You've worked hard for months, maybe years, to write an incredible book, and you want to get your book published—now what?
Here are five steps:
Step one: This first step may seem pretty obvious, but it's important. You have to finish your manuscript. Generally, pitching a book idea is for seasoned authors who already have a publisher. So if you aren't in that category, which I assume you are not because you are reading this... you need to complete your whole manuscript before pitching it to a publisher. Your manuscript needs to be complete and thoroughly edited by you and, if possible, by a professional. Your manuscript doesn't need to be perfect, but it does need to be polished.
Step Two: To use an agent, or to not use an agent; that is the question. Most of the top publishing houses, such as Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group, and Macmillan Publishers, require an agent to pitch for you, meaning you cannot pitch to them directly. How do you find an agent, you ask? Query Tracker is the perfect place to start. It's a free online website where you can search for agents who are looking for clients in your genre. Agents can also review contracts and give you direct feedback, but some publishing houses do not require them, such as Maiden Press, Shadow Mountain, Cedar Fort, and Noble House Press, to name a few.
Step Three:
Know who you are pitching to! I can’t reiterate this enough. Do your homework! This part is vital. Don't pitch fantasy to publishers that only want romance, and vice versa. Is the publishing house open to public submissions, meaning you don't need an agent? If not, does their website list a date indicating when they are? If you are looking for a more direct route, writing conferences are a great option! Many author conferences, whether that be in person or online, offer 'fast pitches' where an author can pitch or submit their story to a potential publisher. Here is a list of some organizations that offer a yearly conference...
- SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators): Made for children and young adult authors. This organization holds multiple conferences depending on what you register for, including several online ones you can attend.
- LDSPMA (Latter-day Saints in Publishing, Media and the Arts): Created to bring people from the publishing, media, and art industries together. Primarily members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but all are welcome holds a conference in Orem, Utah, every October and is a great place to meet and pitch to publishers and agents.
- AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs): Hosted every year in Chicago and virtually, bringing together authors, teachers, editors, and students.
Step Four:
Prepare for the pitch...Start with a good query letter. The query letter is where you can highlight your book in a one-page summary of facts and story. Two extremely helpful books on this process are Write Fearless, Edit Smart, Get Published by Lisa Magnum and Write Your Best Novel by Erin Mindes, Stephanie Moore, and Paige Sommer.
Happy Reading!!
Night Nook Books