Path to Traditional Pub - Whatcom County Writers group - 06-26-2024.pdf

Tips for getting your novel, memoir, or nonfiction book traditionally published. Presentation for Whatcom County Writers June 2024

1. The path to traditional
publication
Lessons learned from my
publishing journey
Kathy Wagner
@KWagnerWrites
www.kwagnerwrites.com

2. Hi!

3. Traditional vs
self-publishing?
There is NO bad guy!

4. Traditional publishing
Pros Cons
Paid on acceptance Limited control over some aspects of book
Publisher pays all publishing costs Earn much lower royalties on each book sold
Professional quality publication No guarantee you’ll find a publisher
Wider distribution and reach Can take a long time
Sales support Do not retain all rights
Marketing and publicity support Possibility of a difference of opinion
Access to more (prestigious) festivals and
awards
Industry credibility

6. Establishing platform and credibility
If you’re a social media influencer, fantastic! But you don’t need
20,000 TikTok followers.
You DO need to demonstrate that your writing is marketable and
that you can reach your audience.
Find your strengths and interests and lean into them! Start today.

7. Establishing platform and credibility
•Publish as much as you can in reputable literary and/or popular magazines,
newspapers, journals.
•Target publications that reflect the style or substance of your upcoming book.
•If you’re writing nonfiction, become an expert (here, a “following” is especially
important)
•Submit your writing to contests.
•Join in-person and social media communities of interest. Be part of the
conversation!
Blogs and newsletters? Sure, but unless you have thousands of followers, they won’t
help you get a publishing deal. Quality publications and connections will.

8. Preparing your manuscript
•Fiction and memoir manuscripts must be complete, revised (and
revised and revised and revised and revised), and polished.
•Nonfiction must have a full outline and few complete and
polished chapters.
If you think that you could make it better, then make it better.

9. Preparing your manuscript
Ways to ensure a quality manuscript:
•Critique groups
•Beta readers
•Editors (developmental, line level, proofreaders)
•“Blue pencil” reviews

10. Putting together your proposal package
 Comp titles
 Length & delivery
 Structure and TOC
 Chapter summaries
 Sample chapters
What’s in a proposal?
 Overview/rationale
 Synopsis
 Author bio
 Target audience
 Marketing & promotion
 Series potential

12. Proposal package: example

13. Proposal package:
example

14. Targeting agents or publishers
Benefits of having an agent Benefits of querying publishers
directly
Access to “Big 5” book publishers Considered faster and easier than getting an agent
Editorial support prior to submitting to
publishers
Niche publishers may have direct access to your
market
Industry expertise & connections in selling to
publishers
Do not lose any percentage (~15%) of royalties to
agent
Experienced author advocate when reviewing
and negotiating contracts
Industry professional to champion your book
through its entire lifecycle
Agent or publisher?

15. Beware of
predators

16. Reputable agents
and traditional
publishers DO NOT:
•Ask for money. Ever.
•Make an offer without reading a full
manuscript and having a
phone/video call.
•Rush you into a contract.
•Rely on verbal agreements.
•Offer you (and charge for) an ad-on
package for marketing and publicity.
•Provide sales guarantees.

17. Targeting agents or publishers
•Do your research. Don’t send out generic, blanket emails.
•Target agents/publishers who sell/publish books similar to yours.
•Be sure they are accepting submissions.
•Meticulously follow submission guidelines.
•Select an agent/publisher that you have good connection with.

18. Targeting agents or publishers: Resources
•Publishers Marketplace (Agent/publisher research and tracking)
•Query Tracker (Agent/publisher research and tracking)
•Duotrope (Agent/publisher research and tracking)
•The Shit No One Tells You About Writing (Podcast and newsletter)
•Carly Watters (Agent on Instagram)
•Your library or bookstore shelves (for publishers of similar books)
•Authors Publish Magazine/Newsletter (Publisher database,
reviews, resources)

19. Query letters
•Show you’re a good writer!
•Be brief. Very, very brief (Max 450 words, and less is more).
•Follow query guidelines meticulously.
•Always include these elements:
•Logistics: Your book’s genre/category, word count, title/subtitle
•A hook/description of your story
•Author’s bio
•Thank you & closing
•Customize and personalize when meaningful.

20. Query
letters:
Example
Logistics
Hook
Description
Rationale/
Audience
Bio
Closing
~380 words

21. Tracking your queries

22. Setting expectations
•Agents and traditional publishers get far more submissions than
they accept.
•Most books submitted do not get traditionally published.
•Most traditionally published authors don’t make much, if any,
money.
•Everything takes time. Be prepared for a marathon, not a sprint.
•Rejections may hurt and wear you down. Don’t take it personally.
•Resource when you need a dose of positive realism:
Desperate Writer
https://rachelrosewritesprose.substack.com/

23. The offer!
•Don’t let your excitement
impede common sense!
•Have your contract
professionally reviewed.
Check out
National Writers Union:
Contract Advice

24. Getting permissions and blurbs
•This is on YOU!
•Reach out for permissions to use quotes from other artists ASAP.
•Permissions cost money— your money.
•It’s often easier to rewrite to avoid quotes.
•Personal connections to blurbers work better than random
outreach.
•Don’t limit yourself. Dream big.

25. Getting permissions and blurbs
Dream blurb brought you by connections and luck.

26. YOU will still need
to market your book
By the way:
You can buy Here With You wherever you
buy your books!
Also, ask for it at your library, review it, share it, gift it, talk
about it.
Oh, did you know I have a book club guide?
But seriously, PLEASE leave a review. If you don’t mind. If it’s not too much trouble.
I mean:
I have a fantastic book
club guide! Grab a set of
four books for you and
your friends and please
leave reviews!

27. Questions?
Find me on
Instagram or Facebook
@KWagnerWrites
www.KWagnerWrites.com
Find my book,
Here With You: A Memoir of
Love, Family, and Addiction,
wherever you get your books.