Insights from Editors and Agents

From a question-and-answer session with a panel made up of editors and agents, Fall 2006:

If given two books of equal merit, how to choose:
1.) Author who is willing to do the most work after the book gets published
2.) Which author has more books in them, so that the agent can continue to build them in a particular area
3.) Rapport /chemistry between author and agent
4.) Author with a voice that resonates; who is most accessible

Knock their socks off with how well written it is... Love what you are writing and put your heart into it. Come up with an idea that has not been done yet, and is huge!

Agents find homes for 90% of the books that they take on. Remember, agents are working on a contingency basis; if you don't make money, they don't make money. Most books sell about 1000 copies.

Editors take on new books the way that people browse bookstore shelves. "Is this the right book for me? Because I'm your advocate." Editors advocate for both the reader and the writer.

Nonfiction Book Proposal

Notes from "Writing the Nonfiction Book Proposal" workshop (Van Borstel):

Book proposals are how agents sell nonfiction. Think of the book proposal like a business plan; it's half-writing and half-marketing.

Your goal is to answer, in the book proposal, all the questions that the editor has about your book.

1.) Overview: This is your mission statement. It should be concise; between 2 paragraphs and two pages long. Start with an attention-getting opener, such as a statistic or personal story. Include the title of your book within the text of the first page.

Your overview should answer the following questions:
- Is there a commerical need for this book?
- Who is the book-buying audience?
- What qualifies you as the best author?

2.) Author Profile: This is not a resume, but rather a description of yourself as the author of this book. Include both your personal and professional qualifications to prove how you are the expert. This might be easier to write in third person.

Include:
*writing credits *awards *notable publicity*speaking/media experience
*previous books: date of publication, publisher, format

3.) Comparative Titles: Three/four complementary titles in print that have been successful: title, author, publisher, date of publication. How is your book superior or different?

Keep the focus on your book: Emphasize its features or benefits. Avoid critiques of other books. What is missing? / story that hasn't be told.

4.) Target Market: Who will buy the book? Why? (be specific)

Find demographics, statistics, percentages, in order to define the population for specific markets.
The U.S. Census, associations might be of help...

5.) Promotion / Publicity:
*Direct sales outlets
*Organizations: Include # of members, newsletters, web sites, annual meetings
*Key author contacts
*Include hard numbers -- this will help marketing people tally potential booksales

6.) TOC / Chapter Summaries / Sample Chapters:
*Table of contents
*Chapter summaries: features/benefits
*1-2 chapters that best demonstrate your writing (not an intro, just the meat of your book)

Submit your nonfiction book proposal:
- Word document
- Double-spaced
- Single-sided
- Times New Roman
- 12 font

*Include estimated format and page count

Freelance Writing 101

Notes from "Freelance Writing" workshop, lead by Kelly Boyer Sagert:

Steps to success:
1.) Define what topics you wish to publish, and be the expert
2.) Cast a wide marketing net; including manuals, encyclopedias, Readers Digest...
3.) Gather your profile and clips together as you build your platform

Freelance writing job sites:
1.) www.journalismjobs.com
2.) http://cleveland.craigslist.org/wri/
3.) www.freelancewriting.com Tues. am. "morning coffee"
4.) www.anthologiesonline.com
5.) http://h-net.org/announce/group.cgi?type=PUBLICATIONS
6.) www.poewar.com
7.) www.indeed.com ("freelance writer")
8.) www.simplyhired.com ("freelance writer")
9.) www.creativegroup.com (put in zip code)

Action plan:
1.) Start locally
2.) Study potential publications: Guidelines, articles, masthead, TOC, ads, editor's letter: These will all give tips on their focus
3.) Write a professional query letter
4.) Simultaneous submissions: Reuse your research by repackaging your idea

Making editors happy:
1.) Use their customary style (i.e. MLA)
2.) Use their customary length and formatting
3.) Meet deadlines
4.) Abide by fair use
5.) Fact-checking

Additional sources:
www.profnet.com
www.questia.com
www.writersonlineworkshops.com
www.kbsagert.com

How to Promote Your Book

Here is a summary of what I learned at Milton Kahn's "How to Promote Your Book" workshop:

The focus of the publishing business has undergone many important changes over the years...

Gone are the days of "the book tour." Revenue takes precedence over developing new writers.

There is a huge turnover rate in the publishing business. Publicists and editors, who are arguably the most important, are also the first ones to get cut.

As a publicist, Kahn emphasized that he thinks that most publishers are clueless about PR. Publishing houses are flooded with books, and therefore only have a set amount of time to think about each new title.

The people who want it the most are the ones who make it. There is a lot of work that goes into getting published -- and writing a book and publishing it is only the beginning.

The issue you write about must be "sellable" to the media, such as current events or self help.

Who you are is vitally important. You need to develop a presence, an on-air personality.

To query television shows and magazines:
- Send them a synopsis of the issues.
- Don't expect the television personality or magazine editor to read your book.
- Hopefully their viewers / readers will.

Milton Kahn is Oprah's neighbor. He says that she has the final say about what is on her show, but her people are the ones who choose you. Oprah can sell 150,000 books from one show.