Help a Publisher Say Yes By Doing These 2 Things!

There are all kinds of reasons we write books:

Some of us write a book because we want to see our names on the cover of a book.

Some of us write because we’re convinced that God has given us a message to share with the world.

Some of us write a book because someone told us, “You should write a book.”

 Others write because we’re creative or thinkers. We’re always noodling on the things, and we need to get the things out of our heads and onto a page.

None are horrible reasons to write a book, but also: none of these are particularly compelling to publishers. A publisher has one job: The publisher’s job is to serve the reader.

So when you’re writing the proposal for that book God planted in your heart, when you’re pitching that book your aunt insisted you write, the very best thing you can do is to convince a publisher that the book you’re suggesting meets a reader’s need.

(1) You help a publisher say yes when you solve a reader’s problem.

These popular titles do that:

• How to Get a Date Worth Keeping
• The Purpose Driven Life
• Discerning the Voice of God
• Habits of Highly Effective People

Readers buy and read these books because they meet a real need.

But there are lots of books about getting a date, living with purpose, hearing God, and becoming effective, right? Of course there are. So what makes these different?

(2) You help a publisher say yes when your idea has a fresh angle, edge, or slant.

You have to say it in a way they haven’t heard a hundred times before. Editor savant Stephanie Smith calls this unique angle “a fresh frame for a timeless truth.” She explains,

“An angle is simply this: it’s a fresh frame for timeless truth. It’s creative, unexpected, a pinch provocative, and able to power up vital conversations people are compelled to join. It’s the signature of great writing. And it makes all the difference in standing out beyond overdone, underdeveloped, dime-a-dozen concepts.” -Stephanie Smith

*

What does this mean for you?

• It means that when an editor reads your book proposal:
• She recognizes that it meets a real need readers have.
• She notices a timeless truth that's being communicated in a new way.

So if you’re writing on dieting, or simple living, or studying Scripture, or loving your neighbor, you need to communicate it in a way that others have not.

• Maybe you embraced simple living by doing the same 3 things every day. Now readers are curious.
• Maybe you began living simply because you lost everything you owned in a house fire.
• Maybe your practice of designating only one day a week to make purchases radically changed your life.

The big win?

(1) The solution you’ve found is meeting a real need and (2) you’re communicating it in a way that readers haven’t heard before.

How Literary Agents and Publishers Think

This week I heard from a writer who's pitched to agents and publishers without success. And the query reminded me how important it is for writers to be able to get inside the head of these important gatekeepers. Here's what I want not-yet-published writers to know about how agents and publishers think...

1. HOW AGENTS/PUBLISHERS THINK

When they're reading your proposal, the agent is thinking about what the publisher wants, and the publisher is thinking about what the reader wants. And the reader is thinking about...the reader. The BIG question you have to answer for agents/publishers is, "What's in it for the reader?" Whatever book you are writing HAS TO meet the felt need of the reader. Reader's don't buy books they "should" read, they buy books they "have to" read. Why is the book you're pitching a must-read?

2. HOW AGENTS/PUBLISHERS SEE

Without knowing what book you've written, I will hazard a guess that an agent/publisher has seen this book before. Maybe 100 proposals for this book and 5 that made it to market--saying the exact thing you're saying, in a slightly different way. While that can sound jaded, that's their reality. So whatever message you want to communicate--ideally, in the words of Stephanie Smith, a "timeless truth"--must have a FRESH FRAME. Whether you're communicating that "God is gracious," or "You are loved," or "Kittens are God's gift to the world," the agent/publisher must read your proposal and say, "Hmmm...I haven't heard it quite that way before." Are you saying something in such a fresh way that the agent/publisher wants to know more?

3. HOW AGENTS/PUBLISHERS DECIDE

The #1 rule of good writing is "show, don't tell." Your proposal needs to prove to agents/publishers that your project has FOUR THINGS: (1) a unique and compelling project, (2) a market of people who can't wait to buy this book, (3) a growing platform, and (4) mad writing skills. While I'd love to say that if they love your fresh idea, or if they think you're a great writer, they will take a chance and contract your book, I can't say that. They may WANT to, but to convince a publishing board to publish a book, they really need to see strength in all four areas. If you need to develop one or more of those areas, it might make sense to do that before pitching again. Does your proposal demonstrate that you are offering all four things a publisher needs to see?

The job of your book proposal is to convince the agent/publisher that your project meets the reader's need in a fresh and compelling way, and that you can sell books. To help writers do that, I've got a few free resources online...

1. An Author Inventory helps you mine and mention every asset you're bringing to the table.

2. An Annotated Book Proposal Template offers tips for each section of the proposal. (Not necessary to use this particular template, but do read the tips.)

3. The Book Proposal Checklist helps you review the first draft of your proposal, to make sure it's as strong as it can be.

Help agents and publishers say YES by offering them the strongest proposal you can!

Your Nonfiction Book Proposal: Three Things Every Publisher Must See

In order to say "yes" to a writer's nonfiction book proposal, every publisher needs to see three things:

1. CONCEPT

Your concept is the--fresh, unique, compelling--premise of your book.

A publisher is looking for a book with a unique and compelling concept. The best books serve readers by presenting a timeless truth with a vibrant fresh angle. When publishers read these proposals, they say, "Hmmm...I haven't heard it put quite this way before."

2. PLATFORM

Your platform is how you're reaching audiences.

You must demonstrate that, as an author, you are building a solid platform and is already reaching audiences.

This might be reflected in social media numbers. It might mean you're reaching audiences as a speaker. Or perhaps you write regularly for a popular online magazine.

Although there is no magic formula, an author does need to be reaching readers.

3. WRITING

Your writing is how you organize and express your unique concept.

Your writing captures the reader's attention by engaging him or her with well-organized and beautiful writing.


Could missing one of these three be a deal breaker for a publisher? Unfortunately, yes. While a publisher will occasionally take a chance on a brilliant writer with very little platform, you make it easier for a publisher to say "yes" when you can demonstrate that you are building a platform.

If your book proposal demonstrates that all three of these elements are strong, it will be hard for a publisher to say "no."

If your proposal lacks one or more of these, it will be hard for a publisher to say "yes."

Want to Get Published? A Publisher Needs to See a Compelling Project

Note: This is the second post in a series of 4 posts: 3 Things a Publisher Must See.

 The first post outlines the 3 things!

A Publisher Needs to See a Compelling Project

You’re heard of the fabled “elevator pitch”? You’re in an elevator and are suddenly given the opportunity to pitch your idea to someone who could make it a reality. You have a few sentences to communicate clearly the nature of your project.

Pressure’s on.

And this really is a Goldilocks and the 3 Bears situation:

1.     If you say too little—either the number of words or the impact of those words—you lose.

2.     If you say too much—either the number of words or the impact of those words—you lose.

3.     The way you present your project needs to be “just right”

You could say….

·      “I’m writing a book.” (yawn, check phone) Four words is probably not enough.

·      Or you might spit out, “I’m writing a book on marriage” (There’s no impact, nothing memorable, nothing distinctive.)

·      Or you might go with, “I’m writing an in-depth treatise on the common misperceptions about the mating rituals of married white American evangelical females between the ages of twenty-eight and twenty-nine occurring in suburbs within twelve miles of six major U.S. cities after nine pm…” (Just wrong on so many levels)

Nothing about any of those makes a publisher want to know more.

·      But what about: “The Singular Secret To a Vibrant Marriage”?

Now the editor is curious to know more. What is it?!

A book proposal is really just an expanded elevator pitch. You need to communicate very clearly and efficiently what book is about so that publisher will want to know more. Don’t make them work hard to figure it out.

Exercise: Right now, give the two-sentence pitch for the book that’s in your heart. Out loud. To the walls. Write it down. Then, when there’s a human within range, give them the pitch. Then ask them:

1.     Do you feel like you know what the book is about? Could you communicate it to someone else?

2.     Is it unique? Are there other books like it?

3.     Based just on the hook/pitch, does it engage you to want to know more? Do you want to buy and read it? Why or why not?

With this feedback, work further to articulate what is unique and compelling about your book.

Cheering you on,

Margot

Want to Get Published? A Publisher Needs to See a Compelling Project

Note: This is the second post in a series of 4 posts: 3 Things a Publisher Must See.

 The first post outlines the 3 things!

A Publisher Needs to See a Compelling Project

You’re heard of the fabled “elevator pitch”? You’re in an elevator and are suddenly given the opportunity to pitch your idea to someone who could make it a reality. You have a few sentences to communicate clearly the nature of your project.

Pressure’s on.

And this really is a Goldilocks and the 3 Bears situation:

1.     If you say too little—either the number of words or the impact of those words—you lose.

2.     If you say too much—either the number of words or the impact of those words—you lose.

3.     The way you present your project needs to be “just right”

You could say….

·      “I’m writing a book.” (yawn, check phone) Four words is probably not enough.

·      Or you might spit out, “I’m writing a book on marriage” (There’s no impact, nothing memorable, nothing distinctive.)

·      Or you might go with, “I’m writing an in-depth treatise on the common misperceptions about the mating rituals of married white American evangelical females between the ages of twenty-eight and twenty-nine occurring in suburbs within twelve miles of six major U.S. cities after nine pm…” (Just wrong on so many levels)

Nothing about any of those makes a publisher want to know more.

·      But what about: “The Singular Secret To a Vibrant Marriage”?

Now the editor is curious to know more. What is it?!

A book proposal is really just an expanded elevator pitch. You need to communicate very clearly and efficiently what book is about so that publisher will want to know more. Don’t make them work hard to figure it out.

Exercise: Right now, give the two-sentence pitch for the book that’s in your heart. Out loud. To the walls. Write it down. Then, when there’s a human within range, give them the pitch. Then ask them:

1.     Do you feel like you know what the book is about? Could you communicate it to someone else?

2.     Is it unique? Are there other books like it?

3.     Based just on the hook/pitch, does it engage you to want to know more? Do you want to buy and read it? Why or why not?

With this feedback, work further to articulate what is unique and compelling about your book.

Cheering you on,

Margot