Tag: proposal

Categories
Book Proposals

Do Agents Really Care About My Cat?

My Maine Coon- Peach

I love cats, coffee, chocolate, and long walks on the beach, especially if the beach has sea glass.  My cat is my best friend and therapist.  What does this information have to do with my author bio? NOTHING! All this information is good for a dating website (you won’t find me there, I’m married) or your personal social media page, but not a book proposal bio.

So what do agents and publishers want?

Writing experience

Don’t be shy. If you wrote for the school paper, local newspaper, or college blog, include it in this section. Of course, annotate any books or magazine articles.

Education

Include high school, college, and any online courses. Did you attend an intense class at a conference? Make sure it’s in your bio.

Achievements

Note any writing awards, no matter how small. I read one proposal that mentioned a tri-state, third-grade school award for best story.  As a junior agent, this award showed me that the author began writing early and has a recognizable talent.

Publishing History

Local newspapers, blogs, magazines, books, and newsletters all count. List the name of the article or book, publisher, and date. Self-publishing counts.

Current Head Shot

Use a recent photo. If you do not have one, pay a professional, or ask someone who knows how to take a good photo.

Additional Information

Write your author bio in the third person. Use your name and a pronoun interchangeably.

The agent and publisher want to know you are the best person to write the book.

Some agents and publishers love cats, but if your book is not about a feline,  leave Morris, Tabby, Felix, Sampson, or Peach out of your proposal.

If you have any questions about book proposals, email me at editor@thewriteproposal.com

Cherrilynn Bisbano is the founder of The Write Proposal book proposal services. Cherrilynn co-hosts Fulfilled Prophecy Friday with well-known prophecy speaker Jake McCandless. Connect with her at www.truthtoshine.blogspot.com

As managing editor of Almost an Author, she helped the website earn the #6 spot on the Top 100 best writing websites for 2018 by The Write Life and Top 101 Websites for writers with Writers Digest.

She is a two-time winner of Flash Fiction Weekly. You can find her published in Southern Writers, More to Life (MTL), Christian Rep, Refresh and other online magazines.  Cherrilynn is a contributor to the Blue Ridge Christian Writers blog. She is published in Heart Reno, Chicken Soup for the Soul-Miracles, and  Selah nominated, Breaking the Chains books.

Cherrilynn proudly served in the Navy and Air National Guard; earning the John Levitow Military leadership award.  She lives with her sixteen-year-old son, Michael, Jr., and husband of 19 years, Michael, Sr.

Categories
Book Proposals

Proposal Do’s and Don’ts

Why was my proposal rejected?

As a submissions reader, I now understand why my past book proposal was not accepted.

Each day I read proposals with bad grammar, misspelled names, or the submission guidelines ignored. I’ve had authors claim their manuscript is the next bestseller, better than J.K. Rowling, a must for every school in America, and sent by God to bless the world.

I shake my head and send them a “pass” email or delete the submission. Why would I pass on the next best seller?

Avoidable mistakes, like I made in my first book proposal.

So, how can we get our proposal noticed?

DO

  • Follow submission guidelines- Most agents will delete the submission if guidelines aren’t followed.  When an author does not follow submission guidelines the agent believes the writer cannot follow any instructions.
  • Take time to research agents- Spell the name correctly. Research what genre the agent represents. The agent I work with represents family friendly content as stated on the website. I’ve had three erotica submission in one month.  (The delete button is my friend.)
  • Send an edited manuscript-  An unedited manuscript denotes unprofessionalism. Agents want to represent authors who are ready to publish.
  • Have a Social Media Platform– Let’s face it, writing is a business. The more people you know, the more speaking engagements you book, and followers you have, the more books you sell. If you don’t have social media accounts, choose two platforms and build your followers. Build a website before you send your proposal.

DON’T

  • Say your book is anointed by God and we must represent you– Confidence is great, an agent loves to work with a confident writer. However, there is a fine line between confidence and exaggeration.
  • Address your proposal to many agents in one email- Your Manuscript will be rejected by most agents if they see other email address in the “CC” or “To” sections of the email.  In the body of the proposal state “simultaneous submissions,” this alerts the agent that other agencies are receiving your work.
  • Harass the agent with multiple emails- Agents are busy. Most submission guidelines give a response time. Three months seems to be the average. If you have not heard from the agent within the time frame stated on their site, chances are they passed on your manuscript.
  • Give up– Agents desire to see you succeed. Agents also look for specific genres. If one agent passes on your proposal, keep submitting to other agents. Meanwhile, make sure your manuscript is edited by a professional editor, have Beta Readers review your book, build your social media platform, and sharpen your writing skills.

If you follow these do’s and don’ts, you will have a much better chance of success.

 

 

Cherrilynn Bisbano is a speaker, editor, coach, and writer.  Her passion for helping people is evident. She is Managing Editor at Almost an Author. As host of   “Genre Chat”  she interviews established authors in a specific genre.

She considers it an honor to encourage ladies with the Word of God, as she travels to speak.

Cherrilynn is a two-time winner of Flash Fiction Weekly. You can find her published in Southern Writers, Amramp, More to Life (MTL), Christian Rep, Refresh, Broken but Priceless, and other online magazines. Contributor to Breaking The Chains–Strategies for Overcoming Spiritual Bondage. 

She earned her Leadership Certification through Christian Leaders Institute and continues toward a Chaplaincy certification. Cherrilynn proudly served in the Navy and Air National Guard; earning the John Levitow Military leadership award.  She lives with her fifteen-year-old autistic son, Michael, Jr., and husband of 18 years, Michael, Sr.

Website: www.TruthtoShine.blogspot.com

Contact: godsfruit@juno.com

www.almostanauthor.com

Categories
Publishing Perspectives

Submitting a Fiction Novel to a Publisher, Part 2: The Synopsis

Keep Calm and Write A Synopsis

Keep Calm and Write A SynopsisThe first part of this series examined the Query Letter. In this column, we’ll look at the synopsis.

Most publishers will be specific about the length of synopsis that they want to see. If they want 3-5 pages, you don’t want to submit just one page; and vice versa. So go to their website and search for instructions. Don’t give an editor an easy excuse to reject your submission package simply because you did not follow their guidelines. Check for instructions about font, margins, header/footer, and line spacing, too.

A synopsis is simply a summary of your content:

  • Theme: What does the novel mean? What is the spiritual take-away? What is the lesson that can be learned? What is the conclusion the reader should draw?
  • Characterization: How the main character changes / grows during the story.
  • Setting: Time and place.
  • Plot points:
    • Normal setting of main characters
    • Conflict / Call to action
    • Events with rising conflict
    • Dark moment / Final Test / Climax
    • Aftermath / New normal

I urge you to try writing out steps 1, 2, and 4 of the Snowflake Method to help you draft a synopsis.

Start with your hook: the event that gets the main character moving on their journey.

Focus on the facts. Don’t embellish with descriptions on your first draft; you can add these details sparingly later (if there is room). This doesn’t mean leave out the emotions of the characters. Be sure to include the critical emotional development points of the main characters.

Leave out any characters that aren’t *essential* to the plot. Try writing your synopsis with *only* the main characters. Then review the presented plot for holes, and add in only the character(s) absolutely necessary to fill those holes.

Leave out subplots that aren’t *essential* to the main plot. Be sure that your final paragraph shows how the major plot points are resolved.

A synopsis can be dry reading, so you need to apply your creative writing skills to your first draft to make it more compelling. Your first paragraph needs to be intriguing. Add your voice to the synopsis by making it sound as if the main character were reading you the synopsis (i.e., they are telling you a story. But not in first person: use third person, active voice).

Personally, I love novels that employ the Hero’s Journey, so I want a synopsis to clearly show me that each of those steps is included in the story.

Come back next month because I will be explaining common items included in a publisher’s “Author’s Questionnaire”.

Leave a comment: What do you find to be the hardest part of writing a synopsis? Have any tips to share on something that helped you?

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.