is the place to talk with writers from every imaginable genre. Participants have the opportunity to hear insider information from successful writers, producers, editors, and agents, and get a chance to ask questions about the industry, writing, publishing, tips to get ahead, and creative inspiration.

Before Sharlene Martin’s current position as a literary agent, she worked at American Airlines, hiring airline attendants (including the first mal

So you finished your nonfiction masterpiece! Your scoop is singular, your focus razor sharp, and your writing tight as the blood pressure cuff your doctor has recently taken an interest in regularly strapping to your arm. Probably twice daily if you’re like many writers…

But thank goodness, all that is now over. You’ve finished the book. All you have to do is send the manuscript in to an agent, and then they send it to a publisher, and then you get a fat advance. Oh, and a possible movie deal!

Right?

Most people know that getting a book published isn’t that easy. But few know just how hard it can actually be. We don’t even mean that it’s just hard to get a manuscript published; bear in mind it’s extremely difficult to get any agent to even consider reading it!

Surprised?

Writing your book is the first step, welcome to the second one: the query letter.

Unlike the relatively free flowing work of writing, there really are some trade secrets to putting your work out there without which you literally have no chance of getting your manuscript read.

All right, now put down the deed to your house and your first-born child, we know just the woman who will unlock some of the critical keys and her name is certainly not Rumpelstiltskin...

Introducing the Literary Agent

Sharlene Martin is a successful literary agent located in California with clients recently hitting the New York Times and LA Times bestseller lists. Known for her quick responses, and personal interaction, Martin is the go-to woman for questions about representation.

Martin recently joined us “At the Table”, a weekly teleconference sponsored by Writers of the Round Table Inc. The teleconference is the place to talk with writers from every imaginable genre. Participants have the opportunity to hear insider information from successful writers, producers, editors, and agents, and get a chance to ask questions about the industry, writing, publishing, tips to get ahead, and creative inspiration.

Before Sharlene Martin’s current position as a literary agent, she worked at American Airlines, hiring airline attendants (including the first male

er, and then you get a fat advance. Oh, and a possible movie deal!

Right?

Most people know that getting a book published isn’t that easy. But few know just how hard it can actually be. We don’t even mean that it’s just hard to get a manuscript published; bear in mind it’s extremely difficult to get any agent to even consider reading it!

Surprised?

Writing your book is the first step, welcome to the second one: the query letter.

Unlike the relatively free flowing work of writing, there really are some trade secrets to putting your work out there without which you literally have no chance of getting your manuscript read.

All right, now put down the deed to your house and your first-born child, we know just the woman who will unlock some of the critical keys and her name is certainly not Rumpelstiltskin...

Introducing the Literary Agent

Sharlene Martin is a successful literary agent located in California with clients recently hitting the New York Times and LA Times bestseller lists. Known for her quick responses, and personal interaction, Martin is the go-to woman for questions about representation.

Martin recently joined us “At the Table”, a weekly teleconference sponsored by Writers of the Round Table Inc. The teleconference is the place to talk with writers from every imaginable genre. Participants have the opportunity to hear insider information from successful writers, producers, editors, and agents, and get a chance to ask questions about the industry, writing, publishing, tips to get ahead, and creative inspiration.

Before Sharlene Martin’s current position as a literary agent, she worked at American Airlines, hiring airline attendants (including the first mal

ond one: the query letter.

Unlike the relatively free flowing work of writing, there really are some trade secrets to putting your work out there without which you literally have no chance of getting your manuscript read.

All right, now put down the deed to your house and your first-born child, we know just the woman who will unlock some of the critical keys and her name is certainly not Rumpelstiltskin...

Introducing the Literary Agent

Sharlene Martin is a successful literary agent located in California with clients recently hitting the New York Times and LA Times bestseller lists. Known for her quick responses, and personal interaction, Martin is the go-to woman for questions about representation.

Martin recently joined us “At the Table”, a weekly teleconference sponsored by Writers of the Round Table Inc. The teleconference is the place to talk with writers from every imaginable genre. Participants have the opportunity to hear insider information from successful writers, producers, editors, and agents, and get a chance to ask questions about the industry, writing, publishing, tips to get ahead, and creative inspiration.

Before Sharlene Martin’s current position as a literary agent, she worked at American Airlines, hiring airline attendants (including the first mal

strong>Introducing the Literary Agent

Sharlene Martin is a successful literary agent located in California with clients recently hitting the New York Times and LA Times bestseller lists. Known for her quick responses, and personal interaction, Martin is the go-to woman for questions about representation.

Martin recently joined us “At the Table”, a weekly teleconference sponsored by Writers of the Round Table Inc. The teleconference is the place to talk with writers from every imaginable genre. Participants have the opportunity to hear insider information from successful writers, producers, editors, and agents, and get a chance to ask questions about the industry, writing, publishing, tips to get ahead, and creative inspiration.

Before Sharlene Martin’s current position as a literary agent, she worked at American Airlines, hiring airline attendants (including the first mal

is the place to talk with writers from every imaginable genre. Participants have the opportunity to hear insider information from successful writers, producers, editors, and agents, and get a chance to ask questions about the industry, writing, publishing, tips to get ahead, and creative inspiration.

Before Sharlene Martin’s current position as a literary agent, she worked at American Airlines, hiring airline attendants (including the first male attendant). Then Martin started Helping Hands, Inc. an award winning company that screened nannies before selling and moving into casting and story development in Hollywood.

Martin discovered that what she liked most about Hollywood was working with writers on development. Using this affinity, her uncanny powers of intuition and her ability to work 60 hour work weeks while reading hundreds of email queries each day, Martin began her literary agency.

Now knowing that Martin receives 100 email queries each day, how do you make yours stand out? Here are her essential steps:

1. Research the agent

Every agent has his or her own area of expertise. What sort of books does he or she represent? Get details on the agents’ submission processes, as well as any other additional information you can get. He likes tea rather than coffee? Write it down.

2. Make sure you’re sending a query to the right agent

Now that you know everything there is to know about this agent, take a step back. Your book may be perfect in every way, but if it isn’t the sort of book (after all your research) that this agent represents, your manuscript will not change that fact. Look for sensibilities similar to your own, and avoid celebrity agents. Do not query agents who don’t represent work of a similar genre as your own.

3. Craft a highly personal letter

Sharlene Martin says she cannot stress the above suggestion enough. While at Martin Literary Management, Sharlene prides herself on personally reading every query letter, for any person reading 100 letters a day, yours better stick out if you want to be remembered.

Don’t write something average beca