So, You Think Your Book has Broad Appeal

I promised more advice so here goes. You think your book will appeal to the masses, not just neighbors and kin. Great. So what comes next?

While there are some publishers out there who do still accept unsolicited manuscripts directly from authors I suggest using an agent. An agent is your advocate, someone aside from you who believes in you, your writing and your book. That alone tells a publisher that at least two people like your writing! An agent wants to get you the best deal possible, especially since they're getting a percentage of your paycheck (usually around 15%). Since most agents represent multiple authors they also have clout within the publishing industry and can pitch your work to the houses that best suit your work. As in all businesses there is a hierarchy of agents. The more exclusive agents work for the higher paid authors. So you might have to trade up as your career progresses, unless your agent is able to move with you. But take that step as it comes.

How do I find an agent? This can be tricky if you don't have any inside connections in the publishing industry. My first agent actually called me. He was representing Ted Dekker at the time and I was Ted's editor. Ted had simply told him about me. My current agent was a coworker at Bethany House Publishers so I know him well and trust him implicitly. I realize most of you aren't in this situation, so here's your best bet.

Create a really good proposal--that's first no matter what. That's where your critical critiquer comes in. We can go into detail later about what constitutes a really good proposal. Then send your proposal to reputable agents or pitch it to them at writers' conferences.

There are several ways to find "reputable agents":

• Sally Stuart's Christian Writer's Market Guide, updated yearly, lists agents, publishers and their current needs, all kinds of useful resources for the up and coming author as does its American Booksellers counterpart the Writer's Market Guide. Keep these books on your shelf and read them regularly; they're a huge help. If you do contact an agent, ask for references of other authors these folks have represented and contact the authors to find out their experience with this agent.
• Visit writers' conferences. Not only can you learn a lot about the craft of writing from gifted authors, many agents attend and set up tables where authors can pitch their titles, (as do some acquisitions editors from the major publishing houses). Here are some conferences to choose from:

American Christian Fiction Writers

Mount Herman

Glorietta

Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference

Blue Ridge Mountains Writers' Conference

Sandy Cove Christian Writers' Conference

Christian Writers' Info Net--this lists multiple conferences across the nation

As does this one...

• Look in the credits of books similar in style/genre to yours. Often authors will thank their agents in the front acknowledgments. Then Google them to find out more about the agent's credentials and openness to new authors. This also works for discovering the names of key people in the publishing houses--it gives you a name to call or address! Sneaky, I know, but it works.

Be bold. When you approach an agent, tell them that you want to be NYT bestseller material. (Unless you're writing something with a very narrow market--then you'll just look silly. But then who knew Eats, Shoots and Leaves would be a bestseller?) You are a salesperson now, so talk the big talk. And believe what you're saying, otherwise your words will ring false.

A couple notes, when you do find that agent and have checked out their references, be sure there's an "exit clause" in your contract stating that you can get out of the agreement within a reasonable amount of time. If your contract is with a larger agency and not just your agent, you may end up having to work with someone you don't know if the agent decides to leave the parent company. Also, good agents never charge you extra fees. If the agent wants cash for sending out proposals or up-front money, send them packing. Better to work without an agent than with these folks. Good agents charge a flat percentage of what they sell. They pay to print and send proposals themselves, it's part of their investment in you. If the agent doesn't believe enough to foot the $5.00 postage bill what are the odds they'll get you a good deal at contract time?

Next week we'll talk about the long wait to acceptance.

More later,

Traci DePree