Legitimate operations, end marks, query letters, and the use of “which” versus “that”

Q: With all the scam operations out there, is there anyone I can trust in the book business?

A: Yes. Legitimate competitions, publishers, and agents do exist; otherwise, I'd get out of the business, myself. Use sources such as Writersmarket.com, which supposedly checks out contests, agents, and publishers before listing them. Check with the Better Business Bureau wherever you can. Ask folks like me, too, who have been around and seen it all, and we'll help guide you, too.

Q: What is the most appropriate way to end a piece of creative nonfiction? Should I use "The End" or #####?

A: The point is to show the piece is finished. “The End” is appropriate, as well as one crosshatch or number sign (#). The ends of journalism articles are often marked -30-, which is also appropriate for creative nonfiction.

Q: I read something―I don't remember where―that gave examples of query letters. Can you give me information on writing a query letter?

A: Entire books have been written on the subject of writing query letters because the content depends on the type of manuscript you want to sell.

To begin with, always check potential publishers’ or agents’ Web sites or other information to determine if and how they want to receive query letters. Some accept submissions online through their Web sites and don’t require a separate letter. Some want queries sent by e-mail. Some still require that queries be sent by regular mail.

Once you know how the publisher or agent wants to receive queries, be sure to keep the query short and businesslike. The first paragraph should give the title, word count, and one-sentence description. The second paragraph should go into a little more detail. The third paragraph should give your writing credits, expertise, or explain why you’re the right person to write the book. The last paragraph should request permission to send more. That’s it.  Be sure to put all your contact information in at the top of the page (not the bottom), plus, if sent by regular mail, always include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

I also offer a free report on the do’s and don’ts of query letters. Send an e-mail to freereports@zebraeditor.com, and you’ll be sent a link for all my free reports.

Q: In a former column, someone asked for the rule about when to use “which” and when to use “that.” You answered like this:
 
“I could give you an involved and boring rule, but one quick-and-easy way to remember when to use ‘which’ and when to use ‘that’ is this: If the word can be eliminated, but the following information cannot, you probably mean ‘that.’ If any word can be eliminated, eliminate it and write tight. (Example: I told Jan that I liked fish. Better: I told Jan I liked fish.) On the other hand, if you have the urge to put a comma in front of it, you probably mean ‘which’ (Example: The fish, which had been caught three days earlier, had a distinct odor.)

This isn’t a rule on when to use “that,” it’s a rule that eliminates the use of “that” from all writing!

A: Thank you for your reply, but I am tempted to say: “That is simply not true!” Look at these examples:
 
The shoe found in that corner was the clue to the murder.
The fact that she was always late did not mean she did not care.
 
I stand by my original statement that (!) words that (!) are unnecessary should be deleted. Writers who keep their writing pithy eliminate unnecessary words and employ powerful ones.
 
Keep me on my toes, though. I like it.

Bobbie Christmas, book doctor, author of Write In Style (Union Square Publishing), and owner of Zebra Communications, will answer your questions, too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com. Read more “Ask the Book Doctor” questions and answers at www.zebraeditor.com.