Sending your book to a publisher is sometimes more difficult than writing it. You also need to know how to do it - it can be quite a long journey. You will have to prepare an editorial proposal, which you will send to agents or publishers. When someone shows interest in your book, you can submit the complete manuscript. Make sure you follow the submission guidelines carefully. Along the way to publication, be prepared for rejection: your manuscript will receive many "no" before finding the publisher who will accept it.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Writing an Editorial Proposal
Step 1. Do some research
Learn how to sell your book first. Before you start writing your proposal, you will need to understand some basic information about the current market for books of your genre.
- Know your gender. Are you writing fiction, non-fiction, poetry? What is the subgenus? Is your non-fiction volume a collection of articles or a memoir? What could you call your fiction work? Does it belong to a specific genre, such as historical fiction, science fiction or fantasy? It's important to know the genre, as it will help you outline your book more easily and know what to focus on.
- Understand the commercial value of your book. Publishers and agents won't waste time with books that won't be sold. Research the biggest hits currently on the market in your genre. Ask yourself: "What does my book have that these books don't have? What makes these books successful? Where does my book fit in?". If you can find a niche in the publishing market that your book can fill, that's important information to provide in your proposal.
Step 2. Ask the right questions about your book
When writing the proposal you have to be strongly self-critical. You will need to ask yourself a few questions to understand how to best sell your book to an agent or publisher.
- The first question you should ask is: "So what?". Why is your book important for today's literary world? What makes it special? Is your topic significant? Does it offer a unique perspective? Does your book identify, investigate, or solve a problem? You need to explain why your story needs to be told.
- The second question is: "Who is it interested in?". Identify a specific audience that you believe will purchase the book. For example, maybe your target audience is middle-aged career women or art enthusiasts. You could search for books similar to yours to find out their target audience. Check the social media and advertising of these volumes to see which audience they are targeting. Find a market that is as specific as possible.
- The last question is: "Who are you?". You have to sell yourself. Explain why you are the best person to tell this story and all your qualifications that show that you are an outstanding writer. For example, if you are writing an essay on mental illness in Italy, mention that you worked as a psychiatrist in Milan for 5 years before taking a creative writing course. All of which could qualify you to tell this specific story.
Step 3. Begin your proposal with a single sentence title page and abstract
Most proposals should contain a title page. Check the formatting requirements for your literary genre to understand what is required. In most cases, the cover page will include basic information, such as your name, address, and email. Next, you will need to write a sentence that summarizes your work.
- Reducing your book to a single sentence can be tricky, and it may take a few days to get the right one. Feel free to ask your friends for help. You can offer someone a choice of phrases and ask something like, "Which of these phrases makes you want to read my book?".
- It is essentially a slogan, as you might see on a movie poster. Try to engage the reader by making your book exciting. For example: "In an age when the use of psychiatric drugs is at the highest levels, a famous child psychiatrist from Turin wonders if an experimental program for attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) could bring greater benefits to his patients ".
Step 4. Provide a brief overview of the book
If you've ever read the text on a back cover, this is the type of language to use in your proposal. Read a variety of book covers for inspiration and try to use the same type of language in your overview.
- Your overview should probably be short, but check the requirements for the type of book you're writing. Strive not to exceed the length of a paragraph, unless you are specifically asked to write more. Use your words wisely. Eliminate redundant adjectives and adverbs whenever possible.
- Remember: you want to keep the interest of publishers and agents alive. Publishers and agents receive dozens of submissions a day, so you'll have to work hard to look interesting.
Step 5. Provide a short bio
Basically you will have to sell yourself. Provide a short bio describing why you are the best person to tell this story. Include any credentials that illustrate your writing skills. It would not exceed a page in length.
- Limit yourself to the most relevant details. An agent does not need to know that you grew up in Romagna and that you live with your spouse and two dogs. Talk about your qualifications as a writer. If you have any previous publications or books to your credit, list them here. If your work has garnered any kind of special award or recognition, this should also be mentioned.
- Do you have any degrees in creative writing or in a field related to the topic of your book? For example, going back to the mental health essay, you might say something like: "I have a doctorate in psychiatry from the University of Verona and have worked with children with ADHD for ten years. I have a bachelor's degree in Theory and Techniques of Writing from the University of Siena ".
Step 6. Convince the reader that your book will sell
This is one of the most important parts of the proposal. The publisher or agent must feel that this book can make a profit. State any reasons why you think people would buy your book.
- Talk about what you have already done and not what you intend to do. Agents and publishers are likely to help an established author. Have you identified and reached a specific audience? Have you attended reading meetings? Do you have a solid online presence, like a blog or even an active Twitter page?
- Be as specific as possible when explaining why your work is commercially viable. For example, don't say "I know a lot of people in the world of psychiatry and even literature." Instead, you might say, "I attended several panels discussing my science non-fiction work, all of which were very popular. My blog has about 15,000 visitors per month and some articles have been featured in popular online publications, such as The Post and The Huffington. Post ".
Step 7. Attach a synopsis and sample chapters
Usually, publishers and agents wish to have a synopsis of the book. They'll also want a few sample chapters to gauge the quality of your writing.
- The synopsis should not exceed 2-3 pages. It's a good idea not to go too far, as agents and publishers often have little time.
- Typically, agents and editors want to see the first 40-50 pages of your work. However, check out the specific guidelines - some of them may want more or less.
Part 2 of 3: Submit the Proposal
Step 1. Decide if you need an agent
Not everyone needs a literary agent to get a book published. Having an agent, however, can be very useful if your goal is to be published by a large publishing house. It's a bad idea to send your book out of thin air to huge publishers like Mondadori, who receive hundreds of submissions every day.
- Does your work have good commercial potential and are you looking to publish at a large publishing house? If you are writing a work on a hot topic or if you already have a good name in the literary world, you may need an agent to get your book to the right sources.
- However, you may want to go to an independent or university publishing house, which usually don't require agents and are easier to approach. If you are writing in the hope of being published by a local publishing house, for example one specializing in volumes on Basilicata, you probably don't need an agent.
Step 2. Find the right agent
If you decide to hire an agent, look for one with experience in your industry. You shouldn't send your editorial proposal to agents randomly. For example, an agent who works mostly with non-fiction authors probably won't read a science fiction novel proposal.
- Try reading periodicals like Il Libraio and Giornale della Libreria. These publications sometimes offer a list of agents and the genres they work in. Be sure to check out a recent issue, as old ones may give you the names of agents who are no longer active on the market.
- You can also search online. Type "literary agent" on a search engine and start sifting through the various sites that are suggested to you.
Step 3. Search for a suitable publisher
You can also use the resources suggested earlier to find a publisher. Smaller or university publishing houses usually don't require you to have an agent. Some smaller publishers may not even want a proposal for the book.
- As with an agent, make sure you know the publisher you are targeting well. A publisher who mainly publishes romance novels may not be interested in science fiction or fantasy works.
- Review books that are similar to yours or have been successful to find out who published them. You could send your proposal to that publisher.
Step 4. Follow all submission guidelines when submitting your proposal
When you have found the right agent or publisher, be sure to carefully read the guidelines that are provided to you when submitting your manuscript. Agents and editors receive many submissions every day and can simply trash one that hasn't been formatted properly.
- Follow the basic formatting, such as margin size requirements, fonts, cover page, and so on.
- Many news agencies and agents require you to include a self-addressed, postage-paid envelope so they can send you their acceptance or rejection letter.
Part 3 of 3: Submit the Manuscript
Step 1. Arrange the proposal with your agent
If you have opted to contact an agent, they will ask you to work with you to refine the proposal. He will want to help you write a marketable draft of your book to propose to potential publishers.
- Try to approach the situation with an open mind. Many people stick to their original idea and don't want to hear criticism. However, it is important to follow your agent's advice. If you are interested in selling your manuscript, the agent can help you find a way to increase the chances of it being accepted by a publishing house.
- Keep in mind that restrictions sometimes force you to be more creative. Your agent may ask you to cut or change some parts of the writing; While it can be frustrating, you may end up with a final draft that you like more than the original.
Step 2. Work on your book until finished
Once your proposal is settled, work on the book. If you have already finished it, refine it keeping in mind the agent's suggestions. If you haven't hired an agent, simply try to write a high quality final draft.
- It takes a long time to write a final draft, so be patient and stick to a schedule. Set aside some time each day to write.
- If you know people in the literary world, such as professors or colleagues in a creative writing program, contact them. Ask them to read your draft and give you an honest opinion.
Step 3. Follow the formatting guidelines when preparing your manuscript
As you did for the proposal, the manuscript should follow all formatting guidelines required by the publisher. Each publisher has slightly different guidelines, so read them carefully. Make sure you follow all the requirements regarding margins, fonts, titles, and so on. You should also include a prepaid envelope if the publisher requests it.
Step 4. Submit the book to several publishers
Remember, getting rejected is common in the publishing world. You shouldn't send your book to a select few publishers, but broaden your range as much as possible. This will increase your chances that one of them will decide to publish it.
- Remember to send your book to publishers who specialize in your literary genre.
- If you work with an agent, he can help you find the right publishers. If you work alone you will have to use the resources of the Internet.
- If you know someone in the literary world, such as someone you met at a conference or went to school with, write to them and ask them if they've published recently. He may be able to help you contact a publishing house.
Step 5. Accept the best offer
You may receive few offers for your book and some may even vanish, for example a publishing house may make an offer but later withdraw it or lose interest. From the offers you receive for your book, select the one you think is best.
- If there is more than one publisher interested in your book, you may receive competitive offers. In this case, you can choose the publisher who is willing to offer you the highest amount.
- You should also negotiate the advances. An advance is a sum of money that is given to start working on a book. A larger advance is generally better as it gives you more resources to focus on writing.
Step 6. Deal with rejection
On the first try, you may not receive any offers. Many well-known authors have faced numerous rejections before achieving success. After you ship your book to publishers, find ways to address the rejections you may receive.
- There are many things you can do besides editorial proposals, in terms of writing. He curates a literary series, collaborates with small magazines and dedicated to online self-publishing. That way, you'll still have a lot on your hands even if you get a rejection. It might hurt you a little less.
- Rejection is usually not personal. Your work may simply not be suitable or be too similar to another book that is about to be published. It doesn't mean you're not a good writer, so learn to take every rejection with a grain of salt.
Advice
- If you want to publish at an independent publishing house, you probably won't need an agent.
- If you're looking to publish with a larger publishing house, it's a good idea to wait and write your book until an agent or editor has shown interest. Most large houses do not read unsolicited sent manuscripts.
