Question from a Writer about Nonfiction Book Proposals

I received an e-mail from a writer asking if I could give him advice on catching the attention of a publisher. He has been working with an agent for about a year on a nonfiction proposal and doesn’t have a contract yet.

I don’t know anything about the proposal or the market for the subject matter; a good agent will know much more than I do. But I gave the writer a few questions to consider:

- What kind of feedback are you getting from publishers through your agent? Your agent should be sending you information on a regular basis including where she has submitted and what responses she has received.

- Are you seeing a pattern? If you are getting similar comments from editors, perhaps you need to revise your proposal based on what you’re hearing.

- Does your proposal demonstrate there is a market for the subject matter and that your book offers something others on the subject don’t? Publishers have to make a profit to stay in business, so they need to be convinced that enough people want to read about the subject and that your book meets a need that other books on the subject don’t.

- Can a publisher see from your proposal that you have a platform? Publishers are more apt to contract for a nonfiction book whose author has a platform: venues to speak and promote the book, a high-profile in the community/industry/interest group, or other ways to reach a large audience. 

Only a small percentage of proposals ever sell, and part of getting a publishing contract is a numbers game – submitting to enough suitable publishers until you find the one that is a match for your project. But you can improve the odds of success with a well-written proposal that includes a good analysis of the market and a marketing plan for your book.

You can find more information about writing a nonfiction book proposal at the following sites:

Peter Rubie Literary Agency, Writing a Book Proposal chapter from Telling the Story

Small Press Center for Independent Publishing, Ten Basic Steps to Writing a Non Fiction Book Proposal

Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network, The Seven Vital Elements of a Successful Nonfiction Book Proposal

Also check to see what the publisher wants; some have specific items they ask for or formats they prefer, so check the guidelines before submitting.

[tags]publishing, nonfiction book proposal[/tags]

Every “No” Is Just One Step Closer to a “Yes”

I’ve been helping a writer find an agent or publisher for his novel. He’s received several rejections, so I’ve been giving rejection a lot of thought. None of us like rejection, of course, and since I edited the novel for this writer, I feel the rejection as much as he does.

But having been at the other end of the query letter - or in my case, the other end of an application to write for Your Information Center - I’ve rejected as much as I’ve been rejected. For me, telling an eager writer “no” is as difficult as receiving a rejection from another editor. I certainly don’t want to dash a writer’s dream, but not every writer is a good fit with Your Information Center and not every manuscript is the right story for a publisher. A rejection of a manuscript isn’t a rejection of the writer as a person, and it isn’t necessarily an agent or editor saying, “Your work stinks!”

Unfortunately, I’ve encountered more bad writers than any of us would like to believe exist, but good - even great - manuscripts are rejected every day for any number of reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of writing. Every publisher can publish a finite number of books each year, and every agent can represent a finite number of clients. They must be selective and choose only the projects they expect to be most profitable for them.

Agents and publishers have preferences, and those preferences are subjective. Your horror story might be a fantastic tale, but if you submit it to someone who isn’t a fan of horror, she probably won’t like it.

You can avoid some rejection by being as selective about the agents and editors you query as the agents and editors are about the manuscripts they accept. Submitting your horror manuscript to agents who represent similar books will improve the odds the agents will like your book. Researching the markets will take time but will reduce the number of rejections you receive.

However, unless you are a rare writer indeed, you will still get rejections. Several years ago, I took a novel writing class from Lary Crews. I remember what he said about finding an agent: Don’t think there is a problem with your manuscript until you’ve been rejected by 50 agents. After 50 rejections, then consider revisions.

Of course, if you are fortunate enough to get feedback on your rejections, evaluate the comments and make revisions if you find the feedback valuable. As the author you have to decide whether you want to change your story.

My novel Stroke of Luck was rejected repeatedly by agents and editors with comments that were some variation of the theme a romance novel can’t have a handicapped heroine. At a writers conference, I had an appointment with an editor to pitch my book. She looked at me – sitting in my electric wheelchair - and said, “No one wants to read about a cripple.”

After that I put the manuscript in a drawer and decided this book was not going to be published. I couldn’t revise the book to get rid of the handicapped heroine - the whole story was based on her journey to recover from a stroke and become independent, and learning along the way that she was still capable of loving and being loved. If that story wasn’t publishable, maybe it had served its purpose as writing it has been cathartic for me.

Many months later, a friend e-mailed me a link to an electronic publisher looking for manuscripts featuring handicapped main characters. I submitted Stroke of Luck, and the e-book was published six months later. It didn’t become a bestseller, and I didn’t become rich and famous. But the book got good reviews and nice comments from readers – some handicapped themselves - who appreciated reading about a less-than-perfect heroine.

I’m thrilled the book was published and is still available. However, if it had never been published, I wouldn’t regret writing the story I did and refusing to change the storyline. If the criticism had been different - the manuscript was too wordy, the characters were one-dimensional, there was too little or too much dialogue - I probably would have taken the suggestions.

In fact, my client and I are discussing revisions of his manuscript based on feedback from a publisher. I think we can make a few changes that will improve the story, and maybe soon I’ll be reporting that he has an agent or a publishing contract.

Salesmen know to expect a certain number of rejections before they make a sale. Every “no” is just one step closer to a “yes.” As writers, we should also expect a certain number of rejections before our work is accepted. Every “no” is just one step closer to a “yes.”

Related Post:  Rejection: Your baby is ugly!

[tags]writing, rejection[/tags]

Another Great Review

The Last Boat Out: Memoirs of a Triumphant Vietnamese-American Family has received another great review. (2/1/08: The book is now out of print.)

Kelley Anderson writes for Reader Views: “It is a beautifully told story, drawing you in to the simple Vietnamese lifestyle. It makes you weep for the innocent children disfigured by war and dance with joy as they are rescued from sure death on a boat to nowhere. … It is a story written in simple language and instantly puts you in the lives of the Truong-Nhu family. … I would recommend this book ….”

This story really touched me when I first read it, and I enjoyed editing it. Though it is the personal story of one family, readers can identify with the universal story of family love. In addition the reader shares the difficulties and triumphs of life in a war-torn country and as an immigrant in a strange land.

Catalyst: God’s Tool

Although I’m always excited about the successes of my friends and clients, sometimes it seems that everyone is accomplishing great things but me. My novel languishes with little notice and few sales, while friends tell me about awards and great sales numbers. I see so many worthwhile causes I would like to help, but my budget keeps me from being as generous as I’d like.

Recently I met a woman who writes letters to nearly 100 deployed or wounded soldiers every week. She is struggling to cover the postage costs, and I feel that I’m not doing my part … and that’s only one of many things I wish I could do.

But I have a friend who likes to support worthy projects and is financially able to do so. I introduced my new friend and my “old” friend, and now the one with the financial wherewithal is contributing to the expenses so the other can continue her work. Both were so grateful – my new friend for the financial help and my long-time friend for the chance to participate in supporting the troops without having to write letters herself. I realized that while I didn’t write letters or contribute money, God used me as a catalyst. What I did was nothing more than introduce two friends who would otherwise never have met, and as a result something good was accomplished.

That started me thinking about how often God has used me – and perhaps you – to accomplish His purpose in ways that seem trivial but that are essential. As a freelance writer and editor, I help my clients make their work the best it can be. Someone else’s name is on the cover of the book or the byline of the article, but the book or article would have been less than it is without my help. My part may be behind the scenes, but it is important in the final product.

In the Koinonia service at my church recently, the leader Jim Cravens talked about “but God …” The words “but God …” appear often in the Bible. The people in the Bible couldn’t see God’s plan in the activities and events of their lives. But all the pieces fit together to fulfill His plan, even when the pieces seemed to be random and meaningless. God works in the same way today.

Sometimes the seemingly random and meaningless events may be me – or you – acting as a catalyst in accomplishing His purpose. Our part may be tiny and in the background. We don’t get any glory; no one else may ever know. But God knows, because He planned it that way.

We all have different roles in fulfilling God’s plan. Some of us have little parts in the background. Some of us have large parts in the public eye. But it takes every one of us doing our part – small or large – to accomplish God’s purpose. 

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)

[tags]Christian, troop support[/tags]

My Weekend … and Some Writing Advice

My friend Grace Anne Schaefer spent the weekend with us. Her husband Ken drove her down from their home near Austin - she had heart surgery a few months ago and wasn’t ready for the long drive alone.

We have been truly blessed to have these wonderful people in our lives - the friendship between Grace Anne and me began in college, and our husbands became good friends after our marriages.

Grace Anne came down for us to edit her second novel, As Shadows Fall, sequel to The New Day Dawns in the People of the Frozen Earth series. But we never get together – regardless of the reason - without having fun. Ken, Grace Anne, my husband Jack, and I went out to dinner Friday before Ken headed back home. Grace Anne and I found time to visit between our work sessions, and we shared many laughs as we worked.

We finished a little over half of the edits, so Grace Anne will come back again to finish. Then the manuscript and cover art will be sent off the book designer, and after he works his magic, the books will be printed. Then you can enjoy this pre-historic Indian saga. If you order The New Day Dawns, you can read it first and be ready for Book Two:-)

Now for the writing advice: We have found the most effective method for the final round of editing (after several previous edits as well as input from first readers) is to read the story aloud. Grace Anne usually reads aloud as I follow on the computer screen. For some reason, it’s much easier to catch errors when reading aloud than when reading silently. And not just awkward sentences, missing words … things you would expect to “hear.” We found so many commas that didn’t belong or that should have been periods, we decided the Comma Fairy had sprinkled commas like fairy dust throughout the document:-)

I strongly recommend that you read your manuscript aloud after you think you’ve finished editing - you may be amazed at what the Comma Fairy or Misspelling Fairy or some other Fairy has done to your manuscript.

Books We Love: Sizzling Summer Sweepstakes

Booklovers will love Books We Love. You’ll find lots of great books by great authors, including my novel Stroke of Luck (a little blatant self-promotion!),  Spring House by David Bowles, The New Day Dawns by Grace Anne Schaefer, plus fiction and nonfiction by 125+ more writers.

Books We Love runs contests to introduce readers to its member authors. Right now the Sizzling Summer Sweepstakes is underway. To enter all you have to do is visit authors’ pages and sign their guestbooks. You could win books (print or electronic), a spa basket, or a $50 gift certificate. Even if you don’t win one of the prizes, you’re bound to discover new authors and books to love.

How are you spending your dash?

I told in a previous post how it took a crisis before I realized that someday is now, and if I wanted to pursue my writing dream, I had to start.

We all can make our lives – and the lives of those we love – better. “The Dash,” the classic poem by Linda Ellis, says this in a way that is both beautiful and profound.

A friend just sent me a link to “The Dash” enhanced by fabulous photography and lovely music. If you’ve been putting off a dream - writing, retiring, starting a hobby, moving to another state, improving your spiritual life, reconciling with an estranged friend or family member … whatever – this movie may inspire you to take action.

Even if you’re not considering any major change, this poem/movie will remind you of what’s important in life.

The New Day Dawns is a fascinating read…

Reader Views, an excellent review Web site, just reviewed The New Day Dawns: People of the Frozen Earth Book One.

Reviewer Mary Simmons wrote: “The New Day Dawns is a fascinating read that will not only enrich your life, but also the lives of others since 10 per cent of Internet sales of this book will be donated to Dakota Sioux Indians on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. It is the first book in a series. Look for the second installment, As Shadows Fall, which will soon be available.”

Grace Anne Schaefer, author of the People of the Frozen Earth series, and I will be getting As Shadows Fall ready to go to the book designer during the next couple of weeks. We have found that reading the manuscript aloud to each other is the best way to do the final edit. It takes time, but we catch those inevitable errors that slipped past all the previous edits (at least most of them; we’ve never published a perfect book yet – maybe this will be the first!).

And Grace Anne and I have been close friends since our first day of college – more years ago than we admit! - so we have a wonderful time …working, talking, and laughing.

If you want your writing to make a difference in people’s lives…

Most writers dream of touching hearts and making a difference in people’s lives with our words.

Often we think to accomplish this we have to write and publish a great book that’s read by millions.

But I’ve recently met a woman who touches nearly 90 hearts a week and makes a difference in the lives of people who are making great sacrifices for others.

Linda Cano is a Soldiers’ Angel. According to the Web site, “Soldiers’ Angels are dedicated to ensuring that our military know they are loved and supported during and after their deployment into harm’s way.” Angels write letters and send care packages to deployed soldiers, and they write, visit, and encouraged wounded soldiers.

When Linda heard about Soldiers’ Angels, she decided to adopt a soldier and committed to writing one letter a week and sending one care package a month to her adopted soldier. Soon her adopted soldier asked her to adopt his buddy, which she did. Though she didn’t think she could afford to adopt any more soldiers, she recognized the great need and volunteered to write more letters. Soon she reached the point that she couldn’t write individual letters to each soldier, so she started sending a newsletter. Currently she has nearly 90 soldiers who eagerly look forward to her weekly newsletters.

She shares stories of her family, daily events in her life, and lots of encouragement for the troops. Linda said, “These men and women are risking their lives for us every day; the least we can do is support and encourage them.”

If you are looking for an altruistic project, you couldn’t find a better cause than Soldiers’ Angels.

But Linda also says she gets more benefits from writing to soldiers than she gives. These brave young men and women are consistently motivated, upbeat, and positive. Her life has been enriched by the responses she gets to her letters.

If you’re a writer who wants to make a difference, weekly letters can make a difference to deployed soldiers. Linda’s letters have touched the soldiers who read them so much that they are encouraging her to compile her words into a book.

Linda and I met through my friend Fr. Jerry Sherbourne, who is the chaplain of ”Linda’s soldiers.” He shared with me how much Linda’s letters mean to the soldiers and suggested we talk about Linda’s potential book.

After talking to Linda, reading some of her newsletters, and hearing how passionate she is about supporting our soldiers, I hope she does write the book!

[tags]troop support, writing[/tags]

The Value of Writers Groups

Today I had a conversation with a writer just beginning her book. I gave her the same advice I give all beginning writers: join a writers group, online or offline, to network with other writers and learn about the craft of writing and the business of publishing.

Writers, unless they are employed full-time by a company (a small percentage of writers) usually work alone. Writing as much as possible is critically important; you can’t improve without doing.

However, just sitting at your computer writing your stories or articles won’t make you a good writer. If you don’t learn more about your craft, you will continue to write more of the same. You will continue to make the same mistakes until you learn they are mistakes.

And most writers don’t have the luxury of friends and relatives who understand their passion. The people who love us often tell us everything we write is good, even though they don’t know anything about writing themselves. Or, at the other extreme, our family reminds us that only 5% of writers make a living writing so maybe we should try something else.

One of the major benefits of associating with other writers is being able to talk about your characters, your story – your passion – to others who understand because they share the same passion.

The other significant benefit of writers groups is the opportunity to improve your skill by learning about the craft and to expand your horizons by learning about markets and publishing.

You can often find local writers group by asking at the public library. Internet searches will turn up national organizations, often with local chapters, as well as a multitude of resources and online communities for writers. You will find links to many writers resources on my Web site.

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