![]() If you haven’t heard within six weeks, feel free to chase them up, just in case your proposal hasn’t made it to their desk, but don’t make a nuisance of yourself! Some have certain times of the year set aside for looking at unsolicited manuscripts, so they may not look at your proposal for several weeks. Phone or email the publisher, to ask the name of the commissioning editor, to whom you will send your proposal (optional, but it helps).If you want the publisher to return your proposal (should they not want it), put in a stamped, self-addressed envelope.Make sure your manuscript has the correct postage – publishers won’t be paying the excess! It’s entirely up to you if you wish to use a signed-for service or go for standard delivery.Number the pages of your first three chapters (and your synopsis, if more than one page).This needs to include the title of the proposed book, your name and contact details. Include a title page before your three chapters.Type your name and the working title of your novel in a header on every page.Use double line spacing, and number all your pages. Your proposal needs to be typed in a plain font (this isn’t the time to be creative!), on one side of white A4 paper with large margins: 3cm is fine. ![]() Of promotion both before the book comes out, and afterwards. Of the selling process – they need to be willing to do plenty There are also overheads: ads, insurance, IT support, rent/rates, equipment/furniture, office supplies, postage/shipping… Plus there is the printing of the book! Don’t forget that publishing is business… money has to be made to pay staff including editors, illustrators and cover designers, proofreaders, reps, distributors, accountants… and of course the bookshops will take their cut, too. (blog/website, email list, social media platforms, speakingĮngagements you undertake, other marketing opportunities) This needs to include:Īged 8-11), and why you have written it (briefly)īackground (if you are writing for a Christian publishing house) Check on their website, and whatever they ask for, make sure you tailor your proposal to their requirements.īy post and want your manuscript returned. They may allow you to send an electronic submission, or they may require a hard copy sent in the post. Need to follow their guidelines for submissions. Going through all this research will take effort, but what worthwhile thing was ever easy? Skipping the research is likely to cause you a lot of wasted time, and rejection letters you could have avoided. Do they accept unsolicited manuscripts? If they do, you’ve Your chosen publisher’s website with information for prospectiveĪuthors. ![]() ![]() Idea which publisher you think your story would fit best with. Browse through all their titles, not just the Them in their outreach to the community!) (While you’re there, encourage the bookshop, be generous, support Yours in content and length, and for the same age of readers. Good selection of books from different publishers closest to Suppose your manuscript became a book, where would it fit? If yourīook was on the shelf, which publishers could it be with? The shelves with books in your genre for your target age range. Go to your nearest Christian bookshop and take a good look at And completely pointless if a publisher doesn’t accept unsolicited manuscripts at all!īut how do you go about finding a suitable publisher for your novel? Here are some suggestions:įoot. We all know there’s no point wasting our time submitting a proposal for a picture book to publishers who don’t do children’s stories, or a YA novel to a publisher who only publishes adult fiction. This is a topic I have covered before, but it’s something I’ve been asked about recently by a Write for a Reason student who has now finished her novel ( way to go Pam!), so I thought it would be worth going over again. ![]() Hello and welcome to the Write for a Reason blog! Today I want to take a look at sending book proposals (unsolicited manuscripts) to publishers. ![]()
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