When to contact an agent

pmadams · Jul 6, 2009

I am not new to writing, but unfortunately I am new to publishing and the whole process. What I did not know when I started my book is that you are supposed to send proposals before you write your book. So, one of my books is now around 30,000 words and I am wondering if I try to contact some agents now or do I wait till it is complete?

susangpyp · Jul 6, 2009

For non-fiction you'll need a proposal that includes competition and marketing sections. For me that was harder than writing the book (mine was more than halfway done when I started in on the proposal).

pmadams · Jul 7, 2009

Thanks, Susan!

jwallace · Jul 9, 2009

Nonfic book proposal

susangpyp said:
For non-fiction you'll need a proposal that includes competition and marketing sections. For me that was harder than writing the book (mine was more than halfway done when I started in on the proposal).

One thing I learned in my research about the proposal was that having other books already published in your niche is a good thing--books that didn't have any titles published in that area makes it a harder sell. I don't think it is impossible to sell but the marketing and spin you put on one of those is going to be crucial, methinks.

susangpyp · Jul 9, 2009

jwallace said:
One thing I learned in my research about the proposal was that having other books already published in your niche is a good thing--books that didn't have any titles published in that area makes it a harder sell. I don't think it is impossible to sell but the marketing and spin you put on one of those is going to be crucial, methinks.

That's absolutely true. If something hasn't been written that would be competition for your book, there's a problem.

When to contact an agent

pmadams

susangpyp

pmadams

jwallace

susangpyp