Templates Coming Soon

Disclaimer: Templates are provided as-is. I make no guarantees or warranties about any of the templates provided here. If you have questions or concerns, have your own legal representative review it to ensure that it suits your own individual needs. No warranty or guarantee is assumed or provided.

Template Cover Letter

A cover letter is something you send with your manuscript to an editor or an agent.  It’s purpose is to:
1. Introduce your manuscript and “hook” the editor into wanting to read it.
2. To provide your contact information
3. To show the editor that you’ve done your homework and know what he’s looking for.

Always check the publishing house’s website to see what is required for submissions and follow the instructions given.

Template Query Letter

A query letter is a type of cover letter.  Its purpose is:
1. To tell an editor or agent what kind of manuscript you have written.
2. To “hook” the editor or agent into requesting to see your complete manuscript.
3. To show an editor or agent that you understand what he’s looking for.

Study the publishing house’s book lists to understand what the house publishes.  Go to conferences and listen to the editors and agents speak – they will say what they like to see.

Template Book Proposal

A book proposal is a short packet (2-4 pages) of information about your book manuscript.  A book proposal presents:
1. The title of your book
2. The logline for your book
3. A “pitch”
4. A book synopsis
5. Short, exciting character descriptions
6. Your contact information

The purpose of a book proposal is to “hook” the editor into asking to read your complete manuscript.

Template Marketing Plan

A marketing plan details the approach you intend to take to promote your book.  A simple plan generally contains your approach for the following:

1. Press Kit
2. Promotional Items
3. Appearances
4. Internet
5. Buzz

Small, independent publishers sometimes ask for a marketing plan as part of the submissions package.  Large publishers don’t require one.  Only submit a marketing plan if the publisher requires or requests one.  It is, however, a good exercise to put together a plan for yourself, to understand what you can do to promote yourself and your book.

Template Press Kit

A press kit or media kit is an informational packet sent to media outlets.  It is generally used to publicize a new book.  In general, a large publisher will have their own in-house publicist and marketing department and will help create the press kit.  Authors working with small publishers or self-publishers either must create their own press kit, or hire a publicist to create one.

Template Work-For-Hire Packet

Work-for-hire is a term used by publishers who are seeking to hire a writer to produce a book or product on a specified topic, generally for a flat fee.  The publisher retains all rights to the work.  Work-for-hire is typically found among publishers of non-fiction educational materials.  Instead of the writer submitting a manuscript for consideration for publication, the writer usually submits a resume and some samples of their work.   If the publisher has a project that is seemingly a fit to the writer’s skills, style or interests, the publisher will contact the writer.

t is important to check the publisher’s website to see what they are asking for, and follow their submissions process exactly.  In the event that they are not specific, you can generally submit the following:

1. Cover letter that explains who you are, what your interests are, and what you are submitting.
2. Your resume
3. Two or three (published) writing samples.  If you are unpublished, submit something you have written that best exemplifies your writing style.  Be sure the samples are of the same genre as what the publisher publishes.  For example, if the publisher publishes non-fiction, submit non-fiction writing samples.
4. SASE, if submitting via US post.

Coming soon:

A Character Interview Template

A character interview is a pre-writing exercise, or a mid-writing exercise to help you add dimensionality to your main characters.  If you are “stuck” in your writing and believe that your characters or relationships between your characters are problematic, or if they border on caricature, a character interview can help you pinpoint problems that need to be resolved.

Lists for Fantasy Writers

Keep track of characters and Magical Elements while writing fantasy novels.

In the example shown in the spreadsheet, the main character, Mortimore, possesses the Magical Element, the Skull of Sirrah.  The power of the Skull is that it allows the holder of the Skull to take knowledge and power away from another being.  The consequence for using the Skull is that someone or something must die.  Only the Skull knows who or what will die, and how many will go.  Mortimore must use the Skull judiciously.  In Chapter 1, he uses it to escape the crone, who has captured him and plans to use the Skull to destroy the mortal world.  The specific consequence after he uses it is that the crone and her minions die, and he takes on the knowledge of the Dark World – an evil so great that it now attempts to control him.  Can he be certain, now, that he is using his powers for good and not for evil?  In Chapter 6, Mortimore again uses the Skull in an attempt to release a village from the spell of the Evil Lord.  He knows that this is a risk, but with his knowledge from the Dark World, he sees only doom for the beings of the village.  He takes his chance and uses the Skull, robbing the Evil Lord of his powers.  But, the Village of Mi-tah, the beings he hoped to free from the spell, all die – a result of using the Skull.  Mortimore is torn between his knowledge that to stay alive under the Evil Lord would have been a fate worse than death,  but can he be certain that this is a truth?  Or is it shadowed by the powers of the Dark World?

Use the spreadsheet to keep track of the Magical Elements, who uses them, and how they are used in your own work-in-progress.

Characters and Their Abilities – Keep track of characters’ special abilities and when they are used.  Download the spreadsheet here.

In the example shown in the spreadsheet, Mortimore is an empath.  He uses his empath ability to trick the crone and gain his freedom.  Mortimore also has the knowledge of the Dark Force as an ability, which was gained after using the Skull of Sirrah (his Magic Element) against the crone.  But as Mortimore soon realizes, he battles his inner demons when he again uses the Skull, wiping out an entire village in the process.  He tells himself that they are in a better place – or is that the Dark Force talking?

Book Trailer Tracksheet

A tracking sheet designed to help you storyboard your book trailer.

Template Income and Expenses Spreadsheet

Keep track of your writing income and expenses for tax-time with this Excel spreadsheet.

Template Calendars

Keep on top of your writing projects using these Word based planning calendars.

School Visit Memorandum of Understanding Template

Word document designed to help spell out an agreement between author and school in regards to an author visit. This simple template Memorandum of Understanding helps the author spell out what the author provides and what the school will provide for an author visit.  The author signs both copies and sends to the school’s representative, who then reads it, signs both copies and returns one to the author. Disclaimer: have your own legal representative review it to ensure that it suits your own individual needs, no warranty is assumed or provided.

School Visit Book Order Form Template

Word document that authors can customize and provide to schools in advance of author’s visit. Schools can send flyer home with students so that parents can pre-order books. No warranty is implied – authors should check with their own legal representative to ensure that it suits their individual needs.