Selling your book to a publisher can open more doors for you than you could ever imagine. But most publishers receive over 850 manuscripts a month, so the competition is high. Addressing these 10 problem areas will help your manuscript rise to the top!
1. Failing to hook the reader (agent) in the first sentence of your query letter or first paragraph in your manuscript.
What can you write that will get an agent to immediately raise an eyebrow with interest?
2. Not showing compelling differentiation.
In your query letter, convey what makes your book stand out from others in its class.
3. Weak words.
Weak words include: go, get, was, have, did, made, were, went, got, this (at start of sentence when used in place of a noun or phrase), etc. Go through your manuscript and replace weak words with words of greater value.
4. Failing to create visual pictures in a reader’s mind.
Read each sentence in your manuscript. Have you created a clear visual picture for the reader with your words?
5. Saying you know your book will be a bestseller.
Unless you’ve written books before that have become bestsellers, never claim this in your query letter. Agents will roll their eyeballs and throw your work out immediately.
6. Writing in present tense.
Writing in present tense is rarely appropriate in a manuscript and makes agents cringe.
7. Not having your query letter and manuscript professionally edited.
Agents expect to receive polished work. Gone are the days when manuscripts could be submitted in draft form. The competition is too high. Have your work professionally edited.
8. Not having your query letter, manuscript, and book proposal professionally reviewed.
You can’t possibly know what agents are looking for or what publishers are buying right now unless you are receiving feedback from them on a constant basis like we are. Always work with a professional.
9. Assuming your book is great and saying you absolutely know it is going to sell because your friends, your mother, a teacher, or a librarian told you they love it.
Just about everybody you share your work with will tell you they love it. However, unless they are pitching books to agents and publishers, they don’t know what the agents are looking for, or what publishers are buying right now. Seek professional advice.
10. Saying that you will build a website, blog, or social media presence before your book comes out.
Do these things BEFORE you approach an agent or publisher. Build your numbers (fans, website visitors, etc.) now. The more fans (numbers) you can show, the better your chances of being offered a contract.