I told my family I was fine with sorting out my book myself.
The truth? A month after I've finished illustrating the damn thing and proofing it a hundred times, I'm still too chicken to write a cover letter and send it off. The thought of publishers reading a cover letter is much more terrifying than the thought of them reading the book.

Anyone got any advice/experience with similar things? Because this is getting both ridiculous and excruciating.
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Sun 15 Aug 2010, 21:34, 13 replies)

I keep on meaning to do the same
But never quite get round to it.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Sun 15 Aug 2010, 22:29, closed)

We need to form a procrastinaters club.
If only I could motivate myself to write up a charter...
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Sun 15 Aug 2010, 22:36, closed)

It's like summoning the courage to jump into a cold swimming pool
You know it's going to set your heart racing, but it'll be lovely once you're in.

You just need to put together a simple, to the point cover letter ("Dear Sir, Please find enclosed my book for your consideration, Yours etc."). That way, the cover letter contains nothing that can be criticised, so you don't need to worry about it.

The only way to guarantee that your book will not be published is not to send it. Do it now. Hold your nose and jump in. Go!
( Amish Information Systems hates misplaced, commas, Sun 15 Aug 2010, 23:08, closed)

SlushPile Hell
Check out the site SlushPile Hell (one agent and his begging letters) to know what not to write. It is truly awful, so anything nice and short will probably land you some peepers at your work.
(boozehound is drinking your bar dry, Sun 15 Aug 2010, 23:12, closed)

Best prep I can suggest
Odds are high that few of the people you'll send to are going to want exactly what you've written, and you should be ready. Go read nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/004641.html

It's from Theresa Nielsen Hayden's blog, consulting editor at Tor books, and it goes into great detail how you shouldn't take rejection personally.
( Fronds are waving gently on, Sun 15 Aug 2010, 23:33, closed)

Also..
It's worth knowing that at least a few of today's bestselling authors received multiple rejections for their first books
The first Harry Potter book was rejected by 12 publishers, Lord of the Flies was rejected by 20, and so on.
Perseverance would seem to be the key.
(Kyzia was here on, Mon 16 Aug 2010, 14:18, closed)

your issue is not with the cover letter
from what you write you are proud and have belief in the worth of the book and you most probably know what to write and how to structure your content for your covering letter.
the issue is with the fear you have about what will happen when they read it and their reactions arising from it.
change your belief about rejection and what about what you think they will assess about you in the letter and the letter will write itself.
(nimrodihnio making gravy for one., Mon 16 Aug 2010, 1:14, closed)

Don't send it to a publisher.
Get in touch with some authors' agents, you should find one who'll agree to represent you and that will make the entire process smoother and more profitsome.
( Dr Preference AjcuiVd289, Mon 16 Aug 2010, 11:50, closed)

Quote from Banksy:
"Nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful people with talent" - send it.
(mobi I completed the Internet on 'hard'. Twice., Mon 16 Aug 2010, 12:10, closed)

don't send it.
You won't have to deal with any of it if you don't send it. Just leave the book on a shelf.

When you go to bed at night you can close your eyes and make up whatever response you might get and you'll be able to *control* the reactions to your book. You could do that for years! You could even write another book, so you can dream about two at the same time! And then another... and another...

Then, when you die, your children can send the book in for you. Unless they take after you and are too chicken.

Right?

Right!
( emergency_pants Today I smell of... tea tree, Mon 16 Aug 2010, 13:24, closed)

Re. getting your book published
Get a copy of the Writers and Artists yearbook, it gives you loads of do's and don'ts about submitting your manuscript. Also, don't contact any publishers until you've tried all the literary agents, first. Most publishers won't look at submissions that haven't come via agents (they use them as a shit filter), and most agents will take offence if you've been bypassing them and going direct to publishers.

I'm in the same boat. It is nerve-wracking. Good luck.
(IHateSprouts is baking a huge pie shaped like an enormous pie, Mon 16 Aug 2010, 14:05, closed)

I've got that book- it's a good read. :-)
The problem I've got is that it tells you what you should do if you're a writer, and what to do if you have a portfolio of illustrations, but not what to do if you have both.
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Mon 16 Aug 2010, 14:28, closed)

Extra eyes
Get someone else to have a read through of your book and your cover letter before you send it - you wrote them both so you know what you think you wrote. You might have checked it a million times but it's always a good idea to get it proofread by someone else.

Then just send it - you don't know if you don't try!
(The cat's PJs If my eyes are closed you can't see me, Mon 16 Aug 2010, 19:20, closed)