Recieved an email back saying that my submission has not passed the flight check and details on what I need to do to improve my submissions.

Error 1
One of my 'query letters' has the persons name at the bottom and not at the top.  I have now amended this.

Error 2
One of the agens seleced is not interested in YA fiction.  Unfortunatley they didn't say who.... so I had to check through all the agents to try to identify them.

Now resubmitted.  Hope I pass the flight check and even better...  hope to find my future Agent.  *fingers crossed*

So I have used Agent in the Box to contact 26 Agents.  The process was pretty simple and you can save your progress at any time and come back to it when you have more time or have things more ready (i.e. you could log to work on your query letter).

First you enter basic details about your manuscript such as your name, title of the book, word count, short synopsis and genre 1 and 2. 

The genre selection is important as this searches their database of Agents for you to contact.  You then can view these agents profiles to see if you like them and if you do 'click add'.  This brings up an e-mail form where you can paste the body of your 'query letter' but remember to consider editing it to make it specific to that agents line of work.  This can take some time.

The next screen details the different submission requirement attachements:

2 agents = query only no attachment
4 agents = 5 page sample
7 agents = 10 page sample
4 agents = 25 page sample
2 agents = 30 page sample
3 agents = 50 page sample
3 agents = 1 chapter sample
1 agent = 3 chapters samples

So you paste in the required text for each sample and then WeBook make sure the agents get what they need.  This is a little fiddley but a lot simpler to do it 8 times than 26 times. 

Finally you are asked to complete an Authors Bio.  They ask questions to gather information from you.  This can be tricky if you haven't got a background as a published writer but concentrate on what you have got 'what are you best to write this novel' and 'what experience have you got, i.e. blogging, member of a writing group, participate in online writing communities, etc.  How long have you been writing (I think most writers - it's as soon as they could pick up a pen).

The last page it for payment details.  All your progress will be saved and you can pay at anytime but until you pay nothing goes out.  Now I have paid, it has passed to a member of WeBook staff to do a 'Flight Check' where they check that your synopsis, letter and manuscript is at a suitable standard before sending it out.  Last thing you want is a spelling mistake in your query letter.

Will let you know the outcome...

Cost Estimate
This is a guess that 30 pages or 3 chapters would be a package and that all the rest except query would be a large letter, i have estimated the cost to 26 agents by post would have been:


First class:  £19.58
Second class:  £15.52

This would be if all the agents lived in the UK whereas most of them are in the USA (so it would be more with international costs).  However, many of the agents I've subscribed to do accept email submissions so I could have mailed them for free. 

I'm still on the fence as to whether Agent in the Box is worth it but will continue to keep you informed as my submission is now pending 'Flight Check'

I decided to give this feature on WeBook a try.  It cost $39.95 (£26.29 - subject to currency rate).  I had to wait until pay day but personally I think this is a fair price:

Sending a query letter by post would only require a small envelope so this would cost: 

41p (first class)
32p (second class)

Anyone wanting more, such as synopsis, chapters, etc, would hopefully fit into a large enveolope (and not be calssed as a packet) as this would cost: 

66p (first class - starting price)
51p (second class - starting price)

If, It did become a packet... it would cost: 

£1.39 (first class - starting price)
£1.17 (second class - starting price)

In addition, at the start of this year, I invested in 'The Writers & Attist Yearbook 2010'.  It is a very informative book but I don't find the agent listings very helpful - you have to read everything and note down your contacts.  A disc to search and select data would have been a useful feature.  It cost me £14.99.  However, you can buy it cheaper now we are half way through the year and some of the data is out of date.

You can see quickly how these costs could start to add up when doing things by post (which still a lot of agencies insist on).  In addition, when you draft your query you have nobody to check it over for you and we all know how a fresh pair of eyes can see the mistakes you have missed. 

All these factors led me to feel that £26 wasn't much to ask, for:

1.  Having your submissiong checked over before seeing an agent
2.  Someone else doing all the research to find agents for your genre, that are currently accepting submission and a hand search feature to find that information quickly - a cick of the button and the email is ready.
3.  Everything is done online so no postage costs (or ink and paper costs)

I will keep you informed how I get on and whether this service is money well spent....