When authors approach me with several ideas, I enjoy hearing their thoughts. I appreciate the tremendous creativity that goes into developing many books. I always give authors with tons of ideas the same advice:
Write your passion.
What if the book of your heart has no chance of being sold to a publisher, though?
Write it anyway. Write with abandon, for your eyes only.
Then write the next book, one that you will understand how and where to market.
You may say, “Isn’t it your job as a literary agent to know where to send proposals?”
Yes.
However, authors writing a 250,000-word dystopian novel or a 3,000-word book of poetry won’t find a place for their work, at least not with the publishers I know.
The trick is to find a book you enjoy writing that has a reasonable chance of being marketable. How do you find out?
- Look at all your ideas.
- Decide which one makes you the most excited. What do you want to write first?
- Focus on that book.
- Outline that book and make sure you have a plot thick enough for fiction or facts generous enough for nonfiction to write a book-length manuscript instead of a short story or magazine article.
- Look online to see which houses are publishing your type of book.
- Read books comparable to yours to get a feel for tone, voice, and pacing.
- Engage in social media to connect with potential readers.
- Write your best book.
- When editing your draft, be mindful of publishers’ parameters, such as manuscript length.
- Write your best proposal. Our free guidelines, which you can use to pitch to any editor or agency, are here: Steve Laube Agency Proposal Submission Guidelines
- Be sure the agents and/or editors to whom you submit are actively seeking your type of book.
- Submit!
Even taking these steps doesn’t guarantee a contract, as many a talented and worthy author can attest. However, by following this process, you’ll be as close as possible to presenting us with a proposal we can seriously consider.
Hope to see your work in our inbox when you’re ready!
So, why persist with poetry,
a thing no modern reader reads?
Is it all just about me
and my egocentric needs,
or does this voice have purpose
even outside the marketplace?
Perhaps at end it’s worthless,
but maybe there’s a saving grace
in the discipline of rhyme
and meter’s measured cadence
that across the bridge of time
will live as more than pretense,
and help the world turn back a page
to a more refined and gentler age.
More people need to read your poetry, Andrew. You clearly show your emotions, struggles, and sense of humor. I had never heard of a sonnet before reading this blog! And I’m so thankful. It’s always good to discover and read new things.
You also have encouraged me to keep going with what God has given me to write. It’s not about me. It’s about what He has given me. 🙂
Pam, I am so truly honoured by your words, and that I have encouraged you makes everything worthwhile.
Including illness, because without cancer I would not be writing from this place, where, at last, my life is not all about me. In these painful and sometimes degrading days, I can, at long last, feel that there is a contribution to be made.
I hope that makes sense, and doesn’t come across as a kind of posturing, because these are truly the best days of my life, and feedback like yours makes them all the sweeter.
It does make sense.
I believe when we’re in severe pain and suffering that and/or grief, we can’t be anything but authentic. And when we’re authentic, God can effectively use us.
Not fun, but satisfying in a strange, comforting way.
Thank you for sharing this valuable information! When I first started writing, I was clueless. Now, I’m glad I have a format.
How is it that a publisher may refuse a book which becomes a best seller when another publisher accepts it?
Each publisher is different. Editors choose projects according to what works for their publishing house. When a book becomes a bestseller, we see that the author and publishing team are a great fit!
Thank you for sharing this list, Tamela.
I appreciate your common sense, straightforward suggestions!
Blessings, Patti Jo 🙂
Thanks Pamela, in my newbie author state, I’ve actually written my book the way you suggest in your article. I’ve sent my best proposal to The Steve Laube Agency (I hope you know the place) with Megan Brown (while I nervously wait). I also engaged professional writing mentors (successfully published authors). Taking their advice and guidance made a huge difference to my writing and the finished manuscript.
Thank you, Tamela. This helps tremendously as I move forward with getting my novel ready for submission.
Hello Tamela,
Though I don’t always leave comments, I do value the information from the materials you all write about–helps me to keep track of where I am, where I’m going, and if I’m even in the ball park. 🙂 🙂
Thank you much!!! Jeannie