Some hopeful authors are still paying little attention to publishers’ Submission Guidelines. They mail out their manuscripts to the first mailing or email address they find. They send off their marvelous book proposals, complete with artwork, sample chapters, a list of potential bulk buyers, etc. And then they wonder why they get “no respect†from publishers. What’s wrong with this approach?
Publishing is a highly competitive world. We’re producing at least twice as many books today as we did 15 years ago. And polls show that readership is down. Not only are there 30 million people in the U.S. who can’t read, a Jenkins Group Survey reports that 58 percent of high school graduates and 42 percent of college grads claim they never read another book after graduating.
Competition for published books is enormous and competition for the author who dreams of being published is huge.
I’m preparing my talk for gigs in Atlanta and Nashville this month ( http://www.matilijapress.com/activities.htm for my calendar of events) and I’m going to tell authors, that it isn’t necessarily the most well-written manuscript that captures a publisher’s attention. It isn’t necessarily a solid platform and a well-thought out promotions plan—although, of course, this is all highly important. What matters in many cases is that you follow publisher protocol.
If Publisher A wants a query letter only, send a well-written query letter designed to hook his interest, succinctly describe your project and introduce yourself, your qualifications for writing this particular book and your platform. If, in his Submission Guidelines (which you have read thoroughly), he asks for anything else, provide it. Give him exactly what he asks for nothing less and nothing more.
Publisher B might request a complete book proposal including synopsis, table of contents for the book, chapter summary, market analysis, about the author, your promotions plan and two sample chapters. This is exactly what you should send along with a cover letter.
Most publishers of fiction and nonfiction and, in some cases, children’s books and books of poetry, want to see a book proposal at some point. Different publishers might request different parts of the proposal—simply your synopsis and marketing plan, for example. Send him what he wants. Just make sure that these pieces include the information pertinent to your project—the fact that you have permission to use original art from the ‘50s to illustrate your book of ‘50s nostalgia, for example, or that you are the great granddaughter of the subject of your book.
If writing a book proposal or even a query letter is so intimidating that you’re considering giving up your dream of authorship, let me help. I coach clients in writing query letters and book proposals. I also provide an online book proposal course: http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm And I am available to provide that final edit on your manuscript.
Locating Submission Guidelines can be a bit tricky, but I strongly suggest that you go to the trouble. Find the Guidelines for each publisher you are considering. Print them out and file them prominently for easy access.
Tips for locating Submission Guidelines appear on page 24 in my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html. Basically, you are going to visit the publisher’s website. If you don’t have the link, do a Google search. Look for links to the Submission Guidelines page. It might say, Submission Guidelines, Editorial Guidelines, Writers, Writers or Authors Guidelines. If you don’t see a direct link, try “Editorial,†“About Us†or “Contact Us.†If you still can’t locate the Guidelines, email or write to the publisher and ask for a copy.
Sure, there are still authors who land good publishing contracts without having followed protocol. It happens. But it’s rare and it’s risky. Don’t blow your only opportunity to make a good first impression with a publisher.