Publication

 

“Publication completes the act of writing,” says Donald M. Murray, A Writer Teaches Writing (1985:61). Now that you’ve completed your book or article, where do you go from there? That’s a question all beginning writers ask.

In order to sell what you have written, you will need marketing materials. The manuscript alone will not sell itself. You need a snappy query letter to catch an agent’s attention. Why an agent? you might ask. It is almost impossible today to have your book read by an editor, unless it has been submitted by an agent. First, you have to entice an agent to look at it. Start by writing a one-page query letter that describes your book, the type of book, its length and a short synopsis of your story or text. Follow this with a paragraph about yourself that is relevant to your topic. For example, if you’re writing about metaphysics, describe your interest, credentials and experience in it.

This might be a tall order on a single page, but it must be done. Equally important, you must make your letter look professional. Print it out on fine stationary and make sure the letter is edited for any typos. Nothing will get you rejected faster than a sloppy presentation. Along with the query, you may want to include a longer and more complete synopsis of your story or a book proposal for nonfiction. There are many books available that describe exactly what is needed and I mention a few in my bibliography. Kathleen Krull states in 12 Keys To Writing Books That Sell (1989), p.47, “For fiction, a proposal consists of the first three (not any three) chapters and a plot synopsis. For nonfiction, a proposal includes a chapter-by-chapter outline, a sample piece of writing, a list of your credits, a letter explaining your book, its market and competition, why you’re the perfect person to write it, and when you can deliver the manuscript.” Unlike fiction, where the book must be completed before trying to sell it, with nonfiction you only have to have a few chapters completed to sell the book. Once an agent has accepted your proposal, it’s up to them to market it to editors. In The Complete Guide To Writing Fiction And Nonfiction And Getting It Published (1990), p.240, Pat Kubis and Bob Howland say, “The complete (nonfiction) proposal can have up to six parts:

1. A cover letter (a two-page expanded query letter)
2. A resume reflecting your publishing and business experience
3. A preface, introduction, or prospectus
4. A working outline and/or table of contents
5. Sample chapter or chapters.”

When you have your marketing materials, you can find a list of agents and editors in The Literary Marketplace. This reference book is updated yearly and is an invaluable resource. You can find a copy in the reference area of your local library or you can purchase a copy in a bookstore.