Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Location: Winging my way to an author-agent-publisher meeting
You have the right idea? Check.
You have the right title? Check.
Now, it’s time to write an attention-getting proposal.
Yesterday I referred to editors and agents as sort of being asleep at the wheel. It’s hard to explain, but while we’re carrying a daunting load of work, keeping up with the needs of contracted authors and current clients, we also like nothing better than the adrenaline rush of finding a new client who is exciting and holds the promise of future possibilities. But we see so many queries that’s it’s truly mind-numbing. Your job, therefore, is to jar us into paying attention to you.
Now, there are wrong ways to do that:
Picking up the phone when the agent has specified he or she doesn’t want to be queried via phone.
Making pronouncements about your work being the next ______________ (To Kill a Mockingbird, Harry Potter, Gone with the Wind, Purpose-Driven Life, etc.). We hear that all the time.
Stating your novel is a romantic suspense when it’s really a mystery. (Shows you don’t know your audience.)
Announcing the audience is everyone, ages 6 to 60. Hmm, not exactly a targeted group.
What awakens us in a good way?
- A well-written query, with no misspellings, grammatical errors, or overstatements, that’s clearly to that agent, not to long list of agents. (Use the agent’s name, and spell it correctly.) Tell the agent why you’re contacting him or her–you’ve read about the agency online, you’ve followed that agent’s blog, you’re a Facebook friend–whatever connection that is authentic.
Do these items seem basic? Guess why I’m mentioning them? They seldom are done correctly. I have an unusual middle name (which is my maiden name). But a little concentration will enable a person to spell it right. Not doing so shows a lack of attention to detail, a quality a good author needs.
- Make your proposal easy to peruse. Use bulleted points. Keep paragraphs short. Use white space to give the feeling that reading the proposal won’t take lots of time. Why? Because this is the document that ultimately will end up on the desks of everyone in a publishing committee. And not all those folks have lots of time to read a proposal’s details. Make your proposal accessible.
- Start your proposal with your book’s hook. In other words, what makes your book unique? It seems like a simple question, but it’s not really. For example, one of my clients has written a historical romance centered around a real portrait of a young woman in the late 1800s. The woman is wearing only one glove. The author asked herself why that would be, and from there a story about misunderstandings, lost loves, and a ruined reputation unfolded. What was the hook we used in the proposal?
Isabelle, a rich young woman, who has just become engaged to one of New York City’s elite in the 1880s, celebrates the engagement by commissioning an up-and-coming portrait painter to paint her. When the painting is unveiled, New York society is aghast to see that Isabelle is portrayed wearing one glove, which suggests she has become the artist’s lover. She hasn’t, of course, but she has fallen in love with him. Now, what must she do?
These few sentences give the setting, the time-frame, the inherent conflict that the story centers on, and what’s different about the story from other historical romances. Later in the proposal, we placed a picture of the real portrait the idea was based on, which heightens the interest.
Here are the details of a nonfiction proposal two of my clients created:
Title: No More Christian Nice Girl
Hook: Christian Nice Girls have created a dangerously wrong formula for life. Keeping everyone happy + avoiding conflict + ignoring their own needs does not equal a satisfying life; instead, they’re living a sure-fire formula for ruining relationships, crippling careers, and devastating their ability to function well.
Genre: Women’s self-help
Word Count: 50,000 words
Intended Audience: The 90% of American women who identify themselves as Christian (Barna, 2005), many of whom struggle with people-pleasing tendencies, fear of conflict, and religious and cultural pressure to be falsely nice instead of truly good.
- These details are important to have as easily-located facts early on in the proposal for both fiction and nonfiction. Identifying the audience for fiction is trickier than for nonfiction, but if you don’t have a reader in mind as you write your novel, it’s unlikely it will appeal to anyone.
- For a novel, you’ll want to provide a compelling synopsis of the entire story. Yes, tell us how the story will end. Often a story can sound great until I come to the conclusion, which I can tell is all wrong. If I like the writing enough, I might ask the writer if he or she is willing consider a different conclusion.
- For a nonfiction book, you’ll need to supply a chapter-by-chapter synopsis. This is where you can show off the book’s strong structure and chapter titles that will help to pull potential readers into the book.
Here’s the first chapter summary from the proposal for No More Christian Nice Girl:
Chapter Summary
Introduction: Frustrated, Fearful and Fake: Meet Nicole, Christian Nice Girl
The introduction begins by inviting the reader to ride along for “A Day in the Life” of Nicole, a Christian Nice Girl who goes through her day feeling every bump in her frustrating life. Women will immediately identify with Nicole as she tries to act nice and make everyone happy, from demanding friends to unpleasant coworkers—and ends up unhappy and unintentionally hurting others. Because Nicole believes that Jesus was always pleasant and accommodating, she allows others to take advantage of her instead of saying “no” and standing up for herself. Through her life, readers are introduced to three common forces that compel Christian women to behave like nice girls instead of powerful women of loving faith:
- Force #1) One-sided spiritual training that encourages false niceness instead of true goodness.
- Force #2) Social and cultural pressure that trains women to hide their true thoughts and feelings to avoid conflict, rejection, and being
seen as a complaining, unpleasant, domineering woman; and
- Force #3) Difficult life experiences (such as an absence of female role models, anxious parenting, or physical/sexual abuse) that initiate a pattern of
fearful, passive behavior instead of courageous, assertive behavior.
After Nicole’s story, readers are given a brief overview of the hard truth about acting nice, the authors’ credentials, and a 40-item true/false questionnaire to help women diagnose “Nice Girliosis” in themselves or friends. The introduction ends with a summary of subsequent material to engage and excite readers and help them visualize where they will be going in the book.
Chapter One: Force #1— One-Sided Spiritual Training: Sanctified Sweetness
Can you see how readily apparent the book’s structure is from this sampling? And the authors showed the unique aspects of the first chapter, including the tests readers can take–which sounded fun, by the way.
- The author’s bio is a very important part of the proposal. You need to explain one thing: Why you’re qualified to write this book. For nonfiction, research, credentials, and personal experience make the triumverate that editors and agents are looking for. For fiction, writing prizes, short stories published, a well-known author’s endorsement perk us up. Regardless of genre, we also want to know what sort of online presence you’ve created for yourself. I saw a proposal the other day in which the writer’s blog is among the top 10,000 in the world. Okay, that’s good.
- Connected to the author’s bio is the type of marketing he or she brings with the project. One of my clients is making a small investment in a book tour. She has friends in various corners of the country and will be staying with them. But she’s not just hoping that people will find her in a bookstore near her friends’ homes. She’s going into knitting shops, since her book is a devotional centered around the knitting theme. Her plan is to join a knitting group for that day, and they’ll all knit squares for blankets she’s creating for needy children connected to a specific charity. As she travels from town to town, she’ll spend the time knitting the squared together. Smart lady. Each town she goes to she’ll have informed the media of her arrival and the work she’s doing–and talk about her book. She’ll make sure copies of her book are available at the knitting shops and in bookstores. Obviously this type of marketing isn’t for the faint of heart, but mentioned such a plan–if the publisher agrees is a good idea–shows the publisher you’re serious about marketing your book.
See how you don’t need to have a lot of money or any special inside track to market your book? You do need to be creative in thinking about how to reach your readers.
The same ideas could apply to fiction. If you have a craft as a part of your story, it becomes a jumping off spot for promotion. I once read about a woman whose main character loved to bake pies. So the woman conducted a national pie recipe contest (and baked all the recipes!). She received national media attention, and her novel was mentioned prominently.
- The grand finale of your powerful proposal: the first three chapters of your book. Make them the best you can. Ultimately, everything stands or falls on the quality of the chapters.
Now, tell me. Have you learned something you didn’t know before about proposals? Or has this post stimulated some thoughts on changes you want to make to your current proposal? What new ideas have occurred to you about how to wake up a snoozing agent or editor?
Diana Prusik
Thank you for sharing an agent’s perspective on effective book proposals, Janet. Every morsel of your post will help me improve my book proposal. Since my novel revolves around life in a flower shop, I need to discover a unique way to make the floral industry a “jumping off spot for promotion.” You’ve got my mind churning!
Melissa K Norris
When I first started, I thought the broader the audience the better. Now I understand how important knowing who your target audience is. It all boils down to “know your reader.”
As usual, this week’s posts are great.
I came up with a better title.(I think) Switched from Journey of Promise to Mercy Trail. Most of the novel is set on a cattle drive.
Thanks for taking the time from your crazy schedule to blog! This is one of my favorite writer/agent blogs.
Lori
Janet,
Thank you so much for sharing. I think you covered completely how to get a snoozing agent’s attention. I don’t know what I can add except maybe a box of local chocolate (kidding). 🙂
Jessica R. Patch
Janet,
This was very helpful. I have a question. When you attend a writers conference and are interested in a writer’s work, do you ask for a proposal there or for one to be sent by email? I’ve read several different blogs and some say take one, others say don’t.
Thanks
Michelle Ule
Janet is traveling today so I’ll be answering questions for her.
When B&S agents attend writers conferences and see a project they’re interested in, they’ll tell you how they want to receive it. If it’s a query, please e-mail. If it’s a proposal, please send it to our Mission Circle address. But remember, don’t send a proposal unless it has been requested.
If you’ve been invited to send a proposal and have questions, see our webpage (submissions) or contact us.
We don’t bite. 🙂
And we already eat too much chocolate . . . 🙂
Sue Gollbach
Very informative. Thank you!!
Rich Gerberding
A key thing I’ve recently learned is my tendency to say too much in the proposal.
I realized that I’d been trying to answer too many questions with the proposal.
Rather than providing the hook, structure, and basics, I was trying to get too many points in, and answer possible follow up questions, rather than letting the proposal trigger the interest and discussion.
As always, a few more tweaks to go. Luckily we’re snowed in so I have some time to work on it.
Looking forward to Denver next week and the Writing for the Soul conference.
(BTW, even though a guy, I greatly enjoyed No More Christian Nice Girl – recommend reading both it and No More Christian Nice Guy to anyone, particularly couples to see how the two together can really create issues.)
Wendy
So many thoughts.
First, Michelle, I’m stuck inside because of the snow and I’ve been eating way too much chocolate today! (Just had to put that out there.)
Second, I love your client’s idea to visit knitting shops. So creative. Can’t wait to share similar ideas that work for my novel with an agent.
Third, do you like it when authors include a list of contacts in the proposal? Does it make a difference?
Yeah chocolate!
~ Wendy
Sue Gollbach
Hi Michelle,
I always appreciate your clarifications!
Perhaps you can help me. I had a question yesterday but it did not get addressed (probably because it was too vague). My WIP is about external beauty vs internal beauty. My main character’s appearance is despised by the world standards but not by God’s. I wanted to title the novel Beautiful? What are your thoughts about using the question mark. I have never seen it done. However, it creates interest and hints to the conflict and depth in the novel.
Sue
Tanya Cunningham
Yes, I need to work on my proposal. I did know the basics, such as personalizing your query letter, addressing it to a specific agent, and including your target audience, but the marketing aspect is what I’m currently working on. I’ve been able to come up with some ideas and am excited to figure it out on paper. I love the examples you gave. Thanks!
sally apokedak
Well I think Christian Nice Girl sounds like a much needed book and it sounds like it will be interesting and easy to read, too.
My question is about the marketing. I’ve read that you don’t want to say, “I will speak at women’s groups if you’ll publish me,” but “I already speak at women’s groups.” IOWs most authors are willing to speak to promote, but what you need to show is that you know how to get speaking invitations.
So is the knitting club deal included because it is out of the ordinary and shows that the author has given thought to creative marketing?
Carrie Schmeck
Thank you for the insight. It helps to know what goes on behind those Agent Walls.
Working on the polish,
CS
Donna Perugini
Just went and ordered 2 copies of NO MORE CHRISTIAN NICE GIRL. Everything about the proposal was ‘smart’.
This whole posting has so much creativity tied up in it. Just grabbing on to one idea will be like jumping on to a rolling freight train.
Thanks!
Sarah Thomas
This is so helpful! The one area I’ve really struggled with is audience. Initially, I think I made it too broad, but now I’m worried it’s too narrow. Is it better to have a general audience (90% of women who call themselves Christian) or to be very specific (Christian Baby Boomers caught between caring for children and aging parents). Of course, I realize the audience had better be the actual audience that will find the book appealing . . .
Lindsay A. Franklin
Michelle, is there such a thing as too much chocolate? 😉
Michelle Ule
Sue– I wouldn’t have a problem with a question mark in the title, though off the top of my head I can’t recall seeing one . . . How Shall We Now Then Live, perhaps?
It actually makes me more interested in the book–is she beautiful or not?–and curious to find out more. So, you’d catch me with that title.
Sarah–a little more specificity can’t hurt because it tells the publisher up front at whom the book is aimed. One of the questions we get asked is “what felt need does this book address?” Your example answers that question.
Sally–You need to show what you already are doing; the publishers are curious if you have any sort of a platform–absolutely necessary for non-fiction and possibly pertinent for fiction.
As to the possibility of too much chocolate–several of us have to visit the gym regularly for that very reason . . . 🙂
Jessica R. Patch
Thanks, Michelle, for answering my question!
Jill Kemerer
I would really like to read No More Christian Nice Girl–you sold me! Sounds wonderful!
Thanks for all of the great advice here. I always learn something new.
Brian T. Carroll
This is one of those posts I will need to revisit when I’ve reached that point in the project. Thanks, Janet & Michelle.
Lenore Buth
Janet, you’ve clarified a number of issues I’ve been wondering about. Thanks.
Caroline
I agree with Brian; this post is yet another I’m saving to reference again and again. Thank you all for your kindness in helping us aspiring writers.
I have another question to add on to Sally’s question about marketing and Michelle’s answer. So, for the marketing section, we should definitely show what we already are doing in regards to building a platform. In addition to that, should you also state ideas you have for promoting the book in the future? Or ONLY what you are already doing? (I couldn’t tell if the knitting club idea in Janet’s example was proposed or had already been set into motion.)
Thank you for the clarification!
Larry B Gray
Thanks for another informative blog. Every day I read and learn so much about this fascinating industry from the various blogs and the associated comments. I usually read them in the morning and they help motivate me to do more and push forward with my writing. Thanks
Michelle Ule
Caroline–The marketing section of your proposal needs to be honest, clear and pointed. I’d start out with what you already are doing–blogging, speaking at MOPS, attending genealogical society meetings that deal with your time period, whatever. That shows how invested you already are, published or not.
Then you should include what you can do and are interested in doing for marketing purposes once you are contracted. You may be homebound and not able to do much–one of our most successful authors does little promotion for example because of circumstances–you could state that, but then you should list what you can do.
This is particularly important if you have a creative idea like the knitting tour, or circumstances like, you’ve written a bio of George Washington and you’ll be the keynote speaker at the George Washington tri-centennial events (I’m making this up).
Whatever is pertinent. Just don’t include things you cannot do (“I’ll tour all the cappuccino shops in Italy and give speeches about my ‘history of coffee’ book.” Another bad example).
Caroline
Michelle – Thank you for your response to my question! You answered exactly what I needed to know. I appreciate your time and advice!
Cheryl Malandrinos
I never would have thought of using bullet points in a proposal. Thanks for a great article. I feel queries are very tough to write.
Cheryl