How important is a platform to an agent? On a scale of 1 to 10. I would say nowadays, a 10. Yes, and below that would be your talent. Talent is a commodity, they can always help you improve your writing or God-forbid higher an editor or ghostwriter. But platform, ah ... now that's the kicker.

If you've got a big platform you can write your own blank check nowadays. You don't even have to be that great of a writer. You just need a hot book proposal which someone can help you write. Even an agent who is blown away by your platform might be willing to do it for you.

An author's platform combined with a great book proposal and you've increased your chances of being published one hundred fold.

One way to find out exactly what an publishing house views as a solid author's platform is to get a hold of an advanced copy of a novel. Just look on the back, under the marketing and promotion section. It outlines it for you right there.

Here's an amazing list of book publisher's catalog where you can see first-hand their plans for the author's marketing and promotion (aka an author's platform): http://www.earlyword.com/catalog-links/

And here's another tip when writing query letters:

It is true what Dr. Phil says, "Perception is everything". That couldn't be more true when we're talking about query letters. And one thing I'm going to advise you, as I advise my clients is DON'T MENTION WHAT YOUR GENRE IS. Why? Because unless the agent says to do so on their website, you're giving them another reason to say, "No." Let them decide what genre it is.

Same thing with the genre Chick Lit and Women's Fiction.

All you need to highlight is what your platform is, who you are as a writer in terms of your credibility and awards and briefly what your story or book proposal is about. Let them decide what they think your genre is.

There are a couple exceptions to that rule. One is if you know for certain that a particular agent is looking for your genre, if they mention it on their website. Agents care about one thing, "can I sell this thing?" Oh, sure they may have entered the business for the "love of the book" but at the end of the day, Mama's got babies to feed and they need a book that is salable.

Second is the story. Yes, you heard me right. Second is the story. I could have written that the book was about the life of turtles migrating to the East and they would have requested the manuscript.

Fiction is more difficult, they say to sell than nonfiction so your platform is crucial.