very basic question - gift books

errantruth · Aug 9, 2009

Hey!

I apologize if this is the most basic question ever, or if the answer's somewhere in here already--I didn't find it.

Where do gift books fall in the non-fiction equation? Ie little fun yet informative books. What ought someone know before writing one or while writing one? Is there a different process to submitting/selling these? Are there word counts? Other info?

If everything's covered here somewhere, please let me know.

And thanks for your patience.

happywritermom · Aug 11, 2009

I know it's been covered on here somewhere, but I'm not sure where to find the thread. Several smaller publishers specialize in gift books and most of those you can submit to directly (no agent). Hopefully, someone else will chime in. Perhaps you could post on Round Table? This part of the forum is pretty slow.

errantruth · Aug 11, 2009

Thanks, Lori -- I appreciate your advice on both the book and also the thread!

I'll keep searching and see if I can't get the thread moved.

Thanks again,
~ Ruth

Old Hack · Aug 13, 2009

The gift book market is very specialised; most publishers who deal in them have very specific requirements for subject matter and level of content (some want frivolous funny stuff, others want more serious books); if you know a range you think you could fit into, then as Lori wrote you can often approach them direct with your proposal (for gift books, you could even consider a list of proposed titles along with your main proposal). Good luck!

errantruth · Aug 13, 2009

Thanks, Old Hack!!! I appreciate the information.

I'm doing the research now and then an outline. I'll build the proposal from that. Do you know at what point one goes to them usually?

I really appreciate your insight.

And thanks for your good wishes, too.

THANK YOU.

very basic question - gift books

errantruth

happywritermom

errantruth

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

errantruth