So You Think You Can Write

How to get your book published - and no, it's not that easy by Caroline Leavitt


You’ve heard the stories.  Ordinary People was plucked from the slush piles and made Judith Guest famous.  The Lace Reader was self-published and became a best seller.  Who hasn’t at least once thought “ I’m going to write the great American novel."

With delusions, er, visions of being the next JK Rowling, we turn to our resident expert, DAME’s book editor Caroline Leavitt, whose 9th novel  is being released in 2010 from Algonquin Books to give us the real skinny on what it takes to see your name in print.


Q. I have an idea for a book - do I need to write it first, or can I just pitch the idea to a publisher?

Unless you are famous, or at least a celebrity in your field, sorry, you have to write the book first. Sometimes you can sell a book on the basis of a first chapter and an outline, but the odds of doing that as a first time author are pretty slim.

 
Q: So – I finally finished my manuscript, do I really need an agent?

Yep, and here’s why.  Agents and editors have a symbiotic relationship. They go to lunch together, they schmooze, and agents know what editors are looking for what kinds of books.  Editors are notoriously overworked, and if someone they trust can suggest a book they might like, it’s far easier for them to read the agent’s submission than slogging through the slush pile. Many publishers won’t accept books without an agent.
 
Agents also get you the best deal for your book, sell your work to other countries.  And let’s not forget movie deals and sales to magazines.
 

Q: Okay, I get the picture, but how do I find a good agent?

You have to do your homework.  You can go to the library and get Literary Market Place or join mediabistro.com, which has something they call “How to Pitch an Agent.”  It lists a huge array of reputable agents and includes what the agent is looking for and how to send it. Another great way is to take a look at the acknowledgement pages of your favorite books.  Most authors who love their agents sing their praises there.

I would suggest finding anywhere from 10 to 50 names you like. Then you need to write a query letter. In the letter, you need to use the agent’s name and you need to know something about the agent.  You can start your letter like this: Dear Yora Fabagent, I read about you in Writer’s Monthly, and I was so impressed.  I am a new writer seeking representation.  Then in your second paragraph you need to present your book in a way that is going to make the agent jump.  If it’s fiction, you want to mention the premise and the conflict.  Nonfiction, you want to mention the issues.  For novels, you usually want to also include a 2-4 page synopsis.  For nonfiction, you need to outline your chapters and you also need a marketing page that shows what your competition is and how your book is going to be different. You can find sample book queries and synopsis on line, so go ahead and google.
 
Q. So how can I tell if an agent is a good one?


Check the client list. Be wary of an agent who charges reading fees. It helps if the agent is in New York City, but it’s not essential. Predators and Editors online lists complaints.
 
Q:  Once, I send my manuscript out to an agent, how long does it take to hear back?

Anywhere from one week to 3 months. After six weeks, you can send a polite follow-up, but never, ever call.
 
Q:  So once I have an agent, the book will sell, right?

Not necessarily.  Just because your agent loves you, doesn’t mean the publishing world will. One agent I know who represents Pulitzer Prize winners told me that each of his prizewinners had 50 rejections before the award-winning books got published. An agent might send the book out to a spate of editors at once or to one editor at a time. In any case, it takes patience.

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