There are many dos and don’ts in pitching an editor or an agent. Some are obvious—like don't pitch a book to an agent in the bathroom, or don't tell them your mother loved it. But some of these might not be so obvious, or maybe you hadn’t thought about it from the agent’s/editor’s perspective before.
Either way, I want
you to have the tools to succeed, so here is some advice I’ve heard
directly from agents/editors. This article is geared toward nonfiction writers.
Side note: When we
talk about editors here we are referring to acquisition editors in a publishing house, not
freelance editors.
The DON’Ts:
Don’t say your book
is the next best seller.
Don’t be informal.
Address the agent by name in your query (or in person). This means DO NOT send
a mass email to a hundred agents and editors, not even three. Each letter must be for the sole intended
recipient.
Don’t pitch a book in
a genre/subject matter the agent doesn’t accept.
Don't say, “My book is
for everyone.” That’s just not possible. No book is for everyone. Think about
the audience that would actually want to read your book. Feel free to include
that in your query – such as my book is for teenage boys in small towns.
Don't ask an agent/editor
to sign a NDA. It doesn’t benefit them to steal your idea. What are they going
to do with it? They need the writers so they can sell the story. And agents
will not go through extra hoops to read your work. They have hundreds, even
thousands, of submissions to look through.
Don't start your
query with a question. This has become too commonplace and too cutesy. Agents
just want to get right into the meat of your work, not futz around with authors who are trying to be
clever.
Don't say how many
books you’ve self-published. Unless you’ve SOLD over 5k for one book, the number of books you’ve published before does not matter to an agent.
*97% of self-published books sell less than 100 copies.
Don't say your book
is comp letely original and unlike
anything else. No one's book is 100% unlike anything else. Even Shakespeare’s
works were variations of similar stories told time and time again before.
Don't say you are the
next "so and so". Let the agent decide how to place your book when
selling to an editor.
Don't say you can get
X celebrity endorsements which are clearly out of reach. That is a wish list. If
you can truly get an endorsement from a
celeb or someone imp ortant in your
field/genre, state enough to show how this claim is actually obtainable.
The DO’s:
Do know your
platform. In nonfiction you must not only sell your subject matter, but also
why you are an expert in this field—why you are the person to represent this
book. You must show your expertise, your current platform (website, social
media, speaking gigs, and more).
Do understand the guidelines
and expectations required in proposals. Agents do not expect you to have the
entire book written (unless it’s a memoir, in which case it is treated
like fiction). For nonfiction you can include a beginning samp le of your writing, but the content and goals of
the work (and your platform) are the most imp ortant
aspects. Often times, publishing comp anies
will bring in a ghostwriter.
Do have a
professional look over your proposal before pitching.
Do list the (correct)
genre, and list only one. Genre, in the most basic explanation means where on a bookstore shelf would this book
belong? If you aren't sure—go to a Barnes and Noble, look at the shelves
and the labels for each, and figure out where you'd put your book.
Do follow the agent’s
guidelines. Each agent has a different set of expectations for
queries, so be sure to read their requirements before submitting. Don’t start
on the wrong foot by pitching them a book they would never read, or sending items they did not request.
KATIE McCOACH is a developmental editor
working with authors of all levels. Her motto is, “Let’s work together to
create your best story!” In the past, she worked at a publishing
house and apprenticed at a literary agency, where she evaluated agent
queries. Her specialties are young adult, new adult, fantasy, romance, and
Christian fiction. She is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and
Romance Writers of America. She is a participating editor in Pitch to
Publication, and recently judged the 2015 Golden Hearts Awards and the 2014
Stiletto Contest. Katie is also a writer, with essays published in TrainWrite and Kalliope, and is
currently working on a contemp orary
romance novel. She is based in Los Angeles.
Visit her blog
for more advice for writers http://www.katiemccoach.com/blog,
or connect with her on Twitter: @KatieMcCoach
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