Some Book Proposal Insights by W. Terry Whalin
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BookProposalsThat$ell.com Some Book Proposal Insights by W. Terry Whalin Copyright Notice You Do Not Have Resale Or Giveaway Rights To This Ebook © Copyright 2021 W. Terry Whalin All Rights Reserved. The material in this electronic publication is protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties, and as such, any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is strictly prohibited. The material in this electronic publication can be stored only on one computer at one time. You may not copy, forward, or transfer this publication or any part of it, whether in electronic or printed form, to another person or entity. Reproduction or translation of any part of this work without the permission of the copyright holder is against the law. Whalin & Associates 9457 S University Blvd, Suite 621 Highlands Ranch, CO 80126-4976 [email protected] www.terrywhalin.com Some Book Proposal Insights www.BookProposalsThatSell.com 2 Table of Contents Copyright Notice...........................................................................................2 1 Introduction..............................................................................................4 2 Make a Lasting First Impression.................................................................7 3 No More Secret Books...............................................................................9 4 Do You Know Your Competition?.............................................................11 5 True Confessions....................................................................................13 6 When You Pitch Young Adult (YA).............................................................15 7 Set Realistic Goals for Proposals and Pitches............................................17 8 Keys to Pitch with a Niche Audience.........................................................19 9 Overcome Your Proposal Fears.................................................................21 10 Novelists Need Proposals........................................................................23 About W. Terry Whalin................................................................................25 Terry Recommends.....................................................................................27 Some Book Proposal Insights www.BookProposalsThatSell.com 3 1 Introduction Since the beginning of The Southern Writer magazine, I've been writing for this publication. My relationship with this terrific magazine began in 2011. The magazine is published six times a year. In August 2012, my first Book Proposal Boot Camp appeared and I've been writing about book proposals in this publication ever since. To introduce Some Book Proposal Essentials, I'm including my first article for The Southern Writer magazine. At the time I lived in Scottsdale, Arizona and felt I needed readers to understand why someone who lived in the desert was connected to the South. From the window of my office, I can see an imposing plant with prickly majestic arms. You will never find one of these plants in the south because it is a Saguaro Cactus. I live in the Sonoran Desert where these plants surround me each day. It’s a far cry from the Appalachian hills of the small Kentucky town of Raceland where I spent the first 12 years of my life. Most of my summers were spent in Frankfort, Kentucky at my Granny’s home which was down the street from the capitol. I spent hours in the local Some Book Proposal Insights www.BookProposalsThatSell.com 4 public library and went through stacks of books including many biographies. That love of other people stories is one of the key reasons I’ve written a number of biographies in my own publishing. Through the years, I’ve lived in many places outside of the South. I’ve learned you can reside in different locations yet part of the South always lives with me. Those formulative years affect many aspects of my manners and even how I treat and respect other people. You can take me away from the South yet you can’t remove the South from my heart or experiences. For the last several years I’ve been an acquisitions editor at a New York publisher. Each day I’m interacting with authors to help them accomplish their dreams for their writing and publishing lives. Whether at a conference or on the phone or over email, many of these writers are missing a key opportunity to publish their writing. They are focused on a published book instead of the opportunity for their personal experiences to be published in printed magazines. Millions of people read magazines where the number of people who read your book will usually be limited to a few thousand. I applaud your desire to get a book into print and if I can help you, let me know. My work email is in one of the final pages of this Ebook. Your personal experiences can have a broad impact in print publications. Learn to write a one-page query pitch letter. Pitch your ideas to editors, and get an assignment. Then meet their deadline and word count with excellent material. Some Book Proposal Insights www.BookProposalsThatSell.com 5 The shorter form of writing will open a new world of opportunity for your words. You can do both books and magazine writing. A multitude of editors and publications are actively looking for excellent personal experience stories. Each of us have unique stories which only you can craft. Take action and get your work out into this market. It will open a new world for your writing. [Editor's Note: Each of the following chapters were written originally as stand-alone magazine articles. I've gathered the individual articles into this Ebook and made a few minor adjustments. If you find repetition in places, please give me a little grace and realize where the original article came from and that the repetition must be important.] Some Book Proposal Insights www.BookProposalsThatSell.com 6 2 Make a Lasting First Impression In the rush to show a literary agent or editor your idea, many writers forget a simple yet important truth: You only get one chance to make a good first impression. As an editor and former literary agent, I’ve read thousands of written proposals and pitches. For over 20 years, I’ve taught at writer’s conferences and had short 15 minute sessions with writers who show their ideas. Let’s begin with some good news. I’ve been with some of the top publishers and literary agencies in New York City. Without exception, every single agent and editor is actively reading and speaking with writers. They are searching for the next bestseller. Whether you write a novel or nonfiction, every writer needs a book proposal or pitch. Why? Imagine receiving over 100 pitches a day (not uncommon for a well-connected literary agent). The title and first few sentences are critical to catch their enthusiasm. There are a number of keys to create a great proposal. 1. Create a memorable book title. Many writers are worried that someone else will take their title. Instead you need to try it out on others and test it and make sure it pulls in your reader. 2. Read & re-read your opening paragraphs. Have a trusted writer friend read it and give feedback. If an oral pitch, then practice it. You’d be surprised at the difference it will make. Some Book Proposal Insights www.BookProposalsThatSell.com 7 3. Write to a well-defined target audience. No book is for everyone. 4. Detail your competition. Every book competes in the marketplace—no matter what you believe about the uniqueness of your idea. You need to include four or five specific competitive titles to your book. 5. Present a realistic marketing plan of what you will do to partner with the publisher to sell books into the market. Your plans need to be practical and clearly defined. You are unique and have something special to give to the marketplace with your writing. What type of first impression will you make today? A couple of resources to learn more: 1. My online Write A Book Proposal course (www.WriteABookProposal.com) I have step-by-step teaching how to make your best impression. 2. Book Proposals That Sell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success which I wrote as a frustrated acquisitions editor and has 130 Five Star Amazon reviews. Follow the link at the bottom of every page of this Ebook. Some Book Proposal Insights www.BookProposalsThatSell.com 8 3 No More Secret Books “What’s your book about?” I asked an author recently. “Its historical fiction and going to be really big, but I won’t tell you the title. It’s a secret,” she whispered. I shrugged and exchanged cards with her. I walked away knowing it would be a challenge for this author to find an agent or editor with her “secret” idea. Many unpublished authors believe they need to guard their book idea or title because they don’t want anyone else to steal it. In my 20+ years in publishing, I’ve never seen an idea stolen. I have seen authors on opposite sides of the country submit exactly the same title and almost the same idea. King Solomon had it right when he said, “There is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecc. 1:9) What this author needs to do is create a “tested” pitch and a “tested” idea. One of the critical ingredients for every book proposal (fiction or nonfiction) is to create a targeted and riveting title. While the publisher can always change your title, my experience is a terrific title will be printed on the final book. Here’s some general guidelines: 1. Make your title three to five words. If it is much longer, it will not fit on the spne of the book, which is all that is seen on a book shelf. Some Book Proposal Insights www.BookProposalsThatSell.com 9 2. Create a subtitle with a clear benefit for the reader. What will your reader gain from your book? 3. Check out your title with friends and colleagues to get input before you include it in your proposal. Create a free survey at Survey Monkey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/ Also in your proposal to the literary agent or editor, you should include several alternative book titles.