Discover the Power of Asking

Writing is a solitary profession and the majority of writers are introverts. Book proposals are a powerful business tool even if you self-publish to create the business plan for your book. Do you have to do it completely on your own? Not necessarily. I want to encourage you to discover the power of asking. Here’s two practical ways to use this power and improve the quality of your proposal.

1. Get endorsements or a foreword from well-known people.

I can already hear the objections. “I don’t know anyone famous or well-known. “ I know your proposal will stand out to the editor or agent with endorsements or a foreword from easily-recognizable authors or business people or celebrities. As an editor, I’ve sold my publication board on a concept (and could make a contract offer) with a foreword or endorsement in the author’s proposal. I’ve written books with forewords from Billy Graham, Jackie Joyner Kersee or Mark Victor Hansen.

Here’s what people outside of publishing don’t understand. These people did not write their foreword. I wrote the foreword, and then asked for their permission. To handle this successfully, it will take a bit of work, research and writing on your part. The first step is to write a “draft” endorsement (a paragraph) or a foreword (a short article about 1000 to 1500 words) and ask the person to review and approve the contents.

Imagine yourself as a ghostwriter for this person then write what you want them to say in the first person tense. It is easier for that person to review your writing and possibly change a few words, then approve it instead of creating it themselves. Your advanced work on the writing will make it easier for someone to say yes.

In your proposal, make sure you have a realistic list of possible endorsers. For example, don’t include Dr. James Dobson or Chuck Swindoll if you don’t have a long-standing personal relationship with them. It is rare either man will write an endorsement for a book. Years ago, I received a proposal and the author touted a possible endorsement from bestselling author Beth Moore. I called this author and learned this possibility was not outrageous because she had a personal relationship with Beth Moore. Editors and agents are quick to spot and reject an outlandish list of endorsers so be realistic.

2. Find a critique partner or join a critique group.

During my early days as a writer, I found a small critique group and it propelled my writing to new levels of excellence. When you have a critique group (online or in person), you are getting feedback from readers before sending it off to an editor or agent.

You don’t have to take all of the feedback and have to filter to select which to accept and which to reject. Yet this feedback can be invaluable to improve your book proposal or sample chapter. You will have to reach out and ask to find this group or person but a critique group will give you the writer’s edge with your submissions. I have more detail about critique groups at: http://terrylinks.com/critique

Neither of these two methods is easy or simple but will be well worth your efforts if you use the power of asking. It will greatly improve the quality (and possible acceptance) of your book proposal.

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. Get Terry’s newest book, 10 Publishing Myths for only $10, free shipping and bonuses worth over $200.. To help writers catch the attention of editors and agents, Terry wrote his bestselling Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success. He answers to your proposal questions at: www.AskAboutProposals.com. 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 and LinkedIn.