| An agent told a friend of mine: 'We're turning | | | | about why this publisher is the best one for your |
| down lots of good work unless it ticks absolutely | | | | book - and mention this in your query letter. |
| all the right boxes.' | | | | (6) The writer has had at least one book |
| Interesting. But what are those 'right boxes' | | | | published previously - and made a fortune from it |
| exactly? All the agent knew was: 'We'll know it | | | | Your new book must of course target that same |
| when we see it.' | | | | market. Create a new marketing plan based on |
| After giving this some serious thought, I've come | | | | what worked well last time. |
| up with ten boxes that seem to cover everything | | | | (7) Publishing this book will maintain or enhance our |
| a publisher, agent or editor might look for in a | | | | reputation, not harm it |
| perfect novel submission. But ticking all ten won't | | | | Write to the best of your ability. Strive for quality |
| be easy. | | | | and accuracy. Try to say something new, or in a |
| (1) I stayed up all night to finish it | | | | new way. Avoid libel and plagiarism. Don't take |
| You need a strong story that grips from the | | | | risky short-cuts. And have solid evidence to back |
| outset and maintains that grip. Plunge straight into | | | | up anything controversial. |
| the action. Choose the most exciting path | | | | (8) The writer's sense of humor matches my |
| whenever you have a choice. And don't give | | | | own |
| away the ending too soon. | | | | Whose books do you avoid reading in public |
| Get people to read your outline before you write | | | | because they make you laugh too much? Are |
| the book. Ask them how they'd make it more | | | | you as funny as them? Do you have any |
| compelling. Remove the parts they found boring. | | | | evidence of that? If so, find out who their agents |
| Get them to summarise the story, then delete | | | | and publishers are, and make them your primary |
| the parts they left out, or make them more | | | | targets. Ask your friends which writers' humor is |
| memorable. | | | | closest to your own, and target their agents and |
| (2) It's beautifully written, easy to read, and didn't | | | | publishers too. If you have friends who are good |
| make me want to scrawl all over it with my | | | | at writing jokes or telling them, work with them |
| editing pen | | | | to improve your book. |
| Reading your work aloud will make most problems | | | | (9) The writer is a friend or acquaintance whose |
| and glitches glaringly apparent - especially if you | | | | opinion and expertise I trust, and who I know I |
| do it in front of an audience. Even if you're an | | | | can rely on |
| experienced editor it's worth sending a sample of | | | | Build your name and reputation. Enter |
| your work to a professional to see if he spots | | | | competitions; write stories and articles for |
| anything you've missed. | | | | magazines, newspapers and websites; represent a |
| (3) I immediately saw a very large, easy-to-reach | | | | group or organisation and get your name in the |
| market for it (and money signs flashed before | | | | press regularly; be outspoken, and perhaps a little |
| my eyes) | | | | controversial. |
| If you want a major publisher to take you on | | | | Do things that get you noticed by the publisher, |
| then there needs to be a major market for your | | | | agent or editor regularly, both online and in the |
| book. | | | | real world. Be active in the places he visits online. |
| Study that publisher's market before you even | | | | Join an organisation he belongs to, and take an |
| come up with your idea, then think about how | | | | active role. Invite him to speak to your writing |
| well your idea fits that market. Would you be | | | | group, give a talk to one of his groups, meet him |
| better off approaching a different publisher, or a | | | | at an event, and so on. |
| smaller one, or coming up with a different idea? | | | | Send him a letter or email praising his work and |
| (4) The writer submitted a detailed marketing plan | | | | asking a relevant question. Mention something that |
| with projected sales figures | | | | he's discussed elsewhere that you're also |
| Mainstream publishers want books that will sell at | | | | interested in - a shared hobby, for example. |
| least 20,000 copies. So you need a marketing plan | | | | Slowly build a rapport. After a while, casually |
| that demonstrates how you could sell that many | | | | mention that you've written a book and ask if |
| books. | | | | he'd be interested in seeing it. If he says no, |
| Think about your target publisher's market, and | | | | continue the relationship anyway - he might |
| list the different ways you can access it, and how | | | | change his mind or know someone else who's |
| many books you expect to sell - a conservative | | | | interested. |
| guesstimate that's realistic and achievable. | | | | (10) The writer is a celebrity |
| Evidence of sales figures from previous books | | | | To become a celebrity you need unshakable |
| would also help. | | | | self-belief, supreme self-confidence, and endless, |
| If you can't get anywhere near 20,000, look for a | | | | ruthless, shameless self-promotion. Do something |
| market that's larger or easier for you to reach. | | | | worth celebrating - something connected with |
| That might mean picking a different publisher and | | | | your book. And then do the shameless |
| a different idea for your book. Or you could | | | | self-promotion thing. |
| consider a smaller publisher, or self-publishing. | | | | Well, that's what I think the 'right boxes' are. So |
| (5) This book exactly matches our target market | | | | now everyone will know what they're looking for, |
| and sits perfectly alongside our other books | | | | be able to recognise it when they see it, and do it |
| Get a copy of the publisher's current catalogue | | | | consistently. That's got to be good news for all of |
| and imagine your book listed there too. If it looks | | | | us. |
| out of place, choose a different publisher. Think | | | | |