this, I had allowed my creative juices be applied to these and some comedy as well. Until, of course, the business nature of the letter was pointed out to me.
I am just trying to point out what seems important to a newbie while I am close to that state. Sorry.