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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

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Home » Get Published

Get Published

Think Like a Marketer

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 19, 2025
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When we submit a book to a major publishing house, we forget how much money we are asking them to invest in us. Consider the publisher’s commitment to pay top editors for several rounds of edits, artists for the cover design, and the sales team for marketing. I’m leaving out key people, but you get the idea. Emphasizing your marketing knowledge and ability helps a proposal shine.

When writing your proposal, pretend you are a marketing person attending a meeting to discuss projects the editors agree should be published. Congratulations! Your writing has been proven, and you have a team of advocates. If you are a marketing person, you may ask:

1.   Does this book have a winning title? This advice isn’t original, but it’s excellent: Bring your hooks into the title. The more specific, the more information your reader has about the topic and/or plot so the reader will be informed and drawn to your book. At the very least, if your topic turns some readers off; it is better for them not to buy the book now than to complain about it on Amazon later if they feel misled by the title.

2.   Is this book categorized in a space where our publishing house performs well? Just as “Listerine” is associated with mouthwash, salespeople are likely to be known as specialists in certain books. If Jane is a fan of suspense novels, she’s expected to be successful and enthusiastic in marketing your book. If Harry is a chef, he should be a great advocate for cookbooks. Publishers’ sales teams won’t have a specialist in every category; but if your book makes sense for them and their list, the sales team already knows how to sell it. Backed by the editorial board’s confidence, they should welcome your project into the fold.

3.   Can I sell the book with a phrase or sentence? Your talent to summarize adds sparkle and excitement. Novels must entice readers to grab the book immediately to discover what happens in the story. For nonfiction, the felt need and takeaway values are key. Nonfiction especially needs to have a fresh way to reach the intended audience. For example, an author writing on grief must show how his book will stand out with approach, particular knowledge, or encouragement. I visited Amazon and entered “books on grief” to find at least seven pages of about 60 books each as a starting point. I don’t share this to be discouraging but to demonstrate how easy it is for readers to find your competition. You must stand out.

4.   Does this author have an established platform to help sell this book? Do you have a brand? Is your website inviting? Do you connect with potential readers through a newsletter? For nonfiction especially, do you have a vibrant speaking ministry attracting an audience?

If you were a book marketer, what other questions would you ask?

 

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Category: Book Proposals, Get Published, Marketing, Pitching

Evaluating Surprise Contract Offers

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 19, 2025
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If you don’t work with an agent and you receive unexpected interest in your books, here are guidelines that may keep you from signing a contract that doesn’t further your career: Make no hurried promises over the phone or email. Take the time you need to assess the offer and interest. Legitimate book publishing normally moves slowly, so anyone demanding immediate decisions should be regarded with …

Read moreEvaluating Surprise Contract Offers
Category: Contracts, Get Published, The Writing LifeTag: Scams

Tips for Mentoring Writer Friends

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 29, 2025
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You’ve undoubtedly done everything listed below since you’re one of our readers. However, based on the many unsolicited submissions we receive, many new authors still need to follow good advice. If you’re mentoring new authors, we suggest recommending the following: Please Read and Follow Our Guidelines As Steve Laube says, “We are not hiding.” We feature our …

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Category: Get Published

Secrets of a Successful Author Aren’t Secret

By Dan Balowon December 12, 2024
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Because being a book author is more of a self-taught profession, those who are successful at it are often analyzed by aspiring authors to find out how they did it. Sometimes even asking, “What’s your secret?” If an author responds honestly, they will reveal that their pathway to success is not secret, nor does it contain shortcuts or easy-to-follow checklists. I remember watching a documentary …

Read moreSecrets of a Successful Author Aren’t Secret
Category: Book Business, Common Questoins, Get Published, The Writing Life

Publishing Advice Is Like Political Polling

By Dan Balowon October 17, 2024
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Whenever you encounter information about any subject, the first step is to check the source. Unsurprisingly, a favorable political poll sometimes (often?) originates from a source with a vested interest in or closely aligned with the group most likely to benefit from the good news. There are relatively few unbiased, objective sources of polling research. For the same reason, the first question you …

Read morePublishing Advice Is Like Political Polling
Category: Career, Get Published, Trends

Answering “Where Should I Start?”

By Megan Brownon August 14, 2024
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For many aspiring Christian authors, the work of writing and publishing can feel both exhilarating and overwhelming. With endless advice on structures, marketing strategies, and writing techniques, it’s easy to get lost in the details. Many times, new authors will ask me, “But where do I start?” Before diving into the nuts and bolts of the writing world, there’s a foundational step that …

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Category: Career, Encouragement, Faith, Get Published, Theology

New Book Proposal Course

By Steve Laubeon August 12, 2024
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I have some exciting news to share! The Christian Writers Institute has released an all-new edition of my “Elements of an Effective Book Proposal” course. Completely revised and expanded to provide even more value and insight. Why This Course Matters I have long taught that writing a book proposal is one of the most critical steps in securing a publishing deal. Whether you’re a …

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Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Career, Get Published, Pitching, Platform, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Know Your Genre When Making a Pitch

By Steve Laubeon August 5, 2024
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Awhile ago I received a call that illustrates a common error a writer can make when making their pitch: the problem of not knowing the genre in which they are writing. The call went something like this: Writer: I’m calling to see if your agency handles westerns. Agent: That is a tough genre to sell in the current market, but a lot would depend on how well you can write it. Writer: Some …

Read moreKnow Your Genre When Making a Pitch
Category: Book Proposals, Branding, Conferences, Get Published, Marketing, PitchingTag: book proposals, Genre, Get Published, Pitch; Genre; proposals, Pitching

Unsolicited Proposals: Aka “The Slush Pile”

By Steve Laubeon July 1, 2024
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All literary agents receive dozens of proposals each week. Most are via email these days, but some still come via the post. Last week was a relatively slow week; my office received only 28 unsolicited proposals via email and two in the post. For the month of June, it was around 170 total unsolicited proposals received. (Unsolicited means proposals that are not from our existing clients. We get a …

Read moreUnsolicited Proposals: Aka “The Slush Pile”
Category: Agency, Book Proposals, Get Published, Rejection, SteveTag: Get Published, Pitching, Proposals, Rejection

I’m Not Interested in These Kinds of Writers

By Bob Hostetleron May 29, 2024
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I love my work as a literary agent. It’s a joy to represent some of the best authors writing today (and the rest of the best are represented by other Steve Laube Agency agents). But there are some kinds of writers I’m not interested in representing. Here’s a short list: Careless writers, such as the person whose cover letter began, “I am submitting my payer book propsal.” Or the proposal that …

Read moreI’m Not Interested in These Kinds of Writers
Category: Book Proposals, Get Published, Pitching
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