Edie here. Today I have a treat for you! One of the icons of Christian publishing, Terry Whalin, is sharing his insight through today's blog. Years ago, when I was just getting started, someone recommended his book about writing proposals. I used that book through the years to teach me how to submit. Now, he's updated and re-released Book Proposals that $ell: 21 Secrets to Speed Your Success. Enjoy Terry's post, and be sure to take a look at his book!
The Challenge for Every Book Author
By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin
I love the rush of adrenaline when I type the final paragraph in a book project. My wife has heard me say this statement so many times: “Books are long.” Whether you are writing nonfiction or fiction, it takes a lot of effort, persistence and discipline to push through to get a first draft into your computer.
From my decades in publishing, when you reach this point, you should congratulate yourself. Over 80% of the U.S. population wants to write a book at some point during their lifetime but not everyone completes their manuscript. After this rush of gratitude from completion, another feeling springs into the process—which is going to be the theme of this piece: the challenge for every book author. I’m talking about deciding how you will publish your book.
Every author has many choices whether you go traditional or indie or self-publish. I’ve been involved in each of these aspects. Two of my book proposals received six-figure advances. And I have long stories which I will not include here about what happened with those books—and it’s not a success story. The crux of this challenge for every book author is to write the right story at the right time with the right publisher. Yes I understand I had a number of “rights” in that last sentence. Despite making careful author choices in this process, I know much of the actual success of a book is outside of an author’s direct control.
Our lives in publishing take continued hard work and taking action—even in the face of rejection. During a recent radio interview, the journalist mentioned my success and asked if I still faced rejection. Ironically that same week one of my current book projects had been cancelled—so yes I continue to face rejection and disappointment which are also a part of our lives in publishing. Yet being in the right place at the right time does not happen if you aren’t taking continued action.
New York Times bestselling author Andy Andrews struggled to get his first book; The Traveler’s Gift published. His submission was rejected multiple times before Thomas Nelson published the book. During the promotion Andy talks about giving away books “like it was water.” Many of those books did nothing to sell additional books. One of those books landed in Good Morning America’s offices. Producer (and not on the air at that time) Robin Roberts was responsible for selecting the first book for the launch of their book club. Roberts selected The Traveler’s Gift and it propelled the book to the New York Times list. Some would call this luck or happenstance, but I would call it persistence and perseverance with a lesson for every writer.
One of the key pieces for every author is a book proposal or business plan. Whether you are going to self-publish, go indie or traditional, you need this critical document which is completely separate from your manuscript. It doesn’t matter whether you are writing young adult novels or children’s books or nonfiction, every author needs this business plan.
In 2004 as a frustrated acquisitions editor looking for better submissions, I wrote Book Proposals That Sell. That book helped many writers find an agent, get an advance and book deal. Publishing has changed a great deal and now a revised edition of my book is out to help a new generation of writers. I understand the creative process is not perfect. Despite rejection, I encourage you to persist and keep looking for the right next step for you. As you faithfully move forward to achieve your dreams, rest assured that I’m taking the same consistent action for my own writing life.
How are you handling the challenges for book authors? Let me know in the comments below.
TWEETABLE
Terry Whalin
Writing a book? In the beginning stages of writing a book, most people start with a blank page and write their entire manuscript. According to author and acquisitions editor W. Terry Whalin, this approach is backwards. About 80% to 90% of nonfiction books are sold from a book proposal. This mysterious document called a proposal contains many elements that will never appear in a manuscript—yet these details are critical to publishing executives who make the decision about publishing or rejecting an author’s project. In Book Proposals That Sell, Terry reveals 21 secrets to creating a book proposal that every author needs in order to create one that sells.
To think of the proposal as the business plan for selling the book clarifies the purpose and content of the proposal.
ReplyDeletePeggySue,
DeleteThank you for this comment. Every author needs a business plan for their book--however they publish it.
Thank you for this fabulous article, Terry. I'd much rather write a book than a book proposal, but I know that the proposal is the first step toward securing a contract and it must be done right. I heard you say one time that you often give books away. I have a huge inventory in my closet and decided those books are not accomplishing anything for me in the closet, so I have been more generous with giving them away. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience with other writers.
ReplyDeleteCrystal,
DeleteThank you for this comment. Like you I would rather write the book than a proposal but from working on the inside of publshing houses, I know the importance of this document--but it is hard to write--even for someone like me who has written many proposals. Thank you for the feedback about giving away books. In some ways it seems counterproductive and wasteful but I believe generosity comes back to us and God uses it in incredible ways we can't even begin to imagine.
I am grateful for your first edition of Book Proposals that Sell; like Edie I use it for every proposal I write. When I attended a writers conference, where I got my first break, I handed a publisher my finished proposal (as Terry Whalin instructed) and she said, "This is a serious proposal!" (Like she rarely sees one.) I was shocked, because I assumed everyone would be handing over a "finished" product at their meetings. She helped me get an agent, who sold the book to Thomas Nelson. So thank you for your clear instruction and concrete steps. No question I will be updating with your new edition. Publishing is changing so fast, I can barely keep up!!
ReplyDeleteJulie,
DeleteThank you for this feedback about your work on proposals and your use of the first edition of my book. I love hearing these stories. It's why I wrote my original book--as an editor, I wanted beter submissions and have been blessed with how people have used my book.
Interesting.
ReplyDeleteJay
DeleteThank you fo rthis comment. I wonder what specifics you found interesting.
Wonderful article, Terry. There are so many challenges in writing and publishing. Your good advice and encouragement are much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteKay,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this comment and the encouraging feedback. If publishing were easy, even more people would be doing it--and it seems like many people are doing it even though it is not easy.
Great helpful blog Terry Whalin. Thank you for this wonderful article and for sharing with all of us!
ReplyDelete