Success - Agents - Book Proposals 4
This excerpt is from "Success, Your Path to a Successful Book," by Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill.
Remember, before you send the book proposal, send your one page query letter. It will be a waste of time to send the proposal unless you have been asked to submit it. We have heard a few agents say they would read a one page attachment.
When sending a book proposal or a query letter, we find the words of Philip Gerard applicable, "Write an opening that catches the reader’s attention and an ending that leaves a lasting impression."
Maralyn D. Hill & Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success Log Global Log
Labels: agents, book proposals, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, publishers, publishing, success, writing books
posted by Maralyn Friday, July 10, 2009
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Success - Agents - Book Proposals 3
This excerpt is from "Success, Your Path to a Successful Book," by Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill.
Continuation of list for book proposal follows:
A list of books that will compete with and complement yours.
About the author - mportant and relevant information.
The outline - one to three paragraphs on each chapter showing there’s a book and you have it successfully organized.
Sample chapters - one or two sample chapters show an editor how well you can write. For most books, the two strongest representative chapters you can send are best. The first chapter should be one of the two strongest as it is your first opportunity to hook the readers. If you start further back in your book, they will wonder what is wrong with the beginning. Refrain from sending the entire manuscript unless requested.
Sell the sizzle in the introduction.
Labels: agents, Authors, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, publishers, publishing, success, writing books
posted by Maralyn Tuesday, July 07, 2009
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Success - Agents - Book Proposal 1
This excerpt is from "Success, Your Path to a Successful Book, by Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill.
Points to be covered in a good proposal include:
The subject hook, the most exciting, compelling thing you can say that justifies the existence of your book, a quote, event, anecdote, statistic, idea or joke.
Hook includes:
The title, it must tell and sell.
Book’s selling handle, a sentence that ideally begins, "The (title) will be the first book to..."
Length of book.
Highlight special features: Tone, humor, structure, anecdotes, checklists, exercises, sidebars, and anything to make the text pop.
Maralyn D. Hill & Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success Log Global Log
Labels: agents, Authors, book proposals, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, success, writing books
posted by Maralyn Tuesday, June 30, 2009
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Success - Agents 5
This excerpt is from "Success, Your Path to a Successful Book," by Maralyn D. Hill & Brenda C. Hill.
You will need a good book proposal if you use an agent or approach a publisher directly. How to Write A Book Proposal, by Michael Larsen, AAR, is written by a literary agent who has placed many manuscripts successfully with over 100 publishers.
Maralyn D. Hill & Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success Log Global Log
Labels: agents, Authors, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, publishers, publishing, success, writing books
posted by Maralyn Saturday, June 27, 2009
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Success - Agents 4
This excerpt is from "Success, Your Path to a Successful Book," by Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill.
The best advice that we can give regarding agents is to research and read articles about them and by them on the internet. Then make the decision if an agent will benefit your specialty.
You may want to read The Renegade Writer’s Query Letters that Rock, The Freelance Writer’s Guide to Selling More Work Faster, by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell. It provides query letters that have worked, along with comments from the writer and editor.
If you want a traditional publisher, you will most likely need an agent. Very few large publishers will accept work unless it comes from an agent.
Labels: agents, Authors, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, publishers, publishing, success, writing books
posted by Maralyn Wednesday, June 24, 2009
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Success - Agents 3
This excerpt is from "Success, Your Path to a Successful Book," by Maralyn D. Hill & Brenda C. Hill.
Some authors may need or want an agent. We have pursued that avenue. If you read our chapter on marketing, you may be able to act as your own agent if you are self-publishing or using POD. This will save time, money… and another middle person. Unless your book is extremely hot, a good agent will be difficult to obtain. But, when you do land a good agent, they receive their percentage fee and are generally worth it. You can go online to
http://www.litmatch.com/ to find agents interested in your genre.
You are better off with agencies that have expressed an interest in new clients. Some agents are busy and they do not have time for you. Go after agents who are taking new clients. You can meet agents at writers’ conferences. Some conferences will set up pitch sessions.
Maralyn D. Hill & Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success Log Global Log
Labels: agents, Authors, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, publishers, publishing, success, writing books
posted by Maralyn Sunday, June 21, 2009
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Success - Agents 2
This excerpt is from, "Success, Your Path to a Successful Book," by Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill.
Aileen Martinex, Television Producer/Media Consultant,
http://www.mediainsider.tv/ said in The Book Marketing Expert Newsletter:
Less is more.
The best media pitches are short, sweet, and to the point.
Always make sure to start with the most interesting points.
Carefully draft your pitch to include the essentials, i.e., who, what, why.
Be willing to break format.
Replace the long block paragraphs with short sentences and a few strong, creative bullet points.
Labels: agents, Authors, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, success, writers, writing books
posted by Maralyn Thursday, June 18, 2009
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Success - Agents
This excerpt is from "Success, Your Path to a Successful Book," by Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill.
We have met many agents… some of them well known in New York and L.A. circles. We liked most of them, and some helped us when writing our first book.
Linda Formichelli writes about the poor American publishing companies in a 2007 issue of Writer’s Digest, The old rules don’t apply anymore.
Linda suggests how to be recognized with a query letter to agents or editors: “Include their full contact information, the proper salutation (not Hey or Ho), use spell check and read over the email before sending it to eliminate those snafus that spell check doesn’t catch.”
You can look up everything you want to know about agents in the 2008 Guide to Literary Agents, by Chuck Sambuchino (updated annually). Another good one released in 2008 is Secret Agents by Chuck Sambuchino. In this one, Chuck lists 23 North American new and established agencies that will take new writers. They cover most genres and are hunting for the next breakout book.
http://www.writersdigest.com/ has an ongoing blog about agents.
Maralyn D. Hill & Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers AssociationBooks By Hills Success Log Global LogLabels: agents, Authors, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, publishers, publishing, success
posted by Maralyn Monday, June 15, 2009
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