Book Publishers Directory - FAQs

1. What's a query?

A query (also called a query letter) is a one-page proposal in business-letter format offering to write a specific piece for a specific magazine, addressed to a specific editor there by name. This is the basic sales tool of professional and aspiring freelance writers.

2. Are multiple submissions OK?

Multiple queries are usually fine, so long as you know what you'll do if more than one publication wants your article. Multiple submissions of completed articles, however, can lead to trouble. I know two people who each had a completed article simultaneously accepted for publication and typeset at two competing magazines. The respective editors got very angry at the freelancers, even though the editors should have notified the writers for permission before getting ready to publish the articles.

3. How can I get those first clips?

When editors look at samples of your work, they are primarily interested in your writing style and mastery of the craft, rather than where the sample was published or how much you were paid. Therefore valuable first clips can result from offering to write for an organizational newsletter, your community newspaper or any other small-circulation publication that is desperate for decent work.

4. Why use a contract technical writer or other professional?

For special projects or overflow work, hiring a contract technical writer or other professional makes good business sense. With a contract professional, you only pay for the time they work. Expenses normally incurred with a full-time permanent employee, such as benefits, taxes, office space, equipment and training are nonexistent. What's more, a contract professional can bring valuable expertise and a fresh perspective to your project.

5. How long should your resume be?

One page is enough. Two pages, if not possible top fit on one page.
Since the purpose is to help the employer make a snap decision (seldom exceeding 2 minutes per resume) about sending you an interview invite, the shorter your resume the better. The length of the resume should be correlated to the time the employer can possible allot for you rather than the length or breadth of your career.

6. What is the first step in writing my resume?

Introspect deeply. This introspection is the most critical part of your resume creation process. Talk to the person who knows you best - yourself - and answer critical questions about what you want to achieve through your resume. Delineate your objectives, focus industries/companies, functional and professional strengths and expertise areas.

7. What about references - do I mention them in my resume?

As a rule do not include references in your resume. Almost no company requires references as a pre-qualification for an interview. The most that is required is to indicate availability of references; even that is superfluous because each organization has its own HR policies (inclusive of the number and type of references required before the candidate is appointed officially) which will not change irrespective of what you mention in your resume. As the resume is an initial communication please do not divulge confidential/personal information about your referee like their address, email or contact number. References with referee addresses or contact numbers should never be included in a generally circulated resume.

8. What can I don if my experience is not relevant for the position I am applying for?

Think about the abilities and capacities that you can transfer and would be applicable to the new job. Remember what you have acquired in your previous work or other activities and/or experiences in your life: to work under pressure, in a team, using languages in your work or when you travel, communication skills, knowing how to carry out or compile reports, to convince people.

9. How to explain the periods of work inactivity?

All along, have you been sitting on the sofa or have you done things? Think, it is possible that you dedicated yourself to update your knowledge or to study IT, languages, or you have decided to have children and dedicate your time to them, which demonstrates your capacity for organization, forecasting, taking into account details and "to work under pressure, without time to rest and in a very noisy atmosphere ". Reflect and explain in your CV the abilities learned and how to solve problems

10. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO refers to the process that an Internet writer goes through in his or her writing to make that writing friendly to search engines like Google and Yahoo.

11. How is technical writing different from other types of writing?

Technical writing focuses on clarity, conciseness and effectiveness in delivering a message to a particular target audience. Technical writing is often performed in the context of producing a series of documents designed for a specific audience. Users typically read selected portions of a technical document as needed. Effective technical writers know how to structure information using both words and design to achieve an intended purpose.
Other types of writing, primarily creative writing, tend to be concerned with mood, opinions or personality. These are typically stand-alone documents that are read from start to finish.

12. What kind of cover letter should I use?

If you are contacting an agent and not responding to a specific job request, then simply indicate a few basics about yourself. indicate you consider to be your strongest and most relevant skills. Don’t make it long and don’t go out of your way to provide details. If they want to know more, they will ask. Keep it short and simple.

13. What types of documents do technical writers create?

The range of writing a technical writer performs varies widely. Much is dependent on the technical specialty of the writer and of the needs of the company. You may find yourself a part of one large project, or overseeing dozens of smaller projects. You might write manuals, articles, proposals, white papers, product descriptions or any of a hundred other types of documents.

14. In what areas are technical writers needed?

Technical writers are found in a variety of fields including finance, engineering, healthcare, biotechnology, scientific research, academia and computer software and hardware. Smaller companies may use contract technical writers or have only a single technical writer in-house. Larger firms may have teams of technical writers working on large-scale projects.

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