Make Your Submission Package for Literary Agents Irresistible
By: Donna Sozio
www.ImPublished.com
While preparing to submit to literary agents most writers make the same mistakes following the typical submission advice, which always boils down to three same things:
1. Research
2. Submit
3. Wait
Yet, what you are really told to do is…
1. Read through hundreds of lengthy submission guidelines. 2. Surrender your work to someone you’ve never met before who may or may not even read what you’ve written. 3. Then wait for months to see if they like it.
Honestly, a squirrel might have better luck learning to ride a bicycle than first-time authors have getting a literary agent using the “typical” model for submissions. It almost seems cruel. You just poured your heart and soul into finishing your book. That in itself was a lot of hard work. But you’re not done.
Next, you’re supposed to just know how to put together the perfect submission package for literary agents. No wonder the phrase "frustrated writer" is cliché. Especially since there are hundreds of agencies to research and it seems like no one is accepting unsolicited submissions. I wasn’t surprised when a writer friend said that looking for a literary agent felt like her head was on a chopping block. I know when I first started; it felt like I was bushwhacking through a dense jungle. I felt overwhelmed, frustrated and lost.
Perhaps, that’s how you feel too. Overwhelmed? Frustrated? Lost?
The good news is that you don’t have to feel like Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution to get published. There are three simple ways to make your submission package for literary agents irresistible.
First, you must have a slam-dunk-sign-me-now intriguing concept embedded in your book title. Don’t think of your title solely as form because it is pure function. And its function is to sizzle.
Bestselling titles are evocative. They grab your readers’ attention. They serve as an immediate indicator to your reader what to expect in the story. Someone who is looking for a feel good fuzzy story isn’t going to reach for “M” is for Malice. They should also make a good sound bite. Your title doesn’t just name your book – it sets up your bestselling concept and acts as a selling piece to your future literary agent and publisher.
The title of your book is one of the first things your future agent will see. An engaging seductive title will be enough to make any literary agent at least read the first page of your proposal or query letter. And if you’ve done your job, they’ll keep on reading until they get you on the phone and make you an offer!
The second way to make a submission package for literary agents irresistible is to clearly define the universal bestselling concept in your book.
When someone asks you what your book is about, what do you say? Do you have a clear, concise and engaging two or three sentence description? Or does it take ten minutes to describe “Well, there’s this guy and he just lost his house because…and then there’s this woman who works at the diner… and they… Oh wait, I forgot about the guy’s brother who…”
Every writer needs a clearly defined concept that not only explains but also sells your book in a millisecond. To get a literary agent, you must hook their attention in the first sentence of your query letter. Or you’re cooked.
The third way to woo and wow a literary agent is to present a strong author platform. Although platforms previously only applied to non-fiction, today they can work for fiction writers as well. This is because authors are responsible for attracting readers just as much (or more so) than your publishing house.
So, what is a platform? Your author platform is network of support and supporters you have already built that will translate into book sales. Your platform tells literary agents just how you plan to sell your book in concrete terms. Do you already have a built-in following? Are you already in the public eye? What press have you already generated for yourself and your book? Do you already have a substantial email list? What celebrity status in your field have you already achieved?
Whether you are writing nonfiction or fiction the powerful combination of a seductive selling title, universal bestselling concept, and a powerful author platform can be enough to get any literary agent to at least ask to read your manuscript, if not offer you representation, on your first try!
To learn everything you need to know how to make a submission package for literary agents irresistible visit: http://www.impublished.com/.
Monday, December 22, 2008
3 Simple Secrets to Create an Instant Bestseller
3 Simple Secrets to Create an Instant Bestseller
By: Donna Sozio
www.ImPublished.com
Before you even begin writing your book there are three steps you must take if you want your book to hit the literary scene as The Next Big Thing.
The First Step to create an instant bestseller is to ask yourself: Does my book hit a universal nerve? If the answer is yes, you must be able to define exactly what that universal nerve is. Then your book should provide either a solution or at least a temporary escape from the universal nerve you just stepped on. That way you not only identify your book's audience but also demonstrate your connection to them. Which gives your future publisher a very strong reason to buy your book.
Although there is something inherently romantic about obscurity, there must be an element in your book that connects with at least half of humanity for you to create an instant bestseller. I’m not kidding. Take The Da Vinci Code, for example. This book was about an incredibly obscure sect within the Roman Catholic Church. Yet, the Da Vinci Code sold over 60 million copies.
The Da Vinci Code’s success wasn’t due to its award winning writing. This book became an instant bestseller because it hit a universal nerve. The story appealed to every person on the face of the earth who has ever questioned religion. The author, Dan Brown, would have made a huge mistake if he positioned his book to appeal only to the group about whom he was actually writing. Which is to say the potential audience of your book is much wider than just your subject.
If in doubt, think of it this way. The larger your audience, the larger your book advance. Even if your book is about something obscure, you must position its appeal as universal. Only then will literary agents and publishers recognize it as instant bestseller material.
If your book doesn’t hit a universal nerve, don’t write another sentence until you follow this Second Step to instant bestseller success. Ask yourself this question: Why am I writing my book? The answer will help you discover your audience and assist you in discovering which universal nerve you will hit.
Most people write books for one of two reasons. Either they are processing something in their inner world through the situations and the characters they dream up in the context of their book. Or they are have a burning desire to tell the outside world all the wonderful insights they have gained after successfully processing their inner world.
Both impetuses are equally fabulous and you can create instant bestseller material using either approach. You only need to successfully match the universal nerve you hit to the demographic that it will impact. Once you learn how to do this, you have just learned how to create an instant bestseller!
The Third Step is to boil down all of this information in a succinct and engaging query letter to successfully woo, wow, and entertain a literary agent so they can recognize immediately that your book is an instant bestseller. This is done by distilling your bestselling concept into a slam-dunk-sign-me-now pitch that entertains instead of explains.
For a literary agent to recognize your book as instant bestseller material, your query letter must be a mini-me of your book. For example, if you’re writing humor, a literary agent should be laughing after the first line. Or if you wrote a wistful memoir about unrequited love, it’s your job to romance your future literary agent and put them in the mood to read your manuscript.
Creating an instant bestseller can be simple. You only need to know what to do and how to do it. By following the first three steps above, you are well on your way to instant bestseller success. Most writers write without knowing why they are writing. Then they submit without knowing what they are submitting. But not you. The three steps above help get you clear on the potential of your book. Which means the message will be clear that your book is an instant bestseller to your future literary agent and publisher as well.
To learn more about how to create an instant bestseller visit: http://www.impublished.com/.
By: Donna Sozio
www.ImPublished.com
Before you even begin writing your book there are three steps you must take if you want your book to hit the literary scene as The Next Big Thing.
The First Step to create an instant bestseller is to ask yourself: Does my book hit a universal nerve? If the answer is yes, you must be able to define exactly what that universal nerve is. Then your book should provide either a solution or at least a temporary escape from the universal nerve you just stepped on. That way you not only identify your book's audience but also demonstrate your connection to them. Which gives your future publisher a very strong reason to buy your book.
Although there is something inherently romantic about obscurity, there must be an element in your book that connects with at least half of humanity for you to create an instant bestseller. I’m not kidding. Take The Da Vinci Code, for example. This book was about an incredibly obscure sect within the Roman Catholic Church. Yet, the Da Vinci Code sold over 60 million copies.
The Da Vinci Code’s success wasn’t due to its award winning writing. This book became an instant bestseller because it hit a universal nerve. The story appealed to every person on the face of the earth who has ever questioned religion. The author, Dan Brown, would have made a huge mistake if he positioned his book to appeal only to the group about whom he was actually writing. Which is to say the potential audience of your book is much wider than just your subject.
If in doubt, think of it this way. The larger your audience, the larger your book advance. Even if your book is about something obscure, you must position its appeal as universal. Only then will literary agents and publishers recognize it as instant bestseller material.
If your book doesn’t hit a universal nerve, don’t write another sentence until you follow this Second Step to instant bestseller success. Ask yourself this question: Why am I writing my book? The answer will help you discover your audience and assist you in discovering which universal nerve you will hit.
Most people write books for one of two reasons. Either they are processing something in their inner world through the situations and the characters they dream up in the context of their book. Or they are have a burning desire to tell the outside world all the wonderful insights they have gained after successfully processing their inner world.
Both impetuses are equally fabulous and you can create instant bestseller material using either approach. You only need to successfully match the universal nerve you hit to the demographic that it will impact. Once you learn how to do this, you have just learned how to create an instant bestseller!
The Third Step is to boil down all of this information in a succinct and engaging query letter to successfully woo, wow, and entertain a literary agent so they can recognize immediately that your book is an instant bestseller. This is done by distilling your bestselling concept into a slam-dunk-sign-me-now pitch that entertains instead of explains.
For a literary agent to recognize your book as instant bestseller material, your query letter must be a mini-me of your book. For example, if you’re writing humor, a literary agent should be laughing after the first line. Or if you wrote a wistful memoir about unrequited love, it’s your job to romance your future literary agent and put them in the mood to read your manuscript.
Creating an instant bestseller can be simple. You only need to know what to do and how to do it. By following the first three steps above, you are well on your way to instant bestseller success. Most writers write without knowing why they are writing. Then they submit without knowing what they are submitting. But not you. The three steps above help get you clear on the potential of your book. Which means the message will be clear that your book is an instant bestseller to your future literary agent and publisher as well.
To learn more about how to create an instant bestseller visit: http://www.impublished.com/.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Guiltless Editing - Really!
Guiltless Editing
1. For every manuscript create a separate "TIDBIT" file.
2. While writing or editing, instead of deleting text, simply move what needs to go to your TIDBIT file for later use.
It's a useful mind trick.
When you aren't afraid to "lose" anything, you can dump the junk.
This gets you closer to your final draft and a publication date!
1. For every manuscript create a separate "TIDBIT" file.
2. While writing or editing, instead of deleting text, simply move what needs to go to your TIDBIT file for later use.
It's a useful mind trick.
When you aren't afraid to "lose" anything, you can dump the junk.
This gets you closer to your final draft and a publication date!
Monday, March 17, 2008
If You're a First-Time Author - Don't Do This!
The 3 Most Common Mistakes
First-Time Authors Make without Even Realizing It
First-Time Authors Make without Even Realizing It
Although there is something inherently romantic about obscurity, there must be an element in your book that connects with at least half of humanity for it to be successful. I’m not kidding. Take The Da Vinci Code, for example. This book was about an incredibly obscure sect within the Roman Catholic Church. Yet, the Da Vinci Code has sold over 60 million copies.
Its success wasn’t due to its award winning writing. This book became wildly popular because it hit a universal nerve. Its story appealed to every person on the face of the earth who has ever questioned religious doctrine. Although hitting this universal nerve made it commercial fiction, the book was just as compelling as it was thought provoking.
Dan Brown would have made a huge mistake when looking for an agent if he positioned his book to appeal only to the group about whom he was actually writing about. Which is to say that the potential audience of your book is wider than just your subject. When you unearth your book’s universal elements… especially those that hit an universal nerve, you’ve got a potential bestseller.
If in doubt, think of it this way. The larger your audience, the larger your book advance. Even if your book is about something obscure, you must position its appeal as universal in your submission.
2. An Expectation That the Publishing Industry Owe Us Something
Literary agents and publishers ask a lot of us. They want us to do the work up front without even the promise of a penny. They expect an idea that is fully cooked, in a book that is already written, edited and ready to roll. On top of that, they want a well thought out typo-free book proposal and/or query letter. These days, it may feel like you have to attach a Hollywood star to your book to get signed by an agent. (Which, by the way, isn’t a half bad idea.)
Well, that’s just what I call “The Deal,” even if it seems like a raw one. Agents expect your best work up front and on spec because it’s the only way they can judge the quality of your work.
Say you’re developing some prime real estate property. Would you hire a contractor to build your house just because he had some great ideas? I hope not. Most likely, you’d want to see an example of his finished work before you signed a contract. Perhaps, you also want a list of references.
The same goes for literary agents and writers. An agent or publishers needs to see your finished product before they sign you. Simply to see what you can build. Once you have a successful track record, the rules change. Then if you play your cards right, you won’t write on spec anymore.
3. Hiding Your Book’s Bestelling Concept
Many writers have the goods but they hide their own mega blockbuster idea. They inadvertently down play it down under too much confusing background information. Or they don’t express it in a succinct to the point engaging way.
When a proposal is foggy, it’s hard for an agent to see what is in front of him. Although literary agents and editors may enjoy collecting old books, they aren’t archeologists. They don’t excavate your query letter or book proposal looking for treasure. If your bestselling concept doesn’t pop out and bite them on the nose, the fate of your submission is doomed to join the Slush Pile.
It’s safe to assume that literary agents and editors have very poor vision. In fact, their vision is so bad that it’s your job to make them see the value of your work. You can’t count on an agent to just know that your book is a bestseller without at least a little illumination.
Humility may be a virtue but not when you’re selling your book. Don’t be humble about your saleable concept that connects with half of humanity. Don’t explain when you can entertain. Instead, take what I call the Newly Engaged approach. Turn the spotlight on your diamond. Only then can you expect a crowd of admirers.
*** The above was an excerpt from Donna Sozio's eCourse The Secret Rules of Publishing: What Every First-Time Author Needs to Know. All Rights Reserved.*** www.DonnaSozio.com/Publisher
Friday, February 29, 2008
The Secret Rules of Publishing
Hi! I'm Donna Sozio, and I'm a writer too. I've lived all over the world -- in the U.S., Saipan, Japan, the French Alps and Thailand. When I moved to L.A. I found that my creative juices flow the best in the California sun.
During my career, I've worked as a copywriter for Yahoo!, Sunset Magazine, and Lexus, and have written extensively on surf-skate-snow sports for such publications as Onboard, Snowboard UK, Wahine, and Surf Life for Women. I enjoyed that work, but only recently did I really find my voice. And it was only then that everything fell into place.
Two years ago my book, Never Trust a Man in Alligator Loafers, was just an idea in my mind. The seed of that idea woke me in the middle of the night. But I had to breathe life into that seed and nourish it, to take it from that dream stage to reality. Now I have a literary agent, a book deal with a major publisher, a publicist, a movie option, and a publication date with Citadel Press.
Bringing my book to fruition started when I created an action plan for myself. But before I could even do that, I had to dig deep and ask, did I have anything worth saying? Was I willing to do whatever it takes to say it? What would it take to get people to listen?
This is a great exercise. I'd recommend it even if you're not writing a book. It took me a lot of time and effort to finally understand that my creative voice, my schtick, is to use humor, parody, satire even cheek? --- to pay my rent on the planet. Through my combined works in media, publishing and fashion, I want to help people develop the inner muscle they need to believe that everything is possible. And then the courage to act on that dream. Because achievement is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.
Every word I share with you in my newest book, The Secret Rules of Publishing, has been successfully road-tested by me. In this step-by-step guide, I offer fresh information for writers, so that after you read it, you won't need to wander in the barren desert of unfulfilled dreams as I did! When I applied the principles outlined in this guide, I got an agent in three weeks and sold my book. With hard work and positive, dedicated focus, you can make it happen just as I did. And I'll show you how!
So get focused, Buy the Guide and Get Published! And remember, I'm on your side! See you on Book TV!
Love, Donna
During my career, I've worked as a copywriter for Yahoo!, Sunset Magazine, and Lexus, and have written extensively on surf-skate-snow sports for such publications as Onboard, Snowboard UK, Wahine, and Surf Life for Women. I enjoyed that work, but only recently did I really find my voice. And it was only then that everything fell into place.
Two years ago my book, Never Trust a Man in Alligator Loafers, was just an idea in my mind. The seed of that idea woke me in the middle of the night. But I had to breathe life into that seed and nourish it, to take it from that dream stage to reality. Now I have a literary agent, a book deal with a major publisher, a publicist, a movie option, and a publication date with Citadel Press.
Bringing my book to fruition started when I created an action plan for myself. But before I could even do that, I had to dig deep and ask, did I have anything worth saying? Was I willing to do whatever it takes to say it? What would it take to get people to listen?
This is a great exercise. I'd recommend it even if you're not writing a book. It took me a lot of time and effort to finally understand that my creative voice, my schtick, is to use humor, parody, satire even cheek? --- to pay my rent on the planet. Through my combined works in media, publishing and fashion, I want to help people develop the inner muscle they need to believe that everything is possible. And then the courage to act on that dream. Because achievement is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.
Every word I share with you in my newest book, The Secret Rules of Publishing, has been successfully road-tested by me. In this step-by-step guide, I offer fresh information for writers, so that after you read it, you won't need to wander in the barren desert of unfulfilled dreams as I did! When I applied the principles outlined in this guide, I got an agent in three weeks and sold my book. With hard work and positive, dedicated focus, you can make it happen just as I did. And I'll show you how!
So get focused, Buy the Guide and Get Published! And remember, I'm on your side! See you on Book TV!
Love, Donna
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