It was a helluva week.
I researched 98 agencies that might be willing to consider unsolicited material. In other words:
“Hey, nobody asked you to purge enough blood, sweat and tears to leave your body vacuous of any remaining fluids just to write a frakkin’ book that people might or might not want to read, but you’re here aren’t you? What the heck, we’ll look at it anyway - if all the stars align.”
Welcome to the world of agents.
Bloody hell.
And through the course of my research, I found out hardly anyone actually writes a non-fiction book without finding out if someone wants to buy it first. (I wish I had known that before I started this little project nine months ago and put in over 1000 hours to write the damn thing - even though I would do it all over again).
Fiction books are different as any story has the potential to be a bestseller. In a way the forum is open to anyone who has discipline enough to see a story from beginning to end.
But there’s a catch.
A good idea for a fiction book, no matter how clever - boy goes to wizard school and must combat evil until he practically pukes snakes (Harry Potter) - only delivers if the writer has a great voice and knows how to develop a story - in other words; there better be talent in them thar hills.
So when you submit a query for a fiction book (a one page letter giving a synopsis of the story and whatever writing credentials you might have), you also get to include twenty pages of manuscript. Because the proof is in the pudding.
With fiction, you get to show ‘em what you got upfront. So if you’re a good writer, even if you’re a virgin novelist, sooner or later some smart dude will recognize that you have the X factor (ie; talent). And that’s elusive. It takes a wicked eye and an open mind to recognize it. That is a talent in itself. And that’s why good agents make the big bucks.
It’s one thing to be a casting director and see tangible charisma in a newcomer who oozes blockbuster poster child from every pore of his being, but the written word is more elusive. There’s no face attached so you have to be able to see what other people might see in this author that would make their particular style of writing popular.
Are you starting to see what I’m getting at?
But fiction and non-fiction operate from different platforms.Non- fiction books are in a class all by themselves. Above all, they are informative. And I’m starting to get that they’re big business.
How-to books are the literary world’s version of reality TV.
If you are organized enough to write a good outline and give chapter summaries, chances are if there is a wide enough audience and you know what you’re doing, someone’s gonna buy it - more so if you are an expert in your field.
No one is going to buy a book about how to make a million dollars from a pauper, but if Donald Trump writes one, then the odds of it hitting the best seller list increase significantly.
How-to books can make a lot of money for everyone (at least that’s what I have assessed based on the submission requirements) because they come with a platform expectation that specifies the various satellite operations launched by the book that can also make money - speaking engagements, websites, seminars, supplementary materials... the list is as long as your imagination allows (and the money any publishing house might have to promote you while you’re working to bring in the big bucks).
So, you might think you can do it. You might know, in your gut that what you have to offer is the bomb, but...
...you have to prove it before they even read anything you write. And that’s a helluva tall order if you’re name isn’t Dr. Phil.
While some agencies only request a one page query, in a non-fiction proposal you don’t attach your pages. Initially they don’t want ‘em. They just want to see if you have an idea they can market.
And if you were able to successfully hook them in your query, then they might ask you for a proposal.
If you can hook them in your proposal (which can be anywhere from 20-40 pages long) they might read the two sample chapters you attached.
If they read those and like them, they might ask you for your manuscript.
If they like your manuscript, they might offer to represent you.
If they offer to represent you, they go to bat for you by trying to convince a publishing house that you are indeed a good investment upon whom they will make a good return.
In essence, I need to be a valuable commodity.
Except as a non-fiction author, I’m a no-name brand playing in a big name game.
For now.
Once I get one book under my belt, I just know... *call it a gut feeling*... that I could become a recognizable name brand. And I have more book ideas to keep me busy (and any publishing house) for the next fifteen years. Let’s just say I know I can deliver.
The question is will someone let me stick my foot in the door? Cause if they do, I’ll be damned if I ever let them slam it shut...
Next - PART II writing a proposal
