4 Questions to Answer Before Contacting a Book Agent

Obtaining agency representation is your first step toward getting profitably published. Most publishers won't even look at unsolicited manuscripts.

But, before approaching an agent to represent you, you should finalize the presentation of your book.

Agents don't have time to waste dealing with publishing 'wannabees' who don't have, and may never have, a concrete project to represent. To busy agents, dreams don't make it.

If you approach an agent before you're prepared, you may never be able to contact them again. They'll consider you a 'dreamer' and disregard you emails and phone calls.

Elevator Speech

Before approaching an agent, prepare an 'elevator speech' describing your project in the less than thirty-seconds it takes for an average elevator ride. If you can't, your project probably isn't ready for prime time.

Your elevator speech must answer four major questions:

• What is your book about?

• Who is going to buy it?

• How does it differ from existing books on the subject?

• How are you going to promote it?

1. What is your book about?

Finalize your book's title and contents before contacting an agent.

The title is crucial to your book's success. It must attract the attention of acquisition editors, book reviewers, bookstore managers, web surfers and readers. The title is often your one ? and only ? chance to make a sale.

Finalize your book's table of contents and prepare a brief description of the contents of each chapter. You should also know how long your book is going to be and the number of illustrations, graphics or worksheet

Prepare two ? three, if you're a first-time author ? sample chapters and hire a professional editor to fine-tune them. It's better to show three perfect chapters than a finished manuscript filled with spelling errors.

You don't have to write your whole book before approaching agents. And your sample chapters don't have to begin with the first chapter, nor do they have to be in sequence. But, they must represent your writing at its best.

2. Who's going to buy your book?

Next, show that there is a reachable market for your book.

Strive for urgency. Describe the market intrigued by, or frustrated by, your book's topic. What symptoms does your book help solve? How many people share the problem? What are the consequences of the problem your book addresses?

Quantify your book's market in terms of buying power, willingness to buy books and ability to be reached through associations or publications.

3. How will your book be different?

Next, position your book relative to existing books on the topic. Existing books on the same topic are a plus, not a minus. They prove there is a market for books on the subject.

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of existing books?

• Why will readers choose your book over existing books?

This section offers you an opportunity to describe your background and how it contributes to your book.

4. How will you promote your book?

Promotion is your responsibility, not the publisher's. Your ability to promote your book is as important as your ability to write your book.

Start by identifying book reviewers and editorial contacts who can help promote your book. List publications that might run an extract from your book. Research producers who book guests for radio and TV interviews.

Discuss your speaking experience and willingness to travel to support your book. Describe how you will promote your book on your web site.

List authorities in your field who have offered to write a foreword or provide you with cover testimonials.

Agents are busy. To the extent you can sell your book idea as a realistic possibility in thirty seconds and can support your answers with research and strong sample chapters, you are well on your way to success.

After you've been successfully published, you may be able to sell a book on just the basis of an email. But for now, you must be fully prepared.

About The Author

Roger C. Parker is the $32,000,000 author with over 1.6 million copies in print. Do you make these marketing and design mistakes? Find out at www.gmarketing-design.com

---

Does Your Book Cover Pass the ?Ignore? Test?

Your book cover is the first impression a potential client... Read More

How to Get Your Book Reviewed

Imagine your book at the top of the Best Sellers... Read More

Book Titles that Make Big Bucks

Do you know how readers decide to buy a book?... Read More

Super Profitable Techniques for Selling Books By Mail

The total number of books sold by small, part-time mail... Read More

Three Powerful Tips on Selecting a Book Topic that Sells

The topic of your book or eBook counts-big time. Which... Read More

Poetry Chapbooks: Ten Tips for Promotion

There are several ways of publishing your chapbook. You can... Read More

Writers: The Truth About Advertising, Publicity, and PR

Many of us are trying to do business and don't... Read More

Publicity for Buzz Marketing for Authors

Congratulations, you've written a book and even gotten it published!... Read More

Book Marketing 101 for the Self-Published Author -- Getting Started

No matter what any publisher or marketing company tells you... Read More

How to Create an Amazing Author Website

Without a website, an author is unknown. Without a website,... Read More

Know These Five Audiences to Write a Top Selling Book

To create a saleable book you need to know your... Read More

Colour and Book Covers - What You Should Know if Youre Self-Publishing

Color is tricky at the best of times. If you... Read More

Sell More Books With an E-mail Newsletter

NOTE: Because many words in this article are likely to... Read More

Discover 3 Easy Ways to Promote Your Articles

Are you using these methods to promote your articles?If not,... Read More

What Service Do You Need to Make your Book Sell?

Whether you are just starting or almost finished with your... Read More

Creating a Book Poster

Posters can be a great and inexpensive way to promote... Read More

Get Rich Writing Fiction

Some of us write simply because we can't not write.... Read More

Are You Ready For The Publishing Revolution?

Writing has traditionally been considered a solitary craft. You wrote... Read More

Plays Well With Others to Become an Instant Author

You wrote a tips booklet. Maybe more than one. Oh... Read More

Raise Your Hand If Youd Consider Giving Up The Rights To Your Book Forever

If Random House pulls up to your house with a... Read More

Your Book Marketing Plan - Winning Strategies and Tips

Many authors hit a roadblock when it comes to putting... Read More

Online Book Promotion Beats Traditional Seven to One - Part 2

Think of Your Promotion Time and BudgetMost one or two-book... Read More

Why Writers Dont Do a Book Signing

Whenever someone suggests you do a book signing and you... Read More

Plain Speaking ? 4 Secrets For Getting Your Book Purchased

What can be more infuriating to a potential purchaser of... Read More

7 Vital Book Promotion Tips

As a literary publicist I often am asked about publicity... Read More

Top Ten Basics on Internet Article Writing to Promote your Book

Whether you have already written articles and published them or... Read More

How to Market Your Unsold Books on the Internet: Its Easy

Your book expresses your wondrous information, your creativity, and your... Read More

How a Book is Born: One Authors Story

Not all books come out whole, all at once. In... Read More

Never Pay Full Price for a Book!

Are you an avid reader? Are you trying to instill... Read More

Successful Book Marketing The Natural Way - Part 2

Is your mind muddy on book marketing? Do you wake... Read More

Is Traditional Book Marketing Getting you Down?

"Are you disappointed and tired of time and money down... Read More

Increase Book Sales: When a Book is No Longer Just a Book for Sale

Do you have books sitting in your garage that you... Read More

How To Market A Suspense Novel In An Online Multimedia Format

If you haven't heard of the author C.F. Jackson or... Read More