INPUT ARTICLE: Article: A personalized query letter is the only way to grab the attention of a publisher or agent right away, and it demonstrates that you're diligent, careful, and that you’ve chosen that agent for a reason. Moreover, make sure that the agent you're sending your letter to actually deals with your genre of work.  For example, if you’ve written a children’s book, seek out agents who represent children’s authors. The best formats for addressing your letter are Attn. Ms./Mr. Smith: or Dear Sam Smith:  Do not address a query letter to To Whom It May Concern, as this will more than likely never get read. If you cannot find the name of the agent or publisher online, call and ask to whom you should address your query. The first paragraph is an introduction between you and the agent, and this is where you explain to the agent why you have chosen that person specifically for representation. This could be because you’ve met, or have something in common, or any other reason that can link you to the agent.  Start by explaining any sort of relationship you have with the agent. This could include a mutual friend, a time when you two met, a conference you attended together, a lecture you heard that the agent gave, or any other connection you may have. If you don’t know any mutual people and have never met the agent, mention the name of a similar author the agent has represented. Once you've made your introductions, talk about your book. Be sure to mention the title, the word count, and what genre it falls into. Lastly, if your manuscript has been professionally edited, say so. This demonstrates that you're serious about your work. This comes in the second paragraph, and the job of the hook is to get the agent interested in your work. The hook is a concise but engaging sentence that sums up who the protagonist is, what he or she is trying to achieve, and what struggles are encountered along the way.  Don’t give away the ending. Instead, leave the end of the story a mystery or cliff hanger, so that the agent will want to keep reading on to the summary. For example, if the book you were pitching was Romeo and Juliet, you would mention that the two protagonists are star-crossed young lovers who must defy the wishes of their respective families and risk everything in order to be together. After the hook, use the next paragraph to provide a slightly more in-depth summary of the story. The important thing here is to write a compelling synopsis that will leave the agent wanting more.  Include information about the important characters involved. Explain when, where, and why the story takes place. Demonstrate who the characters are, rather than just describing them. In the next paragraph, provide a brief biography about yourself. This should include writing credits, awards, writing experience, previously published material (include the name of the publications), and any personal experiences that make you the perfect author for your story. Make sure your bio is no longer than two sentences. It should only include information that’s relevant to your story, that demonstrates your credibility as a writer, and that shows why you're an authority on that particular topic. The final paragraph of your query will be the closing, where you thank the agent for reading your letter. Do this simply and quickly, by saying something like thank you kindly for your time.  In the closing, you should also mention what, if any, other material you’ve included along with the query. The information you should include will be laid out in the submission guidelines provided by the publisher or agency. With works of fiction, mention that the entire work is available to read (as long as you have completed the manuscript). At this time, you should also mention that you're prepared to send additional information at the agent’s request. Use appropriate business farewells when signing off your query letter, such as sincerely, or yours truly. Leave a couple spaces for your written signature, and then type out your full name to end the letter. While including all the relevant information and following the query letter formula is important, editing your letter is just as vital. Errors in your query could cause an agent or publisher to immediately throw out your query. After all, if there are errors in your query, it doesn’t bode well for your book. Read your entire letter out loud, slowly, so that you can hear mistakes. Check and double check for things like:  Proper grammar Typos Spelling errors Correct spelling of the agent/publisher’s name and the name of the agency or publication

SUMMARY: Greet the agent by name. Personalize the letter. Create your hook. Provide a summary of your book. Tell the agent about yourself. Thank the agent for his or her time. Bid farewell and sign off. Edit!


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Go to https://www.facebook.com in your preferred browser. This will load your News Feed if you're already logged into Facebook. If you aren't already logged into Facebook, enter your email address (or phone number) and password before continuing. This icon is in the upper-right side of the Facebook page. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu. It's near the bottom of the drop-down menu. This tab is on the left side of the Settings page. This is the text box that says "Add name or email" below the "Block users" heading. If you have the person's email address, you can enter that here instead. Facebook will bring up a list of people who match the name you entered; click Block next to the correct profile. This is the blue button at the bottom of the pop-up window. Doing so will add the person to your blocked users list.

SUMMARY: Go to Facebook's website. Click . Click Settings. Click Blocking. Click the name field. Type in the person's name, then click Block. Click Block next to the person you want to block. Click Block [Name] when prompted.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Mixed in with your dry navy beans may be stones or discolored kernels . Discoloration is usually a sign that the bean isn't fit for consumption, so you should remove these along with stones from the good beans.  Canned navy beans can be prepared more easily than dry beans. You'll only have to cook these lightly for a short time with your ingredients and then the beans will be ready for eating.  For the purposes of providing a guided example, the process of making navy beans on the stove top is provided. However, you may find making your beans in a slow cooker to be a preferred method. Get a large pot or bowl and place the good beans inside of it. Then run cold water over the beans to remove any impurities or bacteria from the surface of the beans. When you've finished this, you can use a strainer to remove the dirty water from the beans in your bowl/pot.

SUMMARY:
Pick out bad beans. Rinse your beans.