Project Homework: Short Story and Query Letter
The Project that was assigned. Be sure your project meets the specified criteria before submitting it.
Each Homework has built to the successful completion of a short story for your Final Project. By now, your story should demonstrate short story elements, techniques of development, elements of craft, and what you have learned from revision. This week, you will implement your peers' feedback to finalize your short story to make it suitable for the publisher of your choice. For that publisher, you will also construct a query letter in order to promote your short story for publication.
To prepare for this Homework:
1) Review the Project Introduction and Overview document in Learning Resources.
2) Review the assigned portion of Chapter 12 in Shaping the Story. Complete "Progressive Writing Exercise #12 in Shaping the Story" to understand how rewriting sections of your writing can result in the creation of a better final version of your short story. How will looking at your short story from a "micro-level" help you make "macro-level" revisions to your short story?
3) Review the websites related to making revisions to written works in the Learning Resources.
4) Reflect on your background. What are some unique things that you have done and special experiences that you have had?
5) Consider the following questions with regard to writing a query letter.
a. How might you describe your short story in a query letter? What makes your short story unique?
b. How might you best represent you and your short story? What are the most effective elements of a query letter to ensure your texts will be considered by a publisher?
6) Think about the inspiration behind your short story, and how it relates to your experiences.
7) Consider how your work matches the publisher's other materials. Think about similarities in terms of topics, style, and form that the publisher usually produces.
Task:
Part A: Revise and write 2 to 5 additional pages to your second draft, culminating in an 8 to 10 pages final draft of your story.
Part B: Write a 1 to 2 pages query letter directed to a publisher for submission of your your finalized short story. Be sure to include the following:
1) A brief introduction of yourself.
2) A description of your short story.
3) Reasons why the publisher should accept your short story. How is your short story different and special?
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
a. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
b. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
c. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.