Literary agents and publishers are actively looking for authors and books to publish. Yet the reality is thousands of new books are published every day. Millions of pitches and proposals are circulating in publishing offices. With the volume of submissions, some publishers and agents have said if you don’t receive a response in a certain time period, then you should consider it a rejection. Other publishing professionals will take months to respond. As an author (and an editor), I understand waiting is hard yet I understand the submission process is all about searching for the right fit with your content and what you want to publish. How can you distinguish your proposal from others? Here’s five keys for every would-be book author:
1. Have a direct connection to your reader.
Email continues to be one of the most reliable ways for authors to reach their audience. Do you have an email list? If not, start building one right away.
2. Write an excellent book proposal and manuscript.
From reviewing thousands of submissions, I know a well-written manuscript and proposal is foundational. Get outside editing and help before you show it to anyone.
3. Understand the business decisions.
Publishers and literary agents are making business decisions every day which affect you. While their decision about your work may feel personal, these professionals are focused on the business or work and it is not personal. Learn as much about the publishing world as you can through books and blogs and conferences. To learn more about this perspective, get my free ebook, Straight Talk From the Editor, 18 Keys to a Rejection-Proof Submission: www.straighttalkeditor.com
4. See other writers as cooperative instead of competitors.
Attitude and perspective will affect your success in the publishing world. Choosing to work with others rather than compete can be a game changer for you.
5. Build relationships at conferences, groups and online.
Who you know is as important as what you know in publishing. Always be working to build relationships with anyone in the business. You never know how a single connection can change your book sales.
Your reach as an author is often called a “platform.” Publishing professionals are looking for authors who can reach their target market. If you don’t have this reach or it is small, begin building it every day. It is critical to remember that small actions taken day after day will have an effect. Your actions as an author will be the difference maker in this process. Keep moving forward and searching for the right opportunity.
W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor and former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams and Billy Graham. To help writers catch the attention of editors and agents, Terry wrote his bestselling Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success. Check out his free Ebook, Platform Building Ideas for Every Author. His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Connect with Terry on Twitter, Facebook, his blog and LinkedIn.
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