#literaryagent

top of page

BOOK PROPOSAL & DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

News

Search

7 things you need to know about hybrid publishing.

Feb 21, 2022

7 things you need to know about hybrid publishing.

Hybrid publishing: AKA author-assisted publishing, indie publishing, partnership publishing, and co-publishing. It’s an umbrella term for an emerging sector of the publishing game with which every author should become familiar. These Q&As were inspired by discussion in the most excellent Discover Your Path to Publishing webinar hosted by Gotham Ghostwriters (details below). The webinar featured three panelists: Brooke Warner is publisher of She Writes Press and SparkPress. Sh

What’s the best way to get your book published?

Feb 14, 2022

What’s the best way to get your book published?

Dreaming of a book deal with Penguin Random House, Macmillan, or HarperCollins? You’re not alone. SO not alone. Before you join that long line of hungry, hopeful authors, consider this: a big publishing house might not be the best choice for you. Don’t get me wrong, I love big publishers. My first job out of college was with a small publisher that was later taken over by HarperCollins, so I suddenly found myself working for one of the biggest publishers there is. I went on to

Podcasts are the new author credential.

Feb 9, 2022

Podcasts are the new author credential.

Podcasts have become the latest hunting ground for agents and editors to find new voices. Just as long-form journalism has been a place to prove your voice, your ideas, and your audience, podcasts now fulfill a similar purpose. Podcasts are a great way to demonstrate the depth and complexity of an idea, and the level of interest/commitment of an audience. Here are three things to know about using a podcast as a launching pad for your book. #1. Agents and editors are keeping a

What’s your author persona?

Jan 31, 2022

What’s your author persona?

A writer’s persona communicates to their audience who they are. It’s not only a chance to give writing a little personality, it is also an opportunity for writers to connect to readers by allowing them to imagine the person who wrote the text they’re now reading (or the character narrating that text). A writer’s persona doesn’t need to encompass every single aspect of who they are as a person—rather, it’s a way of presenting a coherent identity to their readers through their

Every author dreams of this.

Jan 24, 2022

Every author dreams of this.

My last couple of posts (here and here) have been about choosing between traditional publishing and self-publishing. But what if you didn’t have to choose? What if you could … have it all? It’s possible. Increasingly, traditional publishers are acquiring high-performing books that were first self-published. For these deals to happen, the publisher must have confidence that they can break the book out into a wider market than the author was able to reach through their own chan

The pros and cons of traditional publishing.

Jan 17, 2022

The pros and cons of traditional publishing.

Every author needs to weigh up whether they seriously want a traditional publisher. It may seem like the holy grail, providing professionalism, market reach, and the gravitas of an association with a respected publishing house. Even so, assisted self-publishing and hybrid publishing are also viable options and may even be the best option for you. Here are some of the main pros and cons to consider. One of the main perks of traditional publishing is that most everything is tak

Be honest. Do you really want a publishing deal?

Jan 10, 2022

Be honest. Do you really want a publishing deal?

Earlier this week, I started work with a new client. She asked me to review and edit her book proposal, which is for a coffee-table book showcasing her gorgeous wildlife photography and poetry. She had put a vast amount of work (and money) into creating her book. It had been professionally edited, with print-ready layouts created by a leading graphic designer. Hang on a minute—if she has done all of that, does she really need a publisher? After all, this is what publishers do

How much ego is too much in your book proposal?

Jan 4, 2022

How much ego is too much in your book proposal?

Getting the balance between humility and hubris in your nonfiction book proposal is hard. Many authors are naturally self-effacing people, happy to let their stories or ideas speak for themselves. The exceptions tend to be authors with an entrepreneurial or marketing background, and they aggressively blow their own trumpet until everyone within hearing range is blocking their ears. Most authors are not the best people to write their own cover copy—self-promotion may not come

Show off with your sample chapters.

Dec 28, 2021

Show off with your sample chapters.

It’s easy to think of a book proposal as entirely separate from your book manuscript. Truth is, your book proposal must include a solid chunk of your manuscript—in the form of sample chapters. Agents and editors want to see sample chapters that demonstrate your ability to write a compelling, commercially successful book. Even if you have a popular podcast, or you write regularly on a specific topic for a respected media outlet, they need to see you can sustain your story, arg

How to write a killer chapter outline.

Dec 20, 2021

How to write a killer chapter outline.

In your book proposal, the chapter outline is where you reveal your book’s shape: how it unfolds for the reader, chapter by chapter. It is one of the five key components of your nonfiction book proposal. (The other four are the overview, author biography, marketing/platform, and sample chapters.) Also known as a chapter overview or chapter summaries, your chapter outline goes deeper than simply listing your chapter titles, but stops short of being a full fleshing-out of the c

How to Plan the Structure of Your Book

Dec 13, 2021

How to Plan the Structure of Your Book

Although non-fiction books don't contain the classic narrative arc of novels, they still need to take the reader on a journey of understanding. To write a good book, you need to get inside your reader’s head. You need to see the world as they see it, and structure your content so that it connects with the person reading it—and that person is not you! Your uniqueness is great when you want to articulate a concept that stands out. But you also need to be able to see the world a

untitled image

Dec 1, 2021

Put Your Book Proposal To the “So What” Test.

You’ve got a matter of seconds to engage an agent or editor with your “big story” before they flip on to the next book proposal in the pile. Book proposals are not psychological thrillers that delight readers with a twist in the tail at the very end. I shouldn’t have to wait until the last page to find out the most critical piece of information. My high school literature teacher delighted in nudging students with “So what?” In her margin notes on our essays, she constantly ur

untitled image

Nov 22, 2021

How to write your author bio

Unless you’re a “household-name” author (Steven King, JK Rowling, Malcolm Gladwell, I’m looking at you), most literary agents and editors won’t know who you are. So how will they learn about you? This blog post will explain how to write an author bio for your book proposal, and why it’s important. Your author bio is never too extensive or weighty. I’ve been supplied with two-page resumes when I’ve asked for an author biography, including full details of school exam results an

untitled image

Nov 15, 2021

What’s an Author Platform?

For first-time authors, there is one topic that can feel overwhelming at first but is absolutely necessary when it comes to connecting with your readers. It’s also essential when you are pitching your book concept to literary agents and publishers. I’m talking about Author Platform. From social media to speaking at live events, there are so many exciting ways to go about building your platform, so let’s get to it! What exactly is “author platform” anyway? The truth is, the te

untitled image

Nov 8, 2021

Get ready to write a book proposal.

Most weeks I get a call or email from at least one author wanting me to work with them on their nonfiction book proposal. Sadly, I’d say four out of five of those authors aren’t ready to write a book proposal. Here’s what I mean. The best book proposals are created through a solid, thoughtful process consisting of six stages: concept, testing, competitive analysis, platform, path, and distillation. This process is simple—but it’s never, ever easy. Let’s walk through it briefl

untitled image

Nov 1, 2021

Analyze your competition like a pro.

I’ve heard it said that every book has already been written at least once, and it’s somewhat true. Don’t let that discourage you. It doesn’t mean your book isn’t valuable to your target audience. However, it does mean that an important part of writing a successful nonfiction book is knowing what other books on the topic are already on the market. I’m going to explain how to analyze competitive and complementary titles, how to research trends and hot topics, and how to leverag

untitled image

Oct 25, 2021

Three ways to a literary agent’s heart.

In the past year, I’ve collaborated on three nonfiction book proposals. All three have been picked up by leading literary agents within a week of submitting. The projects included a memoir with an autism focus, a meditation book with a twist, and a travel essay collection. Varied, you might say. Last weekend I spent some time pondering just how these three very different book proposals all rang the right bells—and how they did it so quickly. Despite the variety in the subject

untitled image

Oct 18, 2021

Literary agents hate manuscripts.

As a rule, if there’s one thing most publishers and literary agents really hate to see, it’s a manuscript. You’re probably surprised by that. Most new authors are. The fact is that literary agents never read most of the manuscripts that authors submit to them. They just don’t have the time or staff to wade through the enormous number of full manuscripts they receive from hopeful authors. For the big agencies, it can number in the thousands each year. WHAT AGENTS (AND EDITORS)

untitled image

Oct 11, 2021

Writing a book proposal for your memoir? Join me for a micro-retreat.

If you want to land a publishing deal for your memoir, there is one thing you need: a standout book proposal to submit to literary agents and editors. Daunting, right? You might be wondering: How can I find a publisher for my memoir? What even IS a book proposal? Can’t I just send in my manuscript? What are agents and editors looking for? How can I make my book idea stand out? With my fellow writer and memoirist Joanne Spataro, I’ll be answering all these questions—and so muc

untitled image

Sep 13, 2021

Who are you writing for?

You might be wondering why you need to be so specific about your target readers. Narrowing down your focus to a specific group will allow you to first reach them, and then connect with them. It also doesn’t mean that people from outside your target can’t be readers—they certainly can. Think of it this way: being clear about your audience will help you remove the blindfold and get a better aim at your target. Identifying your audience will help you brainstorm content, focus yo

bottom of page