Five Things that Influence a Publisher to Accept Your Book Proposal

Want to stack the deck in your favor when sending your book proposal to a publisher?

Here’s what makes a strong case for your proposal to be accepted.

1. What’s your background? Working extensively within an industry, dealing with the intricacies of a child with a rare disease, and being the sole caretaker of a senior parent are three examples of what convinces a publisher that you are knowledgeable about a topic.

Think long and hard about your experience, and document everything no matter how small.

My background included participation in a certain industry as well as retail and marketing experience that boosted my expertise.

2. What have you written in the past? It’s okay not to have any books under your belt, but most aspiring authors are writing about their subject on a Web site or blog. Some have written an e-book or created a self-published book.

Does this sound like you? If so, include this information with your credentials, but don’t send any self-published books to the publisher until requested.

I wrote a marketing manual that was bound with a spiral comb. It was sent to my publisher when the acquisitions editor requested it. Today, I cringe looking at that manual. The writing style was horrible, but I’m still glad to have created it.

3. What’s your marketing plan? If you think your publisher is going to do all of the marketing, think again. Part of your book planning is to document all potential promotions.

Here’s another hint: bookstore appearances are last on your marketing list.

I admit that speaking at bookstores was a huge part of my first marketing plan, but so was speaking at industry conferences, at local women’s group events, and at craft-based conventions, all places where people with interest in my book’s topic gathered.

4. What are the competitive books? It’s important for you to research, online and through a trip to bookstores, books already in publication about your chosen topic.

Don’t be discouraged when learning that other books have been published on the subject. Actually, that’s good news, as the publisher will recognize the topic’s eligibility for broad appeal.

Although there were few publications on my subject, I was pleased to see that others came before mine. This discovery uncovered the need for my book, which landed me a contract within three months after sending the proposal.

5. Do you have statistics? There are numbers available on every topic; the key is finding a recognized association or institution with those facts and adding some statistics to your proposal. This helps publishers identify the necessity for your book.

One of the industries in which I participate published updated statistics that I included in my introduction letter, and I also had access to more information from a private database. Those statistics were published in my book’s introduction and are updated each time I write a new edition.

Add these five items to your proposal so that your best effort shines when the publisher opens your package.

Which of these areas is holding you back from submitting your book proposal?

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