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Home » book proposals » Page 9

book proposals

Proposals: Make Comparison Titles Work for You

By Karen Ballon September 17, 2014
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When I mention adding comp titles to a proposal, this is the response I often get from both nonfiction and fiction authors: “AARRRGGHH! Why? It’s so hard!”

Well, there are two main reasons as to the why:

  • Comp titles show there’s a market out there for books like yours.
  • Comp titles help the editor/author “get” your book better.

Now, that doesn’t mean you can just grab any book that’s similar and say, “See? There’s a market!” Instead, look for books that:

  1. Are popular and selling well. I know, I know, we don’t have access to sales figures. But we can see books that are on the bestseller lists, or in the top 100 lists. You can also see books that have a lot of positive reviews.
  2. Have been published recently. Folks don’t want to know that there was a market for the book five years ago. Even three years ago. Find titles that have published in the last year. The exception to this is if the book was published awhile ago, but has been brought to people’s attention again by something like a movie or world event.
  3. Are as similar to yours as possible. Can’t find an identical match? No worries. Look for books that are similar to yours in some aspect, such as focus, setting, audience, tone, voice, or message.

For both fiction and nonfiction writers, choosing your comp titles is only half the work. Now you need to let those titles work for you to clarify what makes your book stand out from what’s already published. Give a brief description of the comp title, then offer a sort of “comparative analysis.” It doesn’t have to be involved, just clear. So here’s an example, using a made up book, for my suspense novel Shattered Justice:

The Family that Preys Together, Jo Schmoe, Big-Time Publisher, May 2014.

In this suspense novel, a father has to fight to save his family when a gang on the run from the law invades their home.

As with this book, Shattered Justice focuses on a family in jeopardy. However, the father in Shattered Justice is in law enforcement, and not only is his family in jeopardy, but so are the people of the small town where they live. Shattered Justice also brings in the facet of faith in the face of doubts and anger.

So you let your chosen comp titles show the market is out there, ready and waiting, and then you pinpoint the similarities and then the differences.  I generally encourage writers to use at least 3 comp titles. And yes, even if you’re writing a faith-based book, you can use at least one title from the general market.

Hope that helps!

 

 

 

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Category: Book Proposals, Get PublishedTag: book proposals, Comparisons, Get Published

Proposals: Creating a Strong Hook

By Karen Ballon September 10, 2014
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Last week we tackled the proposal synopsis. The cool thing about creating that aspect of the proposal first is that you can use it as the springboard for your hook: those few lines at the beginning of your proposal that draw an editor/agent deeper. (One note here: many writers have asked if they need to put something in the hook about genre. My vote: put the genre right after the title on the …

Read moreProposals: Creating a Strong Hook
Category: Book Proposals, Get PublishedTag: book proposals, Get Published, Hook

Synopsis Made Easy – I Promise!

By Karen Ballon September 3, 2014
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Okay, fellow proposal peeps, it’s time to jump in and work together on crafting a perfect proposal. Many of you echoed what I’ve heard over and over through the years: “I hate writing the synopsis!” This is especially painful because you need a short synopsis/summary that runs around 50-60 words—but still gives the gist of your story, mind you–and then a more detailed synopsis that can run a …

Read moreSynopsis Made Easy – I Promise!
Category: Book Proposals, Craft, Creativity, Get Published, Marketing, Writing CraftTag: book proposals, Get Published, synopsis

A Perfect Proposal

By Karen Ballon August 20, 2014
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A lot of the writers I’ve worked with over the years have the same complaint: “I hate doing proposals!” I admit, they can seem pretty imposing. And too often writers find themselves in the not-so-enviable position of trying to figure out what the agent or editor is looking for. When they ask for influential people, what do they mean? Those who’ve influence you in your writing, or those who will be …

Read moreA Perfect Proposal
Category: Book ProposalsTag: book proposals

Why Not Take a Chance?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 7, 2013
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Often I receive queries and proposals in which the author will say his submission is out of the box. I'm not opposed to groundbreaking work, but I have to decide what will and what won't work for me. I am the first to admit, this process is subjective. Our own Steve Laube is routinely teased by a couple of his successful author friends he turned down. If an agent as wise as Steve Laube misses a …

Read moreWhy Not Take a Chance?
Category: Agents, Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, Platform, TamelaTag: Agents, book proposals, Editors, Get Published

What Am I Looking For?

By Dan Balowon July 23, 2013
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I started in Christian publishing in 1983 working in the telemarketing department for David C. Cook Publishers when they were located in Elgin, Illinois.   As a young guy working for a company that had been around for over 100 years, I was in awe.

Starting to work for Steve Laube and with professionals like Karen Ball and Tamela Hancock Murray, I am stunned once again.  We combine for over 100 …

Read moreWhat Am I Looking For?
Category: Agency, Book Business, Book Proposals, Craft, Creativity, Dan, Writing CraftTag: Agency, book proposals

Attract Attention…in a GOOD Way!

By Karen Ballon June 26, 2013
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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 …

Read moreAttract Attention…in a GOOD Way!
Category: Agents, Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, Karen, Marketing, Writing CraftTag: Agents, book proposals, Get Published

A Great Hook!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 28, 2013
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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
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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
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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
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