Sound a little grand?
Consider this. It is a fact that there is someone out there in the world right now who wants to publish a book similar to the one you're writing now (or the one you want to write). Is yours that book? That's not the topic of this post.
Consider this. It is a fact that there is someone out there in the world right now who wants to publish a book similar to the one you're writing now (or the one you want to write). Is yours that book? That's not the topic of this post.
But there is a person out there right now, thinking about you, wondering where you are and if you're writing the next great American novel (or whatever)! So how do you make yourself easily accessible to that person? That is the topic of this post.
This question occurred to me as a good one to answer because most big book publishers have some variation of the following policy: "We do not accept unsolicited submissions," which usually means that they will only review new book proposals from a literary agent, or from writers that their editors approach specifically. Why is this? Simple. Publishers receive thousands of queries, proposals and manuscripts every week and it would be nearly impossible to sort through that much material without hiring an army of assistants and interns. Assistants and interns with a nose for good books.
So, other than nabbing a literary agent, how can you get the attention of your editor of choice? Well, most editors have a very clear idea of what they want to publish, and a routine for finding new writers and potential authors. Your job, once you've got your killer book proposal or manuscript polished and ready to send out, is to get noticed!
1. Start by identifying the editors and publishers with whom you want to work. Make a list of the top five publishers, perhaps even the top ten, and do some googling. Find out who their current editors and publishers are, get their names and keep track of the books they've acquired. You need to know these names and remember them if you're going to publish with one of the editors on the list.
2. Before you try to contact someone from your dream list of publishers, start up a free blog and get you name out there. Create a place (blog or web site) where a book editor can find out about you and your writing, and whenever you write an article online or elsewhere, link it to your blog or web site—and make yourself readily accessible online. There are stories out there of authors, particularly those writing fiction, who were discovered by their editors simply by posting regularly on their blogs and developing an audience of readers. So blog it up and then polish up your social networking skills on Facebook, Linkedin, and elsewhere, and if you can muster up a little transparency, Twitter your heart out.
3. Once you've got your novel, self-help manuscript, or business book (or whatever) that you'd like to sell, KEEP WRITING. But make sure you write strategically. In other words, write articles and get them published in magazines, newspapers, or other outlets that are read by your intended audience—those people in that particular industry. There are only a handful of good science fiction and fantasy magazines, journals, and online zines. Similarly, there are a handful of key business magazines, journals and online outlets for business writers. When you get an article placed, often you are given a small biography space at the bottom of your piece— mention that you happen to be writing a book, then link to your web site or blog and include your e-mail address whenever possible.
4. Most editors travel and haunt conferences, conventions, seminars, and events where writers and authors tend to gather in whatever category they are seeking to publish. Some editors present or hear pitches at writer's conferences or writing-focused gatherings. Find out if any of the editors on your list are making any appearances in your area, and then go sit down and pitch them, or try to get noticed. How? Don't be annoying. Just be yourself, be professional, and share your idea.
5. Present something at a conference, convention, or event yourself! These events are often organized by fans of the genre, so find a topic you can present on, and go for it. Sometimes I'll sit in the back of events like this and listen to dozens of presentations from authors, leaders, and experts in all sorts of niche areas, and then I'll introduce myself when I see someone who might have a concept, a striking speaking style, or an idea that I'd like to publish.
6. Get noticed locally, or by the media. If you are doing something unique and interesting enough to get some kind of recognition by your local media (TV, radio, newspapers, Internet etc) make a mention of your book project if possible. If you need to garner some attention, send out a press release to all your regional media and see if you can nab an interview.
I once read a Rolling Stone article about a series of very interesting people who happened to be blogging on topics that were relevant to the types of books I wanted to publish. I contacted several of them and wound up with several interesting meetings in New York all of which resulted in a single book proposal that I took to my publishing team for consideration. We didn't sign it, but I was interested enough to set up the meeting in the first place! And this is surprisingly common. At another time, after setting up a meeting with a leader who I first noticed in a magazine article, I signed him to a book deal and the first book did so well that I quickly signed him up for two more! Get noticed, for anything, and mention your book when you get a chance.
7. Last one. Hands down the best way to get the attention of your editor of choice is to get a recommendation from someone respected in the genre, field, or category—or from someone known by the editor him- or herself. The right endorsement or recommendation will get your manuscript or proposal requested faster than anything else. In fact, just last week I requested a proposal from someone I did not know who mentioned that one of our authors told him to call me. That manuscript hit my desk a few hours later.
If none of these methods seem like they will work for you, you can always go to the publishers who WILL read unsolicited proposals and manuscripts and do it the old fashioned way. Throw you manuscript atop ye ol' slush pile and pray!
Whatever happens with your project, I wish you the best of luck!
Photo by freedigitalphotos.net.
This question occurred to me as a good one to answer because most big book publishers have some variation of the following policy: "We do not accept unsolicited submissions," which usually means that they will only review new book proposals from a literary agent, or from writers that their editors approach specifically. Why is this? Simple. Publishers receive thousands of queries, proposals and manuscripts every week and it would be nearly impossible to sort through that much material without hiring an army of assistants and interns. Assistants and interns with a nose for good books.
So, other than nabbing a literary agent, how can you get the attention of your editor of choice? Well, most editors have a very clear idea of what they want to publish, and a routine for finding new writers and potential authors. Your job, once you've got your killer book proposal or manuscript polished and ready to send out, is to get noticed!
1. Start by identifying the editors and publishers with whom you want to work. Make a list of the top five publishers, perhaps even the top ten, and do some googling. Find out who their current editors and publishers are, get their names and keep track of the books they've acquired. You need to know these names and remember them if you're going to publish with one of the editors on the list.
2. Before you try to contact someone from your dream list of publishers, start up a free blog and get you name out there. Create a place (blog or web site) where a book editor can find out about you and your writing, and whenever you write an article online or elsewhere, link it to your blog or web site—and make yourself readily accessible online. There are stories out there of authors, particularly those writing fiction, who were discovered by their editors simply by posting regularly on their blogs and developing an audience of readers. So blog it up and then polish up your social networking skills on Facebook, Linkedin, and elsewhere, and if you can muster up a little transparency, Twitter your heart out.
3. Once you've got your novel, self-help manuscript, or business book (or whatever) that you'd like to sell, KEEP WRITING. But make sure you write strategically. In other words, write articles and get them published in magazines, newspapers, or other outlets that are read by your intended audience—those people in that particular industry. There are only a handful of good science fiction and fantasy magazines, journals, and online zines. Similarly, there are a handful of key business magazines, journals and online outlets for business writers. When you get an article placed, often you are given a small biography space at the bottom of your piece— mention that you happen to be writing a book, then link to your web site or blog and include your e-mail address whenever possible.
4. Most editors travel and haunt conferences, conventions, seminars, and events where writers and authors tend to gather in whatever category they are seeking to publish. Some editors present or hear pitches at writer's conferences or writing-focused gatherings. Find out if any of the editors on your list are making any appearances in your area, and then go sit down and pitch them, or try to get noticed. How? Don't be annoying. Just be yourself, be professional, and share your idea.
5. Present something at a conference, convention, or event yourself! These events are often organized by fans of the genre, so find a topic you can present on, and go for it. Sometimes I'll sit in the back of events like this and listen to dozens of presentations from authors, leaders, and experts in all sorts of niche areas, and then I'll introduce myself when I see someone who might have a concept, a striking speaking style, or an idea that I'd like to publish.
6. Get noticed locally, or by the media. If you are doing something unique and interesting enough to get some kind of recognition by your local media (TV, radio, newspapers, Internet etc) make a mention of your book project if possible. If you need to garner some attention, send out a press release to all your regional media and see if you can nab an interview.
I once read a Rolling Stone article about a series of very interesting people who happened to be blogging on topics that were relevant to the types of books I wanted to publish. I contacted several of them and wound up with several interesting meetings in New York all of which resulted in a single book proposal that I took to my publishing team for consideration. We didn't sign it, but I was interested enough to set up the meeting in the first place! And this is surprisingly common. At another time, after setting up a meeting with a leader who I first noticed in a magazine article, I signed him to a book deal and the first book did so well that I quickly signed him up for two more! Get noticed, for anything, and mention your book when you get a chance.
7. Last one. Hands down the best way to get the attention of your editor of choice is to get a recommendation from someone respected in the genre, field, or category—or from someone known by the editor him- or herself. The right endorsement or recommendation will get your manuscript or proposal requested faster than anything else. In fact, just last week I requested a proposal from someone I did not know who mentioned that one of our authors told him to call me. That manuscript hit my desk a few hours later.
If none of these methods seem like they will work for you, you can always go to the publishers who WILL read unsolicited proposals and manuscripts and do it the old fashioned way. Throw you manuscript atop ye ol' slush pile and pray!
Whatever happens with your project, I wish you the best of luck!
Photo by freedigitalphotos.net.
