What are some common problems with book proposals?
To round out our lessons for this month on how to write a successful book proposal, I will leave you a bit of advice on how to avoid common problems with your book proposals and the type of comments you may receive from potential publishers.
- They’ve been submitted to an inappropriate agent/editor/publisher.
- No clearly defined market or need—or a market/audience that’s too niche for a commercial publisher to pursue.
- Concept is too general/broad or has no unique angle.
- The writer wants to do a book based on his or her own amateur experience of overcoming a problem or investigating a complex issue. (No expertise or credentials.)
- The writer concentrates only on the content of the book or his/her own experience—instead of the book’s hook and benefit and appeal to the marketplace.
- The proposed idea is like a million others: nothing compelling sets the book apart
Maybe you approached too big of a publisher. Is there a smaller publisher that would be interested because they have a lower threshold of sales to meet? Big houses may want to sell as many as 20,000 copies in the first year to justify publication; smaller presses may be fine with a few thousand copies.
Is it possible to make your subject/topic/book more marketable by employing a more appealing hook?
Many times, writers aren’t looking at their work with a marketer’s eye. Think about how you might interest a perfect stranger in your topic. Have you really tapped into current trends and interests when it comes to your book project, and are you framing it in an exciting way for a publisher (or agent)? Just because you’re fascinated by your subject doesn’t mean other people will get it. You must know how to sell it.
How big does my platform have to be before a publisher will be interested?
It depends on how big of a publisher you’re pitching, and the overall nature of that publisher. Let’s assume you want the best possible deal from a commercial, New York house. They will want to know:
The stats and analytics behind your online following, including all websites, blogs, social media accounts, e-mail newsletters, regular online writing gigs, podcasts, videos, etc.
Your offline following—speaking engagements, events, classes/teaching, city/regional presence, professional organization leadership roles and memberships, etc.
Your presence in traditional media (regular gigs, features, any coverage you’ve received, etc.)
Sales of past books or self-published works
You typically need tens of thousands of engaged followers, and verifiable influence with those followers, to interest a major publisher. Make sure that every number you mention is offered with context.
Avoid statements like these:
I have 3,000 friends on Facebook, or I have 5,000 followers on Twitter.
These numbers are meaningless as far as engagement. You must tell the story behind the numbers. For instance:
A better statement may be: More than 30 percent of my Twitter followers have retweeted me, and my links get clicked an average of 50 times.
Another better statement may be: I run regular giveaway events on Facebook, and during the last event, more than 500 people sent their favorite quote on [topic] to be considered for the giveaway—and to also be considered for the book.
Show that you know your market in a meaningful way, show specifically how and where the market is engaged and growing, and show the engaged role you have.
Does my book need or deserve to be in print?
Some nonfiction topics work better when presented on blogs, websites, or communities/forums—where interactivity and an ability to freshen up the content at a moment’s notice has more appeal to your audience.
Traditional houses are pickier than ever; producing anything in print is a significant investment and risk. They need to know there’s an audience waiting to buy. And, given the significant change in the industry, authors shouldn’t consider a print book their first goal or the end goal, but merely one channel, and usually not the best channel.
I hope you enjoyed the lessons this month on how to write a book proposal. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Next month, I will be presenting lessons on how to be a productive writer during the summer months when there is so much to do outside and so many functions to attend. So, stay tuned for that.
Enjoy this week, and let’s make the last four days of June, 2022 the best and most productive they can be.
Take care,
Irene S. Roth
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