The first step in getting your book sold to a publisher is putting together a proposal so that potential publishers know why they should invest their resources in bringing your idea to the marketplace. Here's what you need to communicate:
1. The 'overview' or need for your particular book on the crowded retail (or online) bookshelf. Why would readers reach for it versus other books on the same topic? Why is this book concept timely and relevant to today's reader? Why are you the author to write it as opposed to others? What makes you the expert on the subject or why would readers relate to your particular point-of-view?
2. The Table of Contents and Chapter Outline: You'll need at least ten chapters. Have you thought about the different purpose of each chapter? Once you have, write engaging titles for each chapter and then a lead paragraph to demonstrate your unique writing style.
3. The Introduction. What, exactly, is the purpose of a book's Introduction anyway? Check a few non-fiction titles out at the library and get a feel for them. You'll see that there's no hard and fast rules, but generally the Introduction is the author's chance to explain what he or she is about to tell you. Or maybe it's his/her chance to explain why they wrote the book in the first place.
4. Target Markets. This is where you take off your author hat and become all business. Publishers want to know that you understand the audience for your message. How old are they? What is their disposable income and why would they spend it on your book? Provide statistics to support your findings (and beef up the argument that your book is needed!).
5. Competitive Titles. There are probably several books on the shelves right now that cover your material. Let publishers know that you are fully aware of that by offering two or three of the titles and then contrasting your message with theirs. Of course, prove that your book's message is far superior from what already exists!
6. Author Background. By this point in your proposal, you've done a great job of selling your concept, but why are you the person to write the book? Do you have a built-in audience? Generally publishers consider a first-time book by a non-published author a success if they sell 10,000 copies. If you have a large family, but your connections stop there, you might have a tough go of it. However, if you are writing a book for young women and were the president of your college sorority, that's a built-in audience with an alumni magazine that might publish an excerpt. Do you have endorsements (direct quotes) from readers of your work in another format? Can you offer a unique perspective of the subject? This is where you position yourself as the only author who can bring this book to market and why.
7. Promotions. The days of book tours and marketing departments are all but gone for anyone but best sellers. As such, publishers want to know if the author has any ideas on how to get the word out about their book. Would you print up book marks for your cookbook and ask local supermarkets to put them in their shopping bags? Get creative here and let the publisher know that you will do your part to make the book a success after they publish it.
1. The 'overview' or need for your particular book on the crowded retail (or online) bookshelf. Why would readers reach for it versus other books on the same topic? Why is this book concept timely and relevant to today's reader? Why are you the author to write it as opposed to others? What makes you the expert on the subject or why would readers relate to your particular point-of-view?
2. The Table of Contents and Chapter Outline: You'll need at least ten chapters. Have you thought about the different purpose of each chapter? Once you have, write engaging titles for each chapter and then a lead paragraph to demonstrate your unique writing style.
3. The Introduction. What, exactly, is the purpose of a book's Introduction anyway? Check a few non-fiction titles out at the library and get a feel for them. You'll see that there's no hard and fast rules, but generally the Introduction is the author's chance to explain what he or she is about to tell you. Or maybe it's his/her chance to explain why they wrote the book in the first place.
4. Target Markets. This is where you take off your author hat and become all business. Publishers want to know that you understand the audience for your message. How old are they? What is their disposable income and why would they spend it on your book? Provide statistics to support your findings (and beef up the argument that your book is needed!).
5. Competitive Titles. There are probably several books on the shelves right now that cover your material. Let publishers know that you are fully aware of that by offering two or three of the titles and then contrasting your message with theirs. Of course, prove that your book's message is far superior from what already exists!
6. Author Background. By this point in your proposal, you've done a great job of selling your concept, but why are you the person to write the book? Do you have a built-in audience? Generally publishers consider a first-time book by a non-published author a success if they sell 10,000 copies. If you have a large family, but your connections stop there, you might have a tough go of it. However, if you are writing a book for young women and were the president of your college sorority, that's a built-in audience with an alumni magazine that might publish an excerpt. Do you have endorsements (direct quotes) from readers of your work in another format? Can you offer a unique perspective of the subject? This is where you position yourself as the only author who can bring this book to market and why.
7. Promotions. The days of book tours and marketing departments are all but gone for anyone but best sellers. As such, publishers want to know if the author has any ideas on how to get the word out about their book. Would you print up book marks for your cookbook and ask local supermarkets to put them in their shopping bags? Get creative here and let the publisher know that you will do your part to make the book a success after they publish it.
About the Author:
Julie Clark Robinson is a staff writer for the American Educational Guidance Center, publishers of college search, online college, school search, scholarship, online degree, and athletic scholarship websites.
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