You've written and rewritten your novel or outlined, researched and finished the first few chapters of your non-fiction book and now you are ready to approach literary agents and publishers to get your book in print.
There are few experiences more exciting and gratifying than holding your own printed, published and bound book in your hand for the first time. But the road from finishing and editing your manuscript to having your published book in hand can be long and arduous. Remember don't get give up after the first, tenth or even 50th rejection letter. Literary history is full of esteemed authors whose manuscripts were rejected multiple times. Stephen King who kept his numerous rejection letters impaled on a nail on the wall, J.K. Rowling got over 100 rejection letter for the first Harry Potter book and James Joyce wall-papered his entire room with rejection letters. Seminal writers like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine self-published their important books.
Congratulations on your writing, hard work and perseverance. Having a passion for writing, art and creative pursuits can give a strength and purpose to navigate life’s challenges.
I mentor writers and authors informally through TouchArt Salon and encourage you to join the conversation at One Earth Blog or on my Facebook page to connect with people who write.
To find a publisher, look for publishing houses, small presses and literary agents who publish work like yours. Research their websites for submission guidelines and identify individual agents and publishers whose bios show they have published similar books and writers and/or have interests and backgrounds that intersect with your subject matter. Send query letters and follow-up with a letter and phone call. Interested publishers and agents will ask for sample chapters or the whole manuscript.
A Query letter is a 1-page cover letter, introducing your book and you with 4 short paragraphs - the 1-line hook with your book’s title, word count and genre, a brief plot synopsis, a short writer’s bio and a closing paragraph with your contact information.
1) The Hook - a concise, one-sentence tagline about your book that includes your book’s title. This is the sales pitch to get the reader’s interest. One approach is the “when formula”, e.g. “When this happens, the main character faces this conflict and triumph in this unique way.” Include word count and genre at end of this paragraph.
2) Brief Synopsis: 50-150 word summary of your book. Expand on your central characters, their motivations and conflicts and how their experiences change them.
3) Author’s Bio – 75-100 words focusing on your writing experience, education, publishing credits and credentials that show why you are the right person to write about your subject.
In Closing Paragraph, thank the agent or publisher for their time and consideration. For non-fiction, mention you have attached an outline, table of contents and sample chapters for review. For Fiction, let them know the full manuscript is available on request. Close by saying you look forward to hearing back from them and include your contact information.
Writers write because they must. Publishing and becoming an author is not guaranteed or even considered a desired goal by many writers. But for others, the creative process is not complete without publishing and getting their work read. It can be a long arduous path from writer to author, but don’t give up. Believe in yourself and cultivate perseverance, pluck and chutzpah, like Jack Kerouac whose 120-foot long manuscript for “On the Road” was rejected at first, then defined a generation of American literature and made Kerouac an icon of the Beat Generation.
You have something unique to share to the world, you wrote it down, polished and perfected it. Now share it with the world and future generations by publishing your book. If your story is authentic and resonates with others, your book will find its audience. Good luck.
Additional Resources:
http://www.hiwrite.com/queryletter.html
http://books.google.com/books?id=gzLFXGj158IC&dq=book+proposal+query+letter&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=Qf_7S--IOIG78gbZs_DPBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CFIQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=book%20proposal%20query%20letter&f=false
http://www.agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx
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by Charleen Touchette
One Earth Blog 2010
Good luck with your good work.
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Charleen Touchette is the author of "Ndn Art" (Fresco, 2003) and the award-winning, critically acclaimed banned book "It Stops with Me - Memoir of a Cannuck Girl". For a signed copy of Touchette's memoir with award foil, send a check for $20 to TouchArt Books, 15 The Red Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505. If you’d like a 2nd signed book for mother, sister or daughter, we can give you a discounted price of $35 for 2 books. "It Stops with Me" is also available on Amazon.com at https://mail.google.com/mail/?account_id=charleen.touchette%40gmail.com&shva=1#inbox for $21.99 each.
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