Tag: book proposal

Categories
Guest Posts

Why Should I Market An Unpublished Book?

“Lisa, everyone is asking me when they can buy a copy of the book.”

I looked at my friend without exasperation as I explained what I knew of the process. “I know, but first I need an agent, and then a publisher.”

“But why do you need an agent and how do you get one?”

Ah, there’s the rub. The advent of self-publishing has changed how people view the process of getting an actual “I can hold it in my hands” book into the marketplace. It’s easy enough to put an e-book together, and it takes more work (and money) to hire a company to print your book. If you go that route, the general rule is you must pay for the book’s production and then you have to do the marketing and get it placed in bookstores on your own. It can turn into a tremendous outlay of time and money (See a theme here?).

When an author wants a powerhouse publication, we go the traditional route, securing an agent who then finds a publisher. To get an agent you need a book proposal, which is like a business plan. Can you say research?

When I first met with the lady who would become my agent (Yes! It happened!), she liked the premise of the book and asked me to submit a proposal. It includes three synopses of the book (of varying sizes), chapter summaries, comparable works, an endorsement list, marketing plans (There it is!), and a few chapters of the book. After all, you must show the agent that you can, you know, write.

I had no clue what was involved until I started writing Marshall’s memoir, Someplace To Be Somebody. He finally got it when he thought of LeBron James, a local young man some of you may have heard of.

“Okay, so it’s like LeBron. For him to get the best contract, he has to have an agent who looks out for him.”

“Bingo!” We finally jumped that hurdle of understanding.

“But why are we doing all of this advertising when we don’t even have a book?”

It’s a valid question because it’s imperative for an author (especially a first-timer) to be a viable asset for a publisher. They need to know we have a following of people who will buy the book. I keep Marshall busy with promotional videos, and I asked him to share news on his social media sites. We were recently interviewed by Patricia Durgin (Marketers on a Mission) about the book, and we utilize Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and blog posts.

You have to get creative when it comes to book marketing. Publishers no longer do all of that work for an author, and it’s more than just going to book stores and doing a signing. It’s thinking way outside of the box and coming up with unique ways to interest people in your adventure (Yep, we’re not in Kansas anymore).

It’s about getting name recognition, speaking engagements, email lists, viral blog posts and Youtube videos, a large following, and giveaways.

Wait. What? This is where the real creativity comes in. I have to bow to those who lead the way in this (Bethany Jett, Cody Morehead, Edie Melson, Cyle Young, e.g.). They know what entices publishers, and they share! Wow! What a bonus, too for a new author to have their excellent help and support.

As we maneuver our way toward publication, marketing serves as an essential tool. As I learn, it’s my joy to share with other authors.

Lisa Kibler is a writer/blogger and international speaker. She has been published in Celebrate Gettysburg, CBN.com, and contributed to Heart Renovation by Lighthouse Bible Studies. She has just completed Someplace To Be Somebody, the memoir of former Black Nationalist, Pastor Marshall Brandon. Lisa is represented by Hartline Literary Agency. Her website is lisakibler.com

Categories
Book Proposals

Your Overview Must Grab Attention

Editors are searching for good writing and submissions. How do they find it? Several years ago I asked another acquisitions editor how he finds a good submission. He told me the straight story saying,

“Terry, I read the first sentence and if it is a good sentence I read the next sentence. If it is a good paragraph, I read the next paragraph and if it is a good page, I read the next page.”

By implication, this editor revealed if it is a poor sentence or paragraph or page, he stops and goes on to the next submission. You can hear the full interview and other tips from this Christian acquisitions editor at: www.askandymcguire.com.

What is “good” is subjective but this editor showed me your best writing must be poured into the overview or opening of your proposal. If it is buried then the editor may never read that section.

“Don’t Bury the Lead” is a common instruction to new writers. Also this insight is taught in journalism schools. Literary agents and editors receive high volumes of email and physical submissions. If your prime material is over on page six, it may never be read.

There are many ways to capture positive attention from these professionals. Almost every element of a book proposal is important but every writer should give their opening paragraph a little bit of extra polish before sending it.

Here’s a number of ways to engage your reader:

  1. Begin with a startling statistic related to your book or yourself. If you have millions of potential readers for your topic, beginning with this statistic captures attention. Also if you have a large email list or a social media following, this statistic can kick start the reading process.
  2. Ask an intriguing question. A thought-provoking question is another great beginning to a proposal.
  3. Open with an engaging story. Everyone loves a moving story. If you can tell this story in a few words with intrigue or entertainment, you pull the editor or agent into your proposal.

Whatever method you use, it is important to get the editor or agent reading your submission. Writers have confided to me their key material in the eighth chapter. My advice: don’t do it. Your reader may never get there. Start the overview of your proposal with a bang.

Terry Whalin is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written over 60 books and for more than 50 magazines including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. Get his free Book Proposal Checklist at: terrylinks.com/bookcheck. Also Terry is the author of the bestselling Book Propoals That $ell which has over 130 Five Star reviews. Terry has discounted the book and has all of the remaining copies at: BookProposalsThatSell.com. He has over 220,000 followers on twitter. twitter.com/terrywhalin

Categories
Dear Young Scribes

How to Create a Marketing Plan for your Book—Before it’s Contracted

Marketing isn’t exactly an author’s favorite job. After all, aren’t writers supposed to keep producing books and rely on their publishers to sell their books for them?

That used to be the case. But now, agents and publishers search to sign with authors who understand how to market a book. They want to trust that the writer will be committed and work hard toward placing their book in front of its target audience.

This is why it’s vital that aspiring authors don’t just learn how to write a book; they must also learn how to create a marketing plan. And yes, it’s smart to do this even before your book is contracted.

For my clients at Hartline Literary Agency, I like to walk them through the process of creating a marketing plan in their proposal. A plan they can put into action when the book releases.

Most writers, I’ve noticed, only include brief promotional ideas under the “Marketing” section of their book proposal. But rather than writing a brief paragraph about a few of your marketing ideas, why not create an action plan—just like you’d do if the book were preparing to release?

Doing this will do 3 things:

  1.  Prove to the editor that you know what it takes to market a book.
  2. Increase your chances of selling the book to a publisher.
  3. Make marketing easier for you once the book is released. How? Because you’ll already have your plan in place.

Even if you haven’t reached the book proposal creation stage, I highly recommend that you go ahead and begin crafting the first draft of your marketing plan.

That way, once it’s time to put your marketing section together for your proposal, you won’t be tempted to write the following paragraph:

“To market this book, I’ll hold book signings at bookstores and sell the book at writing conferences. Some other ideas include: hold giveaways and contests on my social media accounts, do a blog tour, and speak at schools and libraries.”      

Please do not write that into your book proposal. If you really want to stand out and impress the editor, then you’ll want to create an actual marketing plan.

Here’s how:

  1. Categorize your plan into the type of marketing.

For example…

ONLINE MARKETING

PRINT MARKETING

TV/RADIO MARKETING

CREATIVE MARKETING

SPEAKING

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

  1. Beneath each category, list about 3 – 7 steps you’ll take once the book is published. Be specific by listing the newspapers, magazines, radio stations, etc. that you’d like to reach out to once the book is published.

For example:

ONLINE MARKETING:

  • Arrange a 10 – 30-stop blog tour surrounding the release of the book
  • Submit articles to teen websites, such as [list here]
  • Hold a 15-day Instagram challenge using the hashtag #PursueYourDreams
  • Invite my street team to read an early copy of my book in exchange for an honest review
  • Plan a book cover reveal with my street team members

As you create your marketing plan, keep in mind that you are not expected to do it all. If your marketing plan is too extensive, then the editor probably won’t take it too seriously. Be sure to write a plan that you will put into action. Make it realistic and reasonable by giving ideas that you know you can follow through with.

Only choose marketing efforts that 1) you’re passionate about, 2) you can logistically put into action, and 2) that will reach your target audience. Even better if your marketing strategies can intersect the three!

My advice? Familiarize yourself with how to market a book. Don’t wait until you have a contract. Not only will this impress an agent/publisher, but it’ll also take pressure off of yourself once you do sign a contract and begin navigating the intimidating waters of marketing.

Who knows? You might even discover that you enjoy the idea of marketing more than you thought you would!

What are your favorite marketing strategies? Do you enjoy the process of marketing, or would you prefer to spend the time writing instead? Let me know in the comments!

[bctt tweet=”How to Create a Marketing Plan for your Book—Before it’s Contracted #writerslife #amwriting @TessaEmilyHall ” username=””]

Categories
Book Proposals

Knock Four Times

A good cover letter is like an intriguing door, it invites the agent or publisher into your proposal.  The publisher or agent will open wide the door with four loud and clear knocks (paragraphs)

Knock One- Hook and Outline

 The hook– One sentence that grabs the readers attention. Use antidotes, humor, facts, or a question.

The Outline- Summerize book in two to three sentences.

Knock Two-Book Facts/Marketing

Facts should include one sentence with gene and word count.

Status of completion includes one sentence with a completion date for nonfiction books. Most publishers and agents want a fiction book completed before submitting a proposal.

Marketing should include two to three sentences that include the target audience and one or two comparative titles.

Knock Three-Outline/Plot of Book

Fiction Outline should be 2-3 sentences and include

The central theme of the story

The protagonist and his goal

The antagonist and his issue

Plot twist

Ending

Non-Fiction should be 2-3 sentences and include

Focus of Book

Problem

How book solves the problem

Knock Four-Biography

This portion should be three to four sentences and include

Major achievements-book, articles, blogs and other published work

Education and Work

Social Media presence

An overview of what makes you the person to write this book.

Before you Knock

Check for grammatical errors

Take time to run your document through Grammarly or another grammar program. Have someone else read your cover letter for errors.

Double check agent or publisher website for submission guidelines

Did you spell the name correctly?

Does that agent or publisher represent the genre of your book?

The entire letter must be one page

Thousands of cover letters beckon the publishers and agents,  these four loud knocks will get you one step closer to an open door.

 

 

Cherrilynn Bisbano  is the Managing Editor at Serious Writer & Almost an Author -Top 100 writing websites

Host of Genre Chat & Fulfilled Prophecy Friday

Speaker with Women Speakers & By Design ministries.  20 years military service. Resides in Rhode Island with her Husband and son.

 

 

Categories
Heard It Through The Hartline

Matchmaking and a Good Proposal

Book and knowledge concept

Agenting is a lot like being the matchmaker in Fiddler on the Roof. We have the job of searching for a suitable match between you, the author, and the right publishing house for your writing. A publisher that can provide a long-standing relationship where the author can flourish and mature.

As the publishing houses continue to recover from the economic changes the digital revolution brought about, it is more important than ever for authors to present an agent with a good proposal. Each portion of the proposal convinces the publisher to make a financial investment in you. For example, the competitive analysis helps an editor decide if there is a large enough reader-ship for titles such as yours that make their investment worthwhile. In the case of nonfiction titles, this list helps them determine if your book has something to say that has not been said before, or if it says it in a unique and marketable way.

[bctt tweet=”Agenting is a lot like being the matchmaker in Fiddler on the Roof. #agent #amwriting” via=”no”]

Be sure to take advantage of the writing conference schedules available in your areas, many of them offer great workshops on preparing a stellar proposal. A few of my favorite resource titles are; A Writers Survival Guide by Terry Burns, Author 101- Bestselling Book Proposals, Frishman & Spizman, and of course Terry Whalin’s Book Proposals That Sell.

Nonfiction authors must meet a large ‘platform’ challenge. With so much free online material and a plethora of blogs on every conceivable topic, having huge numbers of followers in their social media stats is very important. A publisher must be assured that the nonfiction author can help promote and sell their book through a strong network, and a speaking platform, where back of the room sales can take place.

When I am asked in reference to a nonfiction title, what should come first, the book or the platform, I encourage the platform. For without it, I will not be able to place your book with a publisher.

Romance novels continue to be an open door for new authors at Harlequins Love Inspired imprints. Authors must adhere to their submission formula or they will waste their time and receive a rejection. Many male authors are trying their hand at romance writing in an effort to get a published foot in the door.

Christian book sales continue to be good, although there are fewer slots open or titles being published, publishing houses are still buying. Be encouraged, God is in the process, and He is still on the throne.