Pitching

Your Name in Lights

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 17, 2020

I often receive submissions from authors who say something along the lines of, “I have a devotional book, a romance, a fantasy, a collection of poems, a novella, a marriage book, and a screenplay available for representation.”

This sounds great, right? The agent can choose from a variety of projects, perhaps marketing them all! Sheer volume will lead to success!

If only.

As a creative, I get that writers want to explore, have fun, and stretch their creative wings. I maintain that writers never waste time when writing. Writers learn with every project. Trying different art forms can help writers decide what type of work they want to pursue.

However, that exploration should happen before you approach an agent or editor. By the time you’re writing a query to us, understand who you want to be as a writer. Know which publishers will be interested in your book and why. Otherwise, you may end up on a merry-go-round of rejections you don’t understand. Don’t waste everyone’s time, especially yours.

Here is one exercise I recommend. Pretend you’re up for an award. What do you want to see listed on the finalists’ page, and what do you want to hear called during the awards ceremony? For instance:

Dystopian: Jane Abernathy: The Edge of the Cliff

Romantic Suspense: Jane Abernathy: The Edge of the Cliff

Romance: Jane Abernathy: The Edge of the Cliff

Fantasy: Jane Abernathy: The Edge of the Cliff

Self-Help: Jane Abernathy: The Edge of the Cliff: Rescue Your Marriage Before It Falls

Children’s: Jane Abernathy: The Edge of the Cliff! Stay Safe with Snuggle Sloth

Nonfiction: Jane Abernathy: The Edge of the Cliff: Avant-Garde Christianity

As you approach the year 2021, discern the dreams of your heart so we can help you make them come true.

Your turn:

What other suggestions can you offer writers to help them decide what to write?

Are you torn between two or more genres or forms? Why?

Selling Your Opinion

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 3, 2020

After perusing several nonfiction books recently, I realized that authors are pitching opinions. So, as a nonfiction author, it’s your job to convince editors–and by extension, readers–why anyone should care about your advice over the wisdom of competing authors. Education: Have you completed schooling that contributes to your knowledge? If I want a book on Ancient Egypt, …

Category: Book Proposals, Pitch, Pitching

Say the Right Thing

By Bob Hostetleron December 2, 2020

Writers use words well. That may seem obvious, but—judging from some of the submissions I get from aspiring writers—it’s worth stating. Sure, one man’s métier is another man’s poison, but I’m regularly amazed at the ability of some writers to write the wrong word, so to speak, in submitting work to a literary agent, even one as gracious and forgiving as I am. That last part was meant to be …

Category: Book Proposals, Communication, Pitch, Pitching, Rejection

A Writer’s “Voice”

By Bob Hostetleron October 28, 2020

A couple months ago I asked some of my clients if there are terms they hear in writing and publishing that they wish someone would clearly and conclusively define. One said this: “Professionals say, ‘Find your voice,’ ‘Trust your voice,’ ‘Embrace your voice.’ I can recognize another writer’s voice, but I can’t for the life of me describe mine. Is ‘your voice’ something someone else has to describe …

Category: Craft, Creativity, Editing, Get Published, Pitch, Pitching, Writing CraftTag: voice, writing voice

Diligence Is Rewarded

By Steve Laubeon September 28, 2020

by Steve Laube

The ease of today’s social media communication brings a casual layer to the task of writing. Careful composition is trumped by the need for speed. For most “throw away” emails and posts that is the new normal. But it should never leak into the business of writing, either in craft or in delicate communication.

The other day I received an email query/proposal. There was a very …

Category: Book Proposals, Communication, Craft, Pitching, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Communication, Craft, Diligence, Writing Craft

Writing in Multiple Genres, Okay? Not Okay?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon September 17, 2020

The “Your Questions Answered” Series __________ In a recent Q & A, Steve Laube talked about how writers will pitch different projects to him in the same meeting: a novel, a nonfiction, a devotional, etc. He said that writers need to decide “what they want to be when they grow up.” I’d like some clarity on why writing in different genres is discouraged. As ideas come to …

Category: Agents, Genre, Pitching, Platform, Your Questions Answered Series

12 Steps to Publication

By Steve Laubeon August 10, 2020

It takes 12 strikes to achieve a perfect game in bowling. (See last Friday’s video.) It made me think there are 12 things that need to happen in the publication process. Each must knock down all the pins to achieve publishing success. With that simplistic idea in mind, I came up with the following: Idea – A book has to start somewhere Write chapter – if not the whole book …

Category: Book Proposals, Common Questoins, Editing, Get Published, Marketing, Pitching, Platform

How Long Should a Writer Wait for an Answer?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 9, 2020

The “Your Questions Answered” Series __________ How long should a writer wait after sending an agent a query email, bio, and book synopsis? Two weeks ago I sent these to an agent who was recommended to me. So how long do I wait and/or what should I do next? First, look on the agent’s website for guidelines. If the agency includes guidance regarding response times, they’ll run the gamut …

Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Pitching, Your Questions Answered Series

How Do You Know It’s Something That Will Be Published?

By Steve Laubeon July 6, 2020

A common question we agents get is “How to you know?” Or as Bob Hostetler put it, “When you know, how do you know?” The answer is extremely subjective. And each agent, just like a consumer, will see an idea or read a book differently. After thinking about this question, I believe it comes down to three things. Instinct For me it is an instinct that comes from reading …

Category: Agency, Agents, Book Proposals, Get Published, Pitch, Pitching, Rejection, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life

The Best Ways to Submit Your Work

By Bob Hostetleron June 17, 2020

I started writing for publication back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The process was fairly simple then, if unpromising of success. I wrote a query, article, or book proposal, put it into an envelope along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) for its return, sealed it, and mailed it. And waited. And waited. And—you get the idea. That’s not how it’s done anymore. At least, not often. …

Category: Book Proposals, Pitching