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Pitch Your Work for Publication: Pitching the Book Publisher (The Non-Fiction Book Proposal)

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Pitch Your Work for PublicationPitching the Book Publisher (The Non-Fiction Book Proposal)

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MIKE ADAMICK, MikeAdamick.com

SARAH GRANGER, SarahGranger.com, @sarahgranger

INSTRUCTORS

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The Pitch Process

• Generate Book Idea(s)• Research Agents & Publishers• Query Agents & Publishers• Write a Great Book Proposal• Woo an Agent• Secure a Publishing Contract

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The Real Process

• Generate Idea 1• Query Agents• Some Interest• Agent Courtship 1• Generate Idea 2• (Rinse, Repeat)• Generate Idea 3

• Meet Agent• Agent Courtship• Publisher Queries• Success!

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Doing the Proposal Dance• Connection / Introduction to Agent• Initial Query • (Agent Requests Proposal)• Proposal Submission• (Agent Requests Edits)• Proposal Update(s) + Additional Chapters• (Agent Reviews)• Agent Offers Contract

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Required Sections for Proposals

Title + Subtitle, ContactOverview- Format- Market- Author Platform- About the Author- Promotion- Comparative Works

Table of ContentsChapter Outline Sample Chapter(s)

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Title Page

• Catchy Title• Informative Subtitle• Byline• Photo (if presentable)• Foreword Author (if applicable)• Contact: Name, Address, Phone, E-mail

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Overview

• Meat of Proposal• Enticing Introduction, Story• Synopsis of Book Concept• Author Highlights

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Format

• Standard Required Information• Number of Words and/or Pages• Style of Writing• Format Details (Sidebars, Lists, Graphics, Images)

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Market (Target Audience)

• Who Will Buy the Book?• Any Relevant Stats?• What Are Her/His Demographics?• What Publications Does S/he Read?• What Are Her Interests/Hobbies?

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Author Platform

• Other Books Written or Contributed to by Author• Articles Written by Author• Blogs by Author• Other Writing, Editing• Social Media Presence• Speaking & Media Experience* Include Numbers! Readership, Followers, Friends

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About the Author

• Author’s Story, Connection to Book Subject• More About Her Writing Expertise• Professional Experience / History• Details About Speaking Experience• Accolades, Awards, Buzz

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Promotion

• What the Author Promises S/he Will Do!• Using Existing Platform & Network (Name Names)• Reaching Out to All Forms of Media (Print, TV, Radio, Online)• Publish Excerpts, Articles, Blog Posts, Op-Eds• Dedicated Website & E-mail List• Speaking Tour (Give Specific Cities, Events)

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Comparative Works

• 4 – 8 Similar Books, Titles (No More, No Less)• Publication in Past 5 Years• Publishers, Number of Pages, Pricing, Years• Why They’re Comparable – Subjects, Sales• Why They’re Different• Why Your Book is Unique

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Table of Contents

• Listing from Inside Future Book• Names of Chapters• Number of Pages Per Chapter

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Chapter Outline

• Detailed Description of Each Book Chapter• Two Written Paragraphs Per Chapter• Summaries of What Will Be Covered• Highlights from Chapter Content• Example Anecdotes

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Sample Chapter(s)

• In Lieu of a Full Manuscript• Usually First Chapter• Sometimes Plus One or Two More• Must Be Formatted as Described in ‘Format’• Must Be Well-Written• Must Captivate the Reader

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Typical Reasons for Rejection

• Market Too Small for Traditional Publisher• Idea Unclear• Not Enough Material for a Book• Writing Quality Poor• Not Enough Experience Writing• Not Right Fit for Agent’s Particular Expertise

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Biggest Hurdles

• Query Itself Can Be Daunting• Agents Often Want Proposal Sections with Different Emphasis• Comps Can Sneak Up on You• Sample Chapter is a Beast• Writing, Editing, Rewriting (& Getting Lost)• Proposal & Courtship Process Can Take Years• Traditional Publishing is SLOOOOOOOOW!

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Keys to Proposal Success

1. Great Idea2. Clear, Descriptive Writing3. Solid Platform4. Good Organization5. Flexibility / Willingness to Edit, Change6. Perseverance

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Online Resources

Parts of an Irresistible Book Proposalhttp://www.larsenpomada.com/the-parts-of-an-irresistible-book-proposal/

8 Essential Elements of a Nonfiction Book Proposalhttp://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/the-8-essential-elements-of-a-nonfiction-book-proposal

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Book Resources

Get Known before the Book Dealby Christina Katz

How to Write Irresistible Query Lettersby Lisa Collier Cool

Write the Perfect Book Proposalby Jeff Herman & Deborah Levine Herman

How to Write a Book Proposalby Michael Larsen

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Eye openers during the process

You will not have fancy lunches with your agent. Maybe.

You will have to work your ass off. Then get rejected. Then work your ass off some more. Then probably get rejected.

The most important thing: Keep writing.

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More eye openers

Not all agents and editors use the same proposal format.

Overview, marketing, bio, marketplace (three examples), chapter outline, sample chapters.

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Different ways to find agents

Write something spectacular for a big time publication.

This also applies to editors. It happens.

A massive social media presence or any shitty TV platform can also be good enough … because the Pulitzer board is just DYING for the next Snooki book, right?

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Go straight to the editor

Smaller presses often accept submissions without agents.

Find one that has published in your area and reach out to editor.

Do your own contracts and save all the money! Or have a contracts lawyer look at it for a one-time fee, as opposed to 15 percent for life.

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Evolve evolve evolve and work harder

A Dude’s Guide to Getting Married

Hitched – a Dude’s Guide to Getting Married

Hitched

Oh Baby

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Evolve some more…

Oh Baby – A Dad’s Adventures in ParentingA New Dad’s Adventures in ParentingA Year Ago TodayA Year At HomeThe Stay-at-Home Dad’s Guide to ParentingDad on the RocksOn the Rocks

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Holy shit, this STILL isn’t working?

Circus Clowns and Other Shit That Scares Me.

Yes.

Seriously.

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Some more evolving….

As Seen on TV – A Year in the Life of a TV Goods JunkieNeat – At Home and on the RocksNeat

And finally … after several years … an editor drops a line out of the blue and …

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I got a BOOK!

Dad’s Book of Awesome Projects

2014 – The Family Lab – Kitchen Sink Science Experiments for the Whole Family

2015 – Dad’s Book of MORE Awesome Projects

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And then the marketing begins

It does not matter how big or small your publisher is. You will do the bulk of all the marketing.

Suck it up and get it done.

Be creative. And have fun.

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The takeaway …

Work hard. Abandon your babies if no one’s buying them. Find an agent you can trust – someone who will tell you what’s going to sell and what’s just not going to work.

Keep writing.

Keep writing.

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Pitch Your Work for PublicationPitching the Book Publisher (The Non-Fiction Book Proposal)

#BH13Book

MIKE ADAMICK, MikeAdamick.com

SARAH GRANGER, SarahGranger.com, @sarahgranger

INSTRUCTORS

“BlogHer is a snake meal of ideas in a wonton wrapper of love. Afterwards you need a 2-day nap, then it nourishes you for a year.”– @debontherocks