What the Heck are Publishers Looking For?
Tips for Selling a Book to the Literary World
Jul 26, 2009
“This project just doesn’t excite me,” “We’re not accepting new authors at this time,” “Thank you, but we’re just not sufficiently interested.” Even the best writers have heard all the same old excuses a hundred times - dozens of nice, polite responses that all amount to the same exact thing: rejection. For any writer, it’s a crushing blow to receive yet another “thanks but no thanks” letter, no matter how flowery or nicely that phrase is offered. What the heck are publishers looking for, anyway? Learn a few tips for selling a book to the literary world at large.
The Priorities of a Book Publisher
Hasn’t every single writer read a sentence in a book that made them actually wince? Hasn’t every writer spotted scathing grammatical errors, gaping holes in plots, plenty of other problems in published materials? So why are so many writers stymied when they try to publish books of their own? If publishers don’t necessarily want perfection, then what the heck do they want? Want to learn tips to break into the book business? Learn how a publisher looks at the book market.
Tips for Selling a Book to a Publisher
Want to sell a book to a publisher? Learn how to nail the three Ms that they’re searching for:
- Marketability. No matter they might say to the contrary, a book publisher’s first priority is marketability. This means it’s the writer’s job to produce something that will sell, and in turn convince the publisher that they do have something that will sell well.
- Mass appeal. Books that appeal to a very wide audience - like, everyone - have a much better chance of success. Writing specifically toward a group might mean writing off many publishers in the process.
- Memorability. That’s not actually a word, but that’s not the point. Publishers want books that people will remember and relate to - and that’s very important. No one wants to produce a book that’s just going to blend into the shelves, so create something that will stand out in readers’ minds.
When a writer learns how to nail the three Ms - marketability, mass appeal and memorability - they have a much better shot of giving publishers exactly what they want…and snagging that book deal that’s been so elusive in the past.
What Book Publishers are Looking For
Taking the three Ms into account, publishers are of course also looking for an entertaining, engaging and easy-to-read book. Tell a story that appeals to people, and tell it in a simple, straightforward manner that’s easy to grasp. Remember that the majority of people do not read above an eighth grade education level. Writers don’t need to wow publishers or readers with their use of language, just with their ability to impart a great tale.
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