Submissions Masterclass ~ Week Three

Every publisher and agent has certain guidelines to follow for submissions, and it seems like every single one is different. We promise, this is not a worldwide ploy to annoy all authors. It’s actually important to follow the submissions format exactly. As a publisher, we can say that our inboxes are so full we can barely get to our day-to-day emails. Because of that, we like to have the submissions all come in, in the same format, to make it easier to recognize those books we love. Once you’ve followed the guidelines for that particular publisher or agent, here are three tips to help you when you submit:

1.     Make sure the publisher/agent works in your genre. You’ll want to take a hard look at what the publisher/agent is publishing. Where are their books published? Are they traditional, digital, or a hybrid? Do they publish other books that would fit on the same bookshelf as your manuscript? Don’t waste your time and theirs by sending something that doesn’t fit what they publish/represent.

2.     Be sure that your conflict is clear and your story line has sellable elements. Does it take place in a snowy village? Is it a coming-of-age story? Do you have a unique spin on best friends? Hone in on what makes your story marketable by focusing on the elements that would catch a reader’s eye at a bookstore.

3.     In your pitch, focus on a basic structure: Who is the main character, what do they want or need, what happens to them to prevent them from getting what they want, and finally, how do they get to their happy ending?

Wishing you luck and good news as you submit!