How to Know if Publishers Want Your Book

think before you submit your book proposal to a publisherSome book topics are always of interest to publishers, while others come and go in cycles. How do you know if publishers want what you write right now?

Here are 3 ways to decide what to send and when to propose it.

1. Is your topic evergreen? This term relates to the subject’s broad appeal no matter what the year or season. Evergreen topics include:

  • Entertainment
  • Relationships
  • Politics
  • Religion
  • History

    • If you’re writing a book on these topics, publishers that specializing in bringing such books to market will contact you as long as your proposal, as discussed in this blog post, is well crafted.

    2. Is your topic a popular niche? New, upcoming, and trendy subjects are also foremost on publishers’ lists. Niche topics include:

  • Internet/Social media
  • Biographies of well-known industry gurus
  • Cooking
  • Travel
  • Sports

    • 3. Is your proposal addressed to the right publisher? It’ll take you hours to review the book Writer’s Market, but the time is well spent to determine who will receive your book proposal rather than wasting time and money notifying publishers about a book that’s not of interest.

    Writer’s Market was introduced to me in 1996 during my participation in a book proposal course which resulted in my first book contract. It’s still the industry favorite.

    What topic are you sending to a publisher, and how confident are you that you’ll receive a positive response?

    January 5, 2010 · Filed Under Submission Tips and Strategies

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