Impress an Editor in 9 Steps: Part 4

Dear Editor,

I have a book. Books are my best friends. I spend my entire day reading and talking to the characters in my head. And my goldfish, Betty. I want to be a best-seller so that someone besides my mom and my twin brother will know my name. What type of television exposure will you offer?

Signed,

Herman from Hermitville

There’s no getting around it. Publisher’s don’t sell books; authors sell books. The authors are the ones who engage the people around them (whether on the Internet or in person) and interest them in their stories. People read books that they hear about, in person, from their friends much more often than those they see on a general media shout-out.

Best-sellers get to that spot by having people interested in their books. If you never talk to anyone, who will care to buy? It’s like the crowd in the middle of a power failure. They won’t know the person standing next to them has a flashlight if he doesn’t turn it on.

So turn it on! Start a book club. Online is okay, but in person is better. Visit your local library often. Join a readers’ group, an entrepreneurs’ group, a Bible study group, hobby or civic clubs. Writers are notorious for being introverts, but they must break out of their shells to engage folks who might become their biggest fans.

Get online with your passions. Search for blogs, forums, Facebook groups, and Pinterest groups that offer gathering areas for the things you love. Get involved with others, as much to have fun as anything else.

Then when you do have a book that’s ready, you have a variety of people interested in your book if only to support your dream.

My best advice: Step out of your comfort zone. Don’t only mingle with other writers. Engage!

Impress an Editor in 9 Steps: Part 2

Impress an Editor in 9 Steps
Notes on Queries/Proposals/Submissions
Step 2

Dear Publisher I have an outstanding new book about frogs trees and perrywinckles that you’ll love please contact me with a release date. Thank for your tome you’re friend Aspiring.


Non-fiction and fiction published authors have one thing in common—good writing. An inspired idea is only a fantasy until the words are formed on the paper. But if those words are jumbled together in a mass of confusion, the writing does nothing for the inspired idea. The inspiration needs excellent writing skills to back it up.

This goes beyond punctuation, spelling, and verb tense. Writing, after all, is communication. If readers can’t figure out what you’re trying to say, your book has failed.

Already, non-fiction authors must have an expertise on their subject matter, but that should not exempt them from excellence in their writing skills. For fiction authors, that fact is even more obvious.

Authors who are serious about their careers are also in a constant search for ways to improve their writing. The desire to master the craft of writing doesn’t end with publication. A sincere author will continue to strive to become better and better.

My best advice: Join a critique group. Read writing journals. Listen to podcasts from experts. Don’t settle for doing the least (in any situation). Learn and grow and let your best work continue to get better. In fact, someone reading your first book and comparing it to you tenth should see marked improvement.

Impress an Editor in 9 Steps: Part 1

Impress an Editor in 9 Steps

Notes on Queries/Proposals/Submissions

Step 1

Dear Children’s Picture book editor,

Will you publish my political thriller?

Sincerely,

Clueless

If you were to put a dozen editors in a room and have them discuss receiving and accepting proposals, more than likely the conversations would include one common complaint. The authors who submit to the publishing companies need to do their homework ahead of time.

Sounds like something from third grade.

When inboxes thicken to the hundreds, those authors who haven’t scanned the publisher’s website to at least learn about their accepted genres will often earn a silent pass. Even worse, they might find themselves trying to live down their hasty, uneducated action should they ever attempt to contact the editor again.

It’s actually a matter of respect (and a wise business decision) to inform yourself about a publishing company before you contact one. First, knowledge is power. Second, an editor is more likely to converse with you if you show that you’ve cared enough to learn about his or her company.

My best advice: First, read the submissions page on the company’s website. Make sure they publish your genre or you type of book. Then, read about the acquisitions editors from their blogs, Facebook posts, Pinterest, and conference articles. Submit to one editor at a company—that would mean sending your proposal to only one email address—the one who already prefers your genre. 

Making that wise choice will move your manuscript along the road to publication much quicker.