Dianne E. Butts About Writing

 

The Writing E-zine for Beginning and Intermediate Writers.

September 2007 ~ 200+ Subscribers

 

Cover Story:

 

"Submitting Your Books (Write a Book Proposal?! Help!)"

 

    Before writing your book, there's a lot you need to know. First of all, if you're writing nonfiction, you don't want to write that book yet. Book publishers won't look at it. They don't want to see your manuscript. They want to see a book proposal.

    Now if that sounds disappointing to you, it shouldn't. If you are going to write an effective, successful book, you need to think about a lot of things before you start. Like, who is your audience? What is it you want to say in your book--the overriding message? Will anyone be interested in reading that? Who are you going to sell your book to? How are you going to reach that market? If you take the time to figure out all the important things before writing your book, you'll stand a far greater chance of producing a book a publisher will be interested in. Writing a book proposal first forces you to think through your project, answer all the important questions, and get it organized.

    There are plenty of books about writing book proposals that you can learn from. One I recommend is W. Terry Whalin's Book Proposals that $ell: 21 Secrets to Speed Your Success (Write Now! Publications, 2005, $14.00). (Book Proposals That Sell) Mr. Whalin was an editor for many years and is now an agent. He knows how the publishing industry works, what editors are looking for, and what gets proposals rejected. I read through his book (and underlined nearly everything) and then I read through it again and took it one step at a time. I made a list of the items that I needed to include in my proposal. And then I set about writing each of these as a separate piece for my own book proposal.

 

What to Include in Your Book Proposal

    There is no set way to write a book proposal. However, there are certain items every book proposal should include. As I shaped my own proposal, it has changed and morphed and evolved, but below is the list of the items included in my nonfiction book proposal. You might write a few sentences or a few paragraphs for each of these items:

    Before you submit your book proposal, you should obtain the writers guidelines from the publisher or agent you want to send it to and make sure your proposal delivers what they want. Most of the time, you will need to tweak your proposal for each publisher. Sound like a pain? Do it anyway. If you don't, you won't make a good impression.

    The purpose of your book proposal is to give the editor at a publishing house or an agent enough information to determine if he or she wants to offer you a book contract. Therefore, it must be your very best writing. It must be coherent and organized and thorough. In other words, it must be excellent. This is probably the first impression you're making with the editor or agent (unless you've talked to or submitted to him or her before), so it is incredibly important to make it a good one. You should consider getting your book proposal critiqued and/or professionally edited just like your manuscript before you submit it. Take no chances. You have everything riding on your book proposal.

 

    "Your proposal exists to convince publishers that you can write, that you have a valuable project, and that it fits in with what they do." Judy Perry, acquisitions editor for Beacon Hill Press in her workshop "Building Your Book from the Ground Up." Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Estes Park, Colorado, May 2007.

 

    As another excellent resource to help you shape your nonfiction book and proposal, I recommend the five DVDs (or tapes) of the continuing session "Building Your [Nonfiction] Book from the Ground Up" recorded at the 2007 Colorado Christian Writer's Conference (www.WriteHisAnswer.com). These workshops were taught by Bonnie Perry, director of Beacon Hill Press, and Judith Perry, acquisitions editor at Beacon Hill Press. You may purchase this five-part continuing session on cassette tape or DVD from JoyCo Multimedia, 8795 Ralston Road #113, Arvada, CO 80002. (303)421-0093. Or online at JoyCoMultimedia.com Send $27.50 + $7.00 shipping. Order DVDs DC2A, B, C, D, and E or tapes TC2A, B, C, D, and E.

 

 

Dianne's "Get Organized" Tip

 

    Like your magazine articles, you will need a way to keep track of your submissions of your book proposal. I use the same system I use for my articles which I described in the August 2007 e-zine.

 

Section 2:

Q & A: Dianne Answers Your Questions about Writing

 

Q: Can I send my book proposal to more than one publisher at a time?

A: Yes, and I advise that you do so. You may wait several months to hear back and if you wait to hear from one before submitting to another, your book may be published posthumously. Most publishers now understand you will be submitting elsewhere simultaneously. Just make it clear in your cover letter or on the first page of your proposal that, "This is a simultaneous submission." You don't need to tell them where else you've sent it.

 

Q: What about submitting to agents?

A: It's the same procedure as submitting to publishers. Get your book proposal generally in order. Get the agency's writers guidelines. Like publishers, most are available on their web site or by e-mail, or send your request with a SASE by regular mail. Tweak your proposal to deliver exactly what the agent wants to see. Let him or her know it's a simultaneous submission.

 

Q: Should I submit to publishers or agents?

A: I recommend you go for both a publisher and an agent at the same time. If you find a publisher first, you can always contact the agent(s) and tell them you've been offered a contract and ask if he or she would negotiate the contract for you.

 

Sidebar

"How Do I Submit My Fiction Book?"

 

    Submitting a fiction novel is just a little bit different than submitting your nonfiction book. For starters, a publisher is mostly likely going to want to see a completed manuscript from a first-time author. However, don't just send your manuscript to a publisher. You will still need to submit a book proposal. There are books available to help you write your proposal for your novel. I'd start looking for one at www.WritersDigestBookClub.com . In addition to the items above that apply, for your fiction proposal you will also need to include a:

    The purpose of your fiction book proposal is to entice the editor enough to make him or her want to read more...and request your manuscript.

 

 

 

Section 3:

 

Period.

 

    It isn't easy to write book proposals. It takes a lot of time and a lot of effort. But like anything else, it gets easier with practice. Do the homework you need to do to write a great proposal. Strive for excellence. This is the document that will (or won't) open the doors to publication for you. Make it your best effort.

    You can do it! Period. No buts about it.

 

 

Back Cover Copy

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Bio: Dianne E. Butts has been writing for publication since 1989 with 200+ articles in more than 50 periodicals and over a dozen books. Her articles have appeared in Focus on the Family magazine, The Lookout, Light and Life, The Salvation Army's War Cry, The Plain Truth, On Mission, Bible Advocate, Live, Evangel, the Christian Motorcyclists Association's HeartBeat, The Quiet Hour, Christian Communicator, and SpiritLedWriter.com. Book contributions include stories in Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul 2, For Better or Worse: A Devotional for Married Couples by Marlene Bagnull, Beauty is Soul Deep, A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Women and Mothers, and Zondervan's New Women's Devotional Bible. Her work has appeared in Great Britain, Poland, Bulgaria, Canada, and Korea.

 

Subtopic 1:

Pull Quote

 

"Spelling, grammar, style, and format are what you're wearing to the interview." Judy Perry, acquisitions editor for Beacon Hill Press in her workshop "Building Your Book from the Ground Up." Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Estes Park, Colorado, May 2007.

 

~ ~ ~

 

My Book: Dear America: A Letter of Comfort and Hope to a Grieving Nation (Ampelos, 2002). Available from www.DianneEButts.com or here, from Amazon.com:  Dear America, - A Letter of Comfort & Hope to a Grieving Nation.

   

 

 

 

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