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December/January 2004
Q: How can I find a publisher for my
nonfiction book?
A: Whew, a simple question, but a tall
order! Writing a powerful, complete book proposal comes first. Read and follow a
reference book such as How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen.
Next, research is key, and after that, follow-through is essential.
Originally, I wrote a book proposal and
three sample chapters of my book on creative writing. I landed a New York agent
based on that proposal, and I felt smug that she would find a publisher. After
she took my book proposal to three major publishers where she had contacts, she
dropped me.
I picked myself up, dusted myself off, set
out on my own, and I succeeded. I sold my book to a well-established New York
publisher with the right contacts and distribution, and I’m pleased with the way
I’ve been treated.
How did I find a publisher? I followed these
steps:
- I wrote a killer book proposal, complete
with facts and figures gleaned from reliable sources. I used the Internet for
my research on the size of the market for my book. I did not use vague words,
such as “huge.” Instead I gave the exact percentage of Americans who like to
write creatively outside of work. The National Endowment for the Arts gladly
supplied the figures.
- I went to two large bookstores to see
what books were available in the same category as mine. This essential step
also ensured that no books exactly like mine were on the shelves, but enough
were in my category to indicate a strong market for my book. I wrote down the
title, author and publisher of each book in my category (reference/writing). I
also wrote down the selling price of the book, on the chance that I might
later decide to self-publish.
- I subscribed to WritersMarket.com for
$2.99 a month. Yes, other sources list similar information (Literary Market
Place and Writers Market, for example), but the online service is
updated more regularly than a printed book and is infinitely more user
friendly.
- I looked up all the book publishers
interested in my category and printed them all out, including the guidelines.
If guidelines were not listed on the WritersMarket.com site, I went to the
publisher’s Websites to get the information.
- I selected the book publishers whose
books I had found in the bookstores and approached them first, following their
guidelines, provided they accepted submissions without an agent. I set aside
those that required an agent or that did not accept multiple submissions.
- I prepared the appropriate packages,
carefully following each publisher’s guidelines. Some publishers wanted a full
book proposal and sample chapters. Some wanted only an outline and cover
letter. Some wanted the table of contents and my bio. One wanted only an
e-mail query. I made sure to follow each publisher’s guidelines to a T and
always enclosed that vital SASE, out of courtesy, whenever I mailed anything
by snail mail.
- I individualized each cover letter. If I
did not know which acquisitions editor handled books in my category, I called
to find out, before addressing the cover letter. In the cover letter I listed
the books and authors that publisher had released in my category, which showed
I had done my homework.
- I stored the information and listings on
the publishers that did not accept multiple submissions, figuring I would
approach them one at a time if I received negative responses from all of the
first line of publishers.
- I also kept the information and listings
of the publishers that accepted submissions only through an agent, figuring my
former agent or another one could use that information, should I try to go the
agency route again.
- I tracked the dates I sent out each query
and when I heard a response. Interestingly, three or four never responded at
all.
My approach worked. I received several
nibbles, e-mails and phone calls from interested publishers. I chose the best
publisher of the lot, in my opinion, and we negotiated an arrangement that made
both my publisher and me happy. Negotiation is another matter entirely, perhaps
worthy of a future column. Meanwhile, watch for my book, Write In Style,
to be released in June by Union Square Publishing, an imprint of Cardoza
Publishing of New York.
I did my research, followed guidelines, and
found a publisher. If your book is worthy, you can do it, too.
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