book submissions
Advice from Greenleaf's Review Desk: Be Polite
July 20, 2009
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by Katie Steigman
Tip #4: Be Polite—9 Out of 10 Agents and Publishers Prefer It!
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of your book. You think to yourself, “I need to get this published now! Quick! This book is groundbreaking! There’s no time for protocol or politesse!”
Or is there?
Take a deep breath and think about who you’re dealing with. Whether it’s an agent, a publisher, or a distributor you’re inquiring to them for help and you need them on your side. Being demanding, inflexible, or just flat out rude probably won’t get you very far. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re thinking about how to interact with an agent, publisher, or distributor.
1. There are authors who insist that their book will be the big bestseller or the next great American novel. Now that’s not to say yours isn’t, but realize that agents, editors, and submission departments hear the same thing all day long, and insisting on the genius of your book probably won’t win you much notice or favor.
2. Follow-up is important, and persistence is an admirable quality, but pestering probably won’t yield the desired outcome for your book. Remember that many companies and agents have a process in place to review incoming submissions and that they will often notify you of their decision. In the case that there is no notification system in place, be as kind and understanding as possible and try and have a reasonable expectation for wait time.
3. Be polite. Maybe this seems obvious, but I can tell you that a lack of consideration and manners in general is something I experience in our submissions department from time to time. Sometimes it takes that little extra push to get that “accepted” status, and having people on the inside rooting for you can go a long way. Honey catches more flies than vinegar, right?
Think about it from their (our) perspective: would you want to enter into a long-term business relationship with someone who makes your life difficult? I bet not. I would like to acknowledge though, it is a two-way street—agents, publishers, and distributors owe the same respect to authors, and often don’t keep the lines of communication open, as they should.
If you don’t care what your publisher thinks about you, consider your readers—wouldn’t we all rather read books written by nice people?
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Submit and Get Noticed: Advice from Greenleaf's Review Desk
January 20, 2009
by Katie Steigman
Tip #1: Tweak Cover Design Conventions—But Don't Discard Them Entirely
Business books don’t look like self-help books don’t look like fiction. This may seem obvious to some, but it is a common problem I see when we're evaluating new books for publication or distribution. When consumers want to buy a business book, for example, they expect certain imagery, fonts, colors, and layout styles, whether they realize it or not. The best-selling business books often use large, simple fonts and bright colors to keep the focus on the title (like this or this).
If your book cover or layout doesn’t make sense for its genre, it could hurt your sales.
That means that it might be a better idea not to make the cover of a book about investing neon pink with pictures of your dog, no matter what your artistic sensibilities are. Now that’s not to discourage innovation—there is always a new and better way to do things. The mold can be broken, but for new authors this can pose a risk (although sometimes ugly covers work). Whatever the case, choosing a genre-appropriate cover will signal credibility and familiarity to customers, which can translate into more sales.
A quick way to get some ideas is to go to Amazon or your local bookstore to check out titles similar to yours that are selling well. Notice the styling of other books, what imagery they use, and what that conveys to you as the reader. If you like what you see, figure out a way to adapt those principles to your cause. A book can stand out to buyers by employing creative cover art and a well-thought-out interior while staying within the bounds of the genre.
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Katie Steigman reviews Greenleaf’s submissions for market viability and helps determine what books to take on as projects at GBG. She reads everything—the good, the bad, the ugly, and all genres from personal finance to cookbooks.
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