How to Write an Editorial Letter

If you’ve made it (finally! yay!) and have the attention of wonderful agent who loves you and your work to death and can’t wait to get you your million dollar advance, you’ve probably (or will very soon) read one of these:

“Dear Author,

YOU ROCK!

However, I have some comments and concerns about your manuscript…

[Giant block of criticism here]

Love,

Intern”

Don’t be alarmed! We really do think that you rock, we just want to help you take your book to the next, most marketable level. While I have never received one of these letters and can’t be much help on that end, I’ve been getting a lot of practice writing them.  So, I thought I’d let you know what goes on when we interns or agents send you one of these lovely little creatures.

Here is my flow chart on how to write an editorial letter:

I am clearly a master of Microsoft Paint. Please excuse me while I go celebrate my artistic success…