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6 Questions to Consider Before You Pitch Your Next Manuscript
Think like a “bookseller” before you sell your book.
When pitching a manuscript, a good story is all you need.
Or is it?
Unfortunately, a compelling tale, a pulse-pounding plot, or a mesmerizing memoir is not enough in today’s publishing marketplace. Publishers need their booklist to have significant sales and a strong life cycle. This begins with you. In other words, can you, the author, deliver the goods — status, grit, distinction, and voice? It’s business, plain and simple. And unless you’re willing to do the heavy lifting before, during, and after you’ve landed a book contract, odds are you’ll end up a one-hit wonder.
Being an author is running a business.
Though this takes valuable time away from your writing, focusing on a few strategic areas makes the “business of being an author” easier. One of the best approaches is to think like a bookseller. They know what readers want, which books sell, and why. Then, when you’re ready to pitch your manuscript, you’ll not only reassure the publisher you’re in this for the long haul, but you’ll get a leg up on your competition.
To help you craft a compelling pitch and bestseller marketing plan, consider the following six questions:
