• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • FaceBook
  • RSS Feed
  • Get Published
  • Book Proposals
  • Book Business
  • Writing Craft
    • Conferences
    • Copyright
    • Craft
    • Creativity
    • Grammar
  • Fun Fridays
Home » Book Proposals » Page 27

Book Proposals

Attract Attention…in a GOOD Way!

By Karen Ballon June 26, 2013
Share
Tweet
19

Displeasure

I travel to writers’ conferences all over the country. I love being surrounded by others who love words and want to serve God through their writing. But over the years I’ve seen a number of interactions between agents/editors and conferees that were…well, less than positive.  It was clear the conferee was passionate about his/her work, and that the writer was looking on this encounter as THE chance to make his/her dreams come true. Unfortunately, it was equally evident that the agent/editor wanted nothing more than to escape.

One of the workshops I taught at the Write! Canada conference a week ago was focused on attracting agents’ and editors’ attention. I asked editors and agents to share tips, based on what they’d actually encountered, to equip writers for positive interactions with them. I was delighted at the number of responses I received. So, what with ICRS just around the corner, and writers’ conference season in full swing, I thought I’d share some of those tips with you. They fall into four categories, which I’m calling them the BPs of Happy Editors and Agents.

#1: Be Professional.

  1. Do your homework. As one editor put it: Be your own eHarmony.com. Make sure the agent you’ve sent your picture book to actually represents children’s books. Check out publishers’ catalogs to see if they publish the kinds of books you want to write. But take note: odds are good publishers have key authors writing in certain genres or categories. Be sure you can identify for them what makes you and your book stand out.
  2. If you haven’t visited a bookstore recently, do it. Ask yourself: where would I expect to find my book in this store? That’s what a publisher’s sales people ask editors when they’re presented with your proposals. If you can’t answer that question, it’s time to do a little focus work. Bonus question: after you find the shelf, ask if your book would be lost there? Again: What makes it stand out?
  3. Have mercy on weary eyes and make your proposal as easy to read as possible. Don’t use a variety of fonts. What if the “perfect” font you’ve chosen isn’t on the agent’s/editor’s computer? What looks wonderful on your computer may show up in 36-point type on another. Yes, it’s boring, but 12-pt Times New Roman is a safe choice. Also, please, no line spaces between paragraphs in sample chapters. Finally, give your cover letter one last look to make sure you didn’t address it to Steve Laube and greet him as, Dear Karen. (I just had this happen…)
  4. Also, make sure your copy is as clean as it can be. Proofread your proposal yourself, and then hire someone to go over it again (if you don’t have a heartless friend to proof it for you).
  5. Signing with an agent or getting a contract from a traditional publisher is like a marriage–you want to enjoy the time together. Ideally, both parties will like each so much that that you’ll want to keep working together for as long as possible. The best way to ensure that happens is to do your part to the best of your abilities, be willing to invest in your own career with both time and money, and make sure you co-ordinate your efforts with your publisher. Be a Partner, not a Lone Ranger.
  6. Working with an agent or publisher is a team process. You are part of that team. A big part, yes, but still only a part. While editors and agents love that an author is thinking about such things as title and cover, they’re not swayed by cover designs included with a proposal or by glitzy headshots. It’s almost certain that your book will have a different title at the end of the process, and that you may well have to change some things in your manuscript to ensure you’re hitting the target market. Be teachable and flexible, and when you need to stand firm on something, remember: this is your team. Not the enemy.
  7. Think like marketer! Agents and editors–and publishing marketing departments!—love, love, love authors who can, in 25 words or less, give them the “hook” for the book. They also love authors who think creatively about marketing and want to be enthusiastic partners in this area.
  8. Remember, just like you, we have lives outside of publishing. When you meet us, see us as people first, agents/editors second. Yes, much of this industry is about networking. We love helping authors we believe in, but we can tell when you’re genuinely interested in us, and when you’re just looking at us as a way to get what you want. Let’s extend each other the grace to see beyond the profession and to remember we’re brothers and sisters in the One who gave us this calling.

Next week, we’ll take a look at BP #2: Be Passionate!

 

Leave a Comment
Category: Agents, Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, Karen, Marketing, Writing CraftTag: Agents, book proposals, Get Published

Why Your Agent May Slow You Down

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 14, 2013
Share
Tweet
30

Your agent may slow you down.

And this is good!

And, why is that?

I've been a writer myself, so I understand the frustration you must be feeling as you read my words. Who wants to slow down? Believe me, when I was waiting for my first book to be published, I only half-joked that it would be released posthumously. So I understand that writers don't want to wait another ten minutes to see …

Read moreWhy Your Agent May Slow You Down
Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Career, Get Published, TamelaTag: Agents, Get Published, Writing Craft

A Great Hook!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 28, 2013
Share
Tweet
22

I'm at the Florida Christian Writers Conference today, so while I'm away, you can have fun!

When reviewing proposals, I have noticed one particular element can present a challenge. That element is the hook.

What does the hook do?

Just as its name suggests, the hook lures the editor to keep reading. Challenge is, the hook must be succinct. One sentence is ideal. For example:

Read moreA Great Hook!
Category: Book Proposals, Creativity, Get Published, Marketing, TamelaTag: book proposals, Get Published, Hooks

“The Great Unspoken” – Why Agents Don’t Critique

By Karen Ballon December 5, 2012
Share
Tweet
139

There’s a secret agents and editors share. Something they seldom discuss with each other, and never with writers. It’s something they dislike. Intensely. It ties their hands when it comes to guiding writers guidance. It’s the #1 reason they turn down proposals, and the #2 (and sometimes #1) reason they’ve gone with form rejection letters. It’s something many inexperienced agents and editors try to …

Read more“The Great Unspoken” – Why Agents Don’t Critique
Category: Book Proposals, Craft, Get Published, Karen, Writing CraftTag: book proposals, Critique, Rejection

Agents and Proposals: What to Expect

By Karen Ballon November 28, 2012
Share
Tweet
12

Last week I left you with a question: How do editors/agents get through all the proposals they receive. For me, as an editor and now as an agent, the answer was to hire someone to be my first-pass reader. In my case, this person is someone I’ve worked with now for over fifteen years. She knows me and my tastes well, and, as an avid reader and a skilled writer herself, she knows quality writing. …

Read moreAgents and Proposals: What to Expect
Category: Agency, Book Proposals, Get Published, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Agents, book proposals

Why Don’t Agents/Editors Give You More Guidance?

By Karen Ballon November 21, 2012
Share
Tweet
12

Proposals are hard work. C’mon, be honest. All the research and writing and preparation that goes into them? Admit it, that sometimes feels like you’re being punished for wanting to write a book. And then, when you’ve poured your heart and time and effort into making that dreaded proposal as perfect as you can, what happens? You send it to the agent or editor, and wait.

And wait. And wait. And …

Read moreWhy Don’t Agents/Editors Give You More Guidance?
Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, KarenTag: Agents, book proposals, Editors, Get Published

Covering the Cover Letter

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 30, 2012
Share
Tweet
13

This is the last installment of my proposal series. You may think it strange to write about the cover letter last, but usually, it's the last part of the proposal an author writes. Our own Steve Laube has already written about the cover letter here.

His tips are so wonderful that I asked him if I should even attempt this post, but he encouraged me to write from my perspective. So here are key …

Read moreCovering the Cover Letter
Category: Book Proposals, Get Published, TamelaTag: book proposal, Cover Letter, Get Published

Read All About It! – The Back Cover Copy

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 23, 2012
Share
Tweet
35

When you consider purchasing a book, either in a store or online, what do you notice first? The front cover grabs your attention. Right? After that, you might flip inside to read the first few sentences of the book, and then venture to the back cover (online the back cover is displayed as the “Description”). Or you may go to the back cover before opening the book. Regardless, the back cover copy …

Read moreRead All About It! – The Back Cover Copy
Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: back cover copy, book proposals

High Concept: Catching Readers One at a Time

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 16, 2012
Share
Tweet
34

Not every fiction proposal needs something called a High Concept, but I like to see one. A High Concept shows that the author can hone in on the story and has thought about what it says and how it can be positioned in the marketplace. It helps the publisher know in a snap of the fingers the unique and compelling nature of your story. One popular way to create a High Concept is to compare your work …

Read moreHigh Concept: Catching Readers One at a Time
Category: Book Proposals, Get Published, TamelaTag: book proposals, High Concept

Get Attention with the Right Title

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 9, 2012
Share
Tweet
11

 When an agent or her assistant tackles the email slush pile, she sees one subject line after another written by authors vying for attention. Some lines describe the book category, while others make a claim about the author himself. But most include the book's title. I tell authors not to get attached to titles because all too often, they are changed somewhere between the time the editor takes the …

Read moreGet Attention with the Right Title
Category: Book Proposals, Marketing, TamelaTag: book proposals, Titles
  • Previous
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 25
  • Page 26
  • Page 27
  • Page 28
  • Page 29
  • Next
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 · The Steve Laube Agency · All Rights Reserved · Website by Stormhill Media