Back to publishing …
Okay, you’ve all been kind as I’ve wandered off a bt in the past few weeks, so I thought I’d offer something useful this week by way of expiation. So I thought I’d give you a quick cheat-sheet on what editors are looking for these days in manuscripts. This information is distilled from talking with a number of agents and acquisitions editors over the past year, so hopefully it’s both relevant and recent.
So what do they want?
First off is, alas, nothing to do with the work itself; it’s audience demand. Is there an audience demand for this book? If not, it’s over before it’s even begun.
Second is still not about the book itself, it’s author platform and marketing. Will you be able — and willing — to promote this book? How? Do you have a specific plan? What is it?
Third is — finally — about the book itself. How does it differ from other, possibly similar, works? Can it stand apart … and stand alone?
Fourth is cost. Publishers are far more willing to take a risk on a book that costs less to produce. What this generally translates into is word count: long books had better be extraordinary and a sure thing.
Fifth: timing. This can move up to number one if the issue the book deals with is in the news and likely to stay there for the time it will take to bring the book to market.
Sixth and final is whether or not the manuscript will fit this particular publisher’s list. “Sorry, it doesn’t meet our current needs” can, unfortunately, mean just that.
So there you go. Bear these points in mind as you prepare your next book proposal and you’ll be beyond the elements of style!
Posted in Proposal, Submissions, Getting Published, Editors, Publishers on September 3rd, 2007