Get Editors and Agents Excited About Your Proposal

Let’s begin with good news for writers. Despite what you may be hearing from literary agents and editors, every publishing professional is actively looking for great books to publish. I’ve been inside some of the top literary agencies and publishers in the US and they are asking me, “Where is the next bestseller?” Each of these individuals receives hundreds of pitches every month but they are always looking. What are the keys to getting an agent or editor excited about your book proposal?

1. Excellent writing.

It sounds cliché but true. People ask me what I’m looking for and I say, “Good books.” I’ve read thousands of submissions and from checking out a few paragraphs, I can tell if something grabs me. Yes it is subjective but good writing always stands out.

2. A Solid Connection to the Market.

Whether your publisher is well-known or tiny, the publisher is going to expect you to reach your readers.  If you don’t have these connections, begin today. Every author needs their own email newsletter and other basic resources. Online Marketing for Busy Authors by Fauzia Burke is a simple straightforward place to start. The key is taking action and begin to build every day. For example, if you aren’t a part of LinkedIn, join today and fill out your profile and let’s connect. For years, I ignored LinkedIn. It is a wonderful way to keep up with editors and agents because when they change, they take their LinkedIN account with them. It’s why I have over 19,000 connections on this social network.

3. Continue to learn and try new things.

Every author has the same amount of time in a day. How are you using that time to learn to craft the best proposal and touch new areas of the market? Discard things that are not working and try new avenues. One of our Morgan James authors has a novel launching next month. I noticed that already she has over 60 Amazon reviews.  I’m asking my colleagues how this happened because I want to learn what is working.

Persistence and perseverance are keys to find the right place for your book idea. You must be taking consistent action to find this connection. Be assured it is out there.

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 recent book, 10 Publishing Myths for only $10, free shipping and bonuses worth over $200. Jim Cox, Editor-in-Chief at Midwest Book Review wrote, “If you only have time to read one ‘how to’ guide to getting published, whether it be traditional publishing or self-publishing, “Book Proposals That Sell” is that one DIY instructional book.” At the book website, get a free book proposal checklist. Get 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.