The “Your Questions Answered” Series
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I’m a 78-year-old psychotherapist in a psychiatric practice and have been doing some writing for patients over the years. My question is, “How do you know when an article or book possibility is developed and written well enough to send to an agent?”
As an agency, we don’t represent articles, so I’ll confine my remarks to books. The best way to see if your book is ready to be submitted is to write the book proposal. I wrote a series about this on our blog. Here is the link:
https://stevelaube.com/category/book-proposal-basics.
As you can see from filling out each category, you’ll tease out problems and find holes that might keep the book from selling to a publisher.
Of course, the best proposal has to be backed up with a fantastic manuscript, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction.
To develop the book, write it. The. Entire. Book. Authors who gain contracts based on a blurb or even the possibility that they may write a book have a proven track record earned over years of writing extensive proposals and complete manuscripts on speculation. Your goal is to become one of these writers. But until then, write the book.
Your turn:
How far along are you on your current WIP?
What is your favorite part of writing?
How many books have you written? Have you sold any yet?
What is your favorite part of writing a proposal? Your least favorite?
For the entire series, click here: “Your Questions Answered.”
