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If an agent is only accepting approaches by recommendation this means that they will only consider your work if it comes with a recommendation from an established professional in the industry. If you want to approach such an agency then a good startin...

Many agents and publishers will prefer to receive a query in the first instance, rather than your full manuscript. A query will typically consist of a cover letter accompanied by a synopsis and/or sample chapter(s). Specific requirements will vary, ho...

A simultaneous submission is one which is sent to more than one market at the same time. Normally you will be sending your work to numerous different magazines, agents, and publishers at the same time, but some demand the right to consider it exclusiv...

A synopsis is a short outline of your story. This should cover all the main characters and events, including the ending. It is not the kind of "teaser" found on a book's back cover. The length of synopsis required can vary, but is generally between on...

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Prelims (otherwise known as "front matter") are the preliminary pages in a book: the title page; copyright and imprint page; tables of content; foreword; etc. They are often numbered with roman numerals rather than the arabic numbers used in the rest ...

A colophon is a publisher's emblem, or logo, as it appears on the title page or spine of a book.

In publishing, "adult" simply refers to books that are aimed at adults, as opposed to books that are aimed at children, or young adults, etc. It is not a euphemism for pornographic or erotic content. Nor does it necessarily refer to content which is u...