The Fabulist Flash

Issue 62

2006 Cattail Print

In This Issue:

1. This Week
2. Writing The Blockbuster Book Proposal
3. How to Sign With a Literary Agent
4. Find An Agent
5. About The Fabulist Flash

1. This Week

Welcome to Issue 62 of The Fabulist Flash.

Remember that line, "Be careful what you ask for, you'll most certainly get it." From the early trickle of an article and a newspaper interview, a flood gate has opened. 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live is striking a chord with the press. My first newspaper interview turned into a terrific story. The story was so good that the Associated Press wire service picked it up. That pick up resulted in a brief USA Today mention. . I also got to see my book rise to number 3 on the Amazon.com gay & lesbian nonfiction list. Wow. How exciting is all of this?

The press coverage is generating more interest in the book. I had my first radio interview earlier this week and my first television appearance is scheduled for later today on Q Television. And, more media events are already on the schedule for the next two months

Preparing for the interviews, I put together lots of material. I practiced my key points and message lines out loud. I've had friends ask me questions. I feel like I stumbled through the first radio and newspaper interviews. I don't think there's any proper preparation for live interviews other than experience. I had to remind myself several times this week to allow for the learning curve. It's such a challenge.

We step out of the box believing or hoping that everything will go fine, that we'll be able to run that marathon on our first attempt. I have to remind myself that we all must learn to crawl first, then walk, and then run. My brain is so far ahead of my experience. That's caused some angst this week. And, I've had to remind myself to be patient. I don't know how to do all these things yet, but with each experience, with each stumble, I learn a little more and tell myself the next media experience will be better.

Will you be in Las Vegas on Friday, December 2, 2005? If so, make plans now to join me for the official release of 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live at Las Vegas Paper Doll (The Holsum Lofts Building, 231 W. Charleston Blvd. #130, Las Vegas, NV) between 6-10 PM. This First Friday-Las Vegas event will include food, Champaign, special gifts, and more.

So, how is your writing experience going? Have you submitted a book proposal yet? Have you found an agent to shop your ideas around? This week, Suzanne Falter-Barns shares advice on How to Sign With a Literary Agent and Britt Gillette offers Writing the Blockbuster Book Proposal: How To Sell Your Non-Fiction Book.

Until next week,

Gregory
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Gregory A. Kompes is a writer, photographer, professional speaker and author of 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live. Learn more about Gregory and his work at www.kompes.com

2. Writing The Blockbuster Book Proposal

Writing The Blockbuster Book Proposal: How To Sell Your Non-Fiction Book
by Britt Gillette

You did it. You crafted the perfect query letter for your non-fiction book, and as a result, an editor at a large publishing house has requested a full book proposal. At this point, you have a 50/50 chance of seeing your work on a bookstore shelf. The difference maker will be a strong book proposal that exhibits knowledge of your audience, what that audience needs and wants, and how that audience can be reached on a cost-effective basis.

When an editor makes a request to see your book proposal, he/she will most likely send along a brief overview of the publisher's book proposal guidelines. You might want to make some subtle adjustments to your proposal in order to meet those guidelines. But under no circumstances should you wait for a book proposal to be requested before actually writing one. A well-written, professional book proposal takes several days, oftentimes several weeks, to compose. It should be the first thing you write before both the query letter and the manuscript itself. Despite the guidelines, each proposal is unique, and the quality of yours will be THE difference maker in determining whether or not the publisher takes a financial risk with your book. So put your best effort into crafting a blockbuster book proposal. Below, you'll find a list of the basic elements of a book proposal that, if mastered, will all but guarantee the offer of a book contract.

Element #1: The Title Page/Table of Contents: The first page of a book proposal is the title page. The title page states the working title for the book you are proposing along with your contact information (and that of your agent if you have one). Make sure to center the text. Generally, it isn't wise to use fancy borders or cutesy graphics. You're writing a business proposal. Make sure it looks like one. On the second page of your proposal, provide a short table of contents for the book proposal itself. List each of the following sections along with their corresponding page numbers: Summary, About The Author, Audience, Competition, Publicity & Promotional Opportunities, Outline, and Sample Chapters. Some will say the Outline and Sample Chapter sections are optional, but remember, youre trying to sell a book. Providing the publisher with a sample of your writing, especially if you're a first-time author, might well mean the difference between acceptance and rejection.

Element #2: Summary: In the Summary section of your proposal, provide a brief overview of the proposed book. Try to envision the blurb that will appear on the back cover of your final product. Make that blurb the opening paragraph. Show the editor you can hook him/her on your proposal from the very first sentence, and you'll convince them of your ability to hook a potential reader as well. Elaborate on the contents of your query letter by addressing the following subjects: the content, the audience, and the author. What is the premise of your book? What does it promise its reader? Who is the market for the book? How large is that market? And, finally, why are you the best person to write this book at this time?

Element #3: About The Author: In the About The Author section of your proposal, go into greater detail about yourself. In general, it's best to use third person. But it's okay to use first person if you feel more comfortable doing so. Why are you the best qualified person to write this book? What are your credentials? Are you an expert in the field? Has your previous work been published (not just in books, but newspapers, magazines, ezines, etc.)? Are you a prolific public speaker? If so, how many speeches do you give each year? To what types of audiences do you speak? Do you have media experience or media contacts? If so, let the editor know. If you have limited experience in any or all of these fields, say so. Be honest and direct. Experience helps, but lack of experience itself will not lead to rejection. Misrepresenting yourself will. Never include information about your personal life unless it is essential to your ability to sell the book.

Element #4: Audience: In the Audience section of your proposal, clearly define the market for your book. First, identify the demographic segment you hope to target. Examples of demographic characteristics are gender, age, political ideology, religion, nationality, education level, economic status, etc. Be specific. Research the size of the audience and back up your claims with real numbers. Avoid broad claims such as "everyone will love this book," and instead use such statements as "4.5 million college-educated Christian men between the ages of 21 and 29 will be drawn to this book because of its unique..." At this point, define the psychographics of your audience. What is the motivation of this demographic to buy your book? What unmet needs and wants do they harbor that your book is sure to satisfy? In short, make certain your Audience section clearly indicates 1) who will buy your book, and 2) why they will buy it.

Element #5: Competition: In the Competition section of your proposal, provide examples of well-known published books similar to yours (or, if your book covers a new niche in a popular subject, list those books that target a similar audience). Its always best to cite bestsellers. If you can track down the sales figures for these books, provide the number of copies each title sold. The larger the sales figures, the more you strengthen your case that a large market exists for your subject matter. Once you've established that a large market exists, explain why your book will be different. In what way will you position your book in order to differentiate it from its peers? Do any demographic trends aid your case for continued demand in this market? State explicitly why your book is unique and why the market is ripe for its release. However, be wary of a bold statement such as "nothing like my book has ever been written before". You may have uncovered a unique angle for your subject, but in all likelihood, you havent invented a new genre or field of study.

Element #6: Publicity and Promotional Opportunities: In this section of your proposal, outline the promotional avenues open to your book. If you've already established that a market exists, this section will be the make it or break it section of your proposal. The publisher must know how you intend to reach the audience you've identified. Do specific groups exist with a high likelihood of being receptive to your book? Good examples are the audience members of a specific radio or television show, readers of specific magazines or newsletters, book clubs, non-profit organizations, or trade groups. Identify the groups relevant to your book and point out the vehicles a publisher can use to reach those groups in a cost-effective manner. Do you have media connections or experience? Potential exposure on nationally syndicated radio and television shows is the best way to capture a publishers attention. Booking the author on such shows is free, and the resulting sales can be astronomical. So publishers are always looking for authors with a media platform. Do you have one? What angle or hook can you provide a producer or editor that will land you a coveted interview or feature story? If you develop a strong enough hook, you might land a book contract based on this aspect of your proposal alone.

Element #7: Outline: For this section of your proposal, provide a list of the proposed chapter titles, along with a brief overview of the contents therein.

Element #8: Sample Chapters: In this section of your proposal, simply attach the first two or three chapters of your proposed manuscript. Providing sample chapters is essential for a first-time author. If your chapters are of high quality, they give the publisher confidence you can produce a publishable manuscript in a timely manner.

Element #9: Presentation: The presentation of your book proposal is as instrumental to its success as the content. Make sure to proofread zealously. If you think you've finished, proofread it again. Read, correct, and rewrite your proposal at least twenty times so as to be confident that it's the best it can possibly be. When it comes time to print the final draft, the body of the proposal should be double-spaced and printed in black ink on clean white paper using a LaserJet printer. Finally, just as with any business document, send your book proposal via FedEx. This will create the immediate impression you are a professional who will be businesslike in his day-to-day dealings with the publisher. Once you've incorporated these nine elements into your book proposal, you will be left with a finished product worthy of commanding the respect of any editor. But in order to create a true blockbuster book proposal, make sure to Define the books concept. Identify the books audience. And outline exactly how to reach that audience. Do these three things well, and youre certain to obtain a book contract. So don't waste any time. Get to work on your blockbuster book proposal today!

About the Author
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Britt Gillette is the author of The Dittohead's Guide To Adult Beverages (Regnery 2005). He also runs The DVD Report (http://www.thedvdreport.com), a site showcasing his personal reviews of movies and TV shows currently released on DVD.

3. How to Sign With a Literary Agent

How to Sign With a Literary Agent
by Suzanne Falter-Barns

If you're interested in publishing a book and gaining a market presence and income from it, you'll need a literary agent. They are the grease that keeps the oft-rusty wheels of publishing moving. Every day, they eat lunch or talk to editors and acquisition people in publishing houses all over the world, all the while pitching them on the new hot 'properties', as your manuscript will be called.

Generally speaking, you need an agent (though there are literary lawyers and others out there who would disagree with me.) I've had four agents, some fine, one useless, and one downright criminal (though eminently likeable.)

Here are some tips I can pass along that will help your search for this important part of your team.

• Make sure you're selling something marketable. It could be you're the only person out there who wants to read about your Aunt Tillie's days as a pickle packer. Before you approach an agent, find out what problem your book solves and who it will appeal to. Research similar titles on Amazon.com and look for gaps in the marketplace. Go to bookstores and see what's hot (and what's not.) What's not is on the remainder shelf; what's hot is placed up front and center, with massive piles of the book in sight. Give an agent a good reason UP FRONT to get excited (before they even read your mss)

• Make sure your book idea or manuscript is in top shape. There is no substitute for excellence it helps! You've got to have an awesome concept, and an even better title.

• Make your book proposal as professional possible. (Book proposals are only for non-fiction books, those other than novels.) You'll want to include a lot more than just what the book's about. You'll need to include any market research you've done on who'd buy the book, ideas for unusual places the books could be sold, or ways to tie it in with 'special sales' (that's pub-speak for big wholesale orders) to certain industries, or connections with your workshops, speaking gigs, web site, etc.. You'll also want to include an impressive bio, merchandising ideas, a sketch of the competitive marketplace and publicity ideas. (If this sounds daunting, worry not. See my blurb at the bottom.)

• Establish your credibility. If you're writing fiction, let them know you've either had unique life experiences that will make your book especially interesting to the media. (If you're writing about your white water rafting exploits, did you have a great experience related to this you could spin on air?) If you're writing non-fiction, are you a PhD or do you have a masters, or lots of great professional experience? It's tougher to sell a great book written by someone who's got no credentials in the field to back them up but it can be done.

• Hook up with a star. Can you get a celebrity endorsement, or a testimonial or foreword from a highly placed industry star? This will help an agent feel they can sell your work.

• Find the niche no one has explored. They're out there, even in your chosen field. This is especially true for non-fiction, though niches apply to both genres. The best niche comes from your own passions and interests what's really You?

• Do not send your manuscript! Send a one page letter describing your project and why you are the person to write it, plus your proposal (non-fiction only) or a few sample chapters of your manuscript (fiction.) Offer to send the rest right away if they are interested. Make sure everything is spell-checked, double spaced, with correct margins, etc..

• Hand pick the agents you submit to. DO NOT SEND MASS MAILINGS TO AGENTS. It won't work, and is a waste of time and money. Instead, research who to approach and pick the 5, 10, 20 or so who actually sell your type of work. Agents stick to niches themselves, and one way to find that niche is in various resource guides like Writer's Market, the LMP (Literary Market Place in all big libraries), or the Writer's Digest 2002 Guide to Literary Agents. (I have several other techniques I share in my Self Help Author's Crash Course, which is on sale at the moment. See below.)

• Make your letter great. Your pitch will be placed in a pile with the other cold submissions that arrived that day (maybe 25 -50) and an assistant will thumb through them, spending about 10 seconds on each one. This means if you have a personal contact, you mention it in the first sentence. Trim your description of your book into a meaty, mouth-watering paragraph. Add a bit on why you are the person to write it. And BE SURE to let them know you hand picked them, out of all the agents out there, because of the great work they've done for authors X, Y and Z. In fact, you predict they will have similar success with your property, as they did with Book X they just sold to Q Publisher, etc. In other words, make it personal, a little witty, and smart

• Don't use old contact info and call to see that the agent you're contacting is still at the address you have before you send anything

• Don't ever pay an agent to evaluate your book. This is not how standard agents work, and is illegal.

• Give the agent one month to evaluate your work. Then follow up by phone or email. Many will tell you how they like to be contacted in guides such as The Writer's Market and those listed above. Continue to follow up, until such actions are ridiculous. You'll probably get some kind of response, especially if you're letter is great

• Follow up and ask for referrals. If you're lucky, you'll get the intended agent on the phone. They may seem interested, but just won't commit. (A standard line is "I'm not taking on any new clients right now.") So ask if they know any agents they might recommend, or someone who is expanding their operation. Then send a thank you note if their info has been helpful. Agenting is a small world, and many people stay in it for life. They'll remember when you reappear at their door years later. And this time it may open

• Be persistent. You may have to go through several lists of hand-picked agents, before you get the bite you need.

• Work your personal connections. Be exhaustive, thinking of anyone you know who might connect you with other agents, or even authors. Most authors will want to see the project you're pitching, and may not feel comfortable sharing their contact with you but many may.

About the Author
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For information on how to create your own publisher-ready book proposal that agents will sit up and pay attention to, drop by Suzanne's site, http://www.getknownnow.com and get her free listing of 25 Top Self Help Literary Agents.

4. Find An Agent

Looking for a literary agent? Here's a short list of good places to begin your agent search.

Writer's Net http://www.writers.net/agents.html

Agent Query http://www.agentquery.com/

Predators & Editors http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/

Guide to Literary Agents http://www.literaryagents.org/

Book Talk: Literary Agents http://www.booktalk.com/agents1.asp

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5. About The Fabulist Flash

ISSN: 1554-0804

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Make plans now to attend the 2006 Las Vegas Writer's Conference March 30-April 2, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada.