Keeping up on trends is essential for the published author as well. Whether or not you have a completed manuscript, the query letter is the fastest way to get a response concerning a publisher's interest in your project. Go for the high concept. Present your story in 25 words or less. If you can't do this, you aren't ready to submit.
Writing is a business like any other.
Letters should be typed in a businesslike fashion, manuscripts should be letter perfect and double spaced without typos or spelling mistakes. It can and does take months for an editor or editors to evaluate a manuscript. It's perfectly acceptable to confirm that the manuscript has been received, if there is any doubt, but it is not acceptable to call regularly for status reports. Take the road less traveled. Add your own unique spin to an old standard, polish it up and make it sparkle like new.