| I know personally how important it is to have | | | | published something with the same feel, not the |
| someone "steer" you in the right direction so you | | | | same material/treatment. |
| don't make stupid (amateurish) mistakes that | | | | 4. With that list of publishers, do one of three |
| would hurt your chances at looking professional | | | | things: go to a public library's reference section |
| when you are submitting. Almost without | | | | and look at; or buy; or get the online electronic |
| exception, every genre of writing I do (poetry, | | | | version - of the current Writer's Market, a book |
| nonfiction, and various genres of fiction) was a | | | | available in those three ways. |
| field I "broke into" because somebody with | | | | 5. Look up each publisher. Note what they say |
| experience told me what to do (or in most cases, | | | | about manuscript submission: whether they take |
| actually submitted my work, with or without my | | | | unsolicited manuscripts, if you have to have an |
| knowledge, to whomever eventually published it | | | | agent, what format they want things in, should |
| first!) | | | | you just query first or send the entire |
| So here are the steps I believe are absolutely | | | | manuscript, etc. Follow their instructions to the |
| necessary in marketing something. I will use | | | | letter. |
| examples regarding marketing a children's book, | | | | 6. If the publisher you're looking for doesn't |
| but this would apply to any genre, whether it be | | | | appear in Writer's Market, try to find them online |
| fiction or non-fiction, in the book market. | | | | and look for their manuscript submission policy. |
| First of all, if you've not published a book before, | | | | 7. If you cannot find them in either place, ask the |
| don't even think of trying to market anything until | | | | bookstore for ordering information (phone |
| you have finished writing it. There are two | | | | number, for instance) and call them. Don't waste |
| reasons for this. One is that you can't find a | | | | their time telling them about you book. Make it |
| market for something that no one (including you) | | | | short and to the point: "What is your manuscript |
| knows how it looks and "feels." The second | | | | submission policy? Do you have author guidelines?" |
| reason is that you will write and revise (if you're | | | | Then do what they say. |
| smart and don't want to ruin your chances) | | | | 8. Educate yourself about manuscript preparation |
| before trying to market, and one of the truths of | | | | for the particular genre you're writing (a picture |
| the writing process is that a work can take on a | | | | book is different from a non-fiction adult book, |
| life of its own and change its focus or direction | | | | for instance.) Sources: Writer's Market or other |
| during the writing. In other words, the finished | | | | more specific books in the bookstore or library. |
| product may turn out to be different than what | | | | 9. Educate yourself on how to write an effective |
| you've envisioned. | | | | cover letter and query letter. Know the |
| (Parenthetical note: if you don't have the self | | | | difference. Only send what the individual publisher |
| discipline to write and complete your manuscript, | | | | wants. Remember that you only have one chance |
| don't think you would ever survive the rigors of | | | | to make a first impression. |
| marketing it. Manuscript format, at this stage, isn't | | | | 10. Do not send (or suggest) illustrations for a |
| as important as finishing the work.) | | | | children's book. Publishers have told me repeatedly |
| Second step: after you've completed your work, | | | | that they work from a "stable" of established |
| go to a large bookstore and spend at least two | | | | artists, and they do not want to see your cousin's |
| or three hours (possibly even several trips) looking | | | | artwork, even if they love your manuscript. |
| at the "type" of book you've written. The reason | | | | Never, never correspond by mail to anyone in the |
| for this: all publishers have a certain type of book | | | | publishing industry without sending a SASE. |
| or "feel" that is characteristic of them. You, as a | | | | Learn what SASE and other common publishing |
| new author, are most unlikely to get them to | | | | acronyms mean. |
| take a book manuscript that is unlike the | | | | Learn what simultaneous submission means and |
| "formula" that's been making them money lately. | | | | don't do it unless the publisher specifically says it's |
| (That's why you should go to a bookstore, not a | | | | okay. |
| library. You need to know what publishers are | | | | Make any correspondence to a publisher short, |
| selling today, not in the past.) | | | | snappy, professional and perhaps memorable |
| 3. Make a list of all the publishers who are | | | | without making a fool of yourself. |
| publishing books that are "like" what you have | | | | Know the essentiality of strong openings or |
| written. If anyone has published something almost | | | | "leads" in both letters and manuscripts. An editor I |
| identical to what you've published, reconsider your | | | | know told me that if something did not "grab" her |
| own project. Are you flirting with a copyright | | | | in the first two paragraphs, she passed on it. |
| infringement? You want a publisher who has | | | | Good luck! |