By Eva Shaw, Ph.D.
Every year in the US, more than 60,000 new books are presented to readers. There’s never been any study, but one would imagine at any given time there are about five times that many writers working on books, completing manuscripts, contacting agents and pitching their proposals to publishers. Most fail.
The majority of these books that do not make it to the
bookstore fail because of SEVEN reasons. To “bullet proof”
your book, so it’s not shot down before an agent or editor
has finished reading the manuscript, review these tips. Then
if necessary change your “game plan.”
Confusion. Emerging authors do not have a clear view of
the entire book and mix format, construction, thesis, structure
and points of view. Books have categories, or genres, and
too often emerging authors do not study the genre that they're
targeting OR they change genres while writing. This
doesn't mean one needs to be a copycat, rather by reading the
genre to be targeted one becomes familiar with length, structure
and concept. Before offering a manuscript to an agent or
publisher, clearly know the genre and where your book will be
placed on the bookstore shelf.
Lack of original insight. It's been said, "There's nothing
new under the sun." As that's the case, smart authors
discover ways to twist the "old stuff" and make it fresh.
What's your twist? Check the competition for your intended
book. Make your book out of the ordinary. Be able to
tell a publisher, agent or editor about your book in 25 works or
less.
Poor or ineffective research. If you're in doubt about the
authenticity of anything in your book, whether it's fiction or
nonfiction, double check. Readers demand truth; publishers
are leery of unsubstantiated claims.
In sufficient self-editing. You really can do all or most
of the editing yourself. Put your book away to cool and
then keeping a copy, ruthlessly edit out anything that doesn't
strongly support your book. Hint: Look for redundancy or
repetition. Readers, publishers and agents do not need to
be told things twice. That last sentence was an example of
sneaky redundancy. Not a native English speaker or want
some sight? Hire a reputable editor.
"Hookless" beginning or lackluster end. Every chapter of
your book must hook the reader. This takes skill with
nonfiction and fiction. The end must fulfill the promises
you've proposed in the text and support thesis. It must be
done in a creative, fresh way.
Lack of perseverance. To have your manuscript accepted, you must
continue to pitch it in a query letter or as requested by the
publisher or agent. Editors at publishing houses and agents do
not read minds, nor do they, quite possibly, even know you have
a book to market. Make contacts, present your ideas (in 25 words
or less), and keep at it. Writing is not for wimps. If you’ve
“bullet proofed” your book with the above recommendations and it
is rejected, it probably has NOTHING to do with you. It simply
means you have it simply means you have yet to find the right
publisher to recognize the book’s worth.
The list of best-selling books that were rejected again and
again is shocking.
- Dubliners by James Joyce
- Mash by Richard Hooker
- Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison by Charles Shaw
- Kon-Tiki : Across the Pacific by Raft by Thor Heyerdahl
- Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
- The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
- Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Hansen and Canfield
- Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis
- The Peter Principle by Laurence Peter
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling
- Peter Rabbit series, Beatrix Potter
- 60-Second Shiatzu, Eva Shaw
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