Whether you pitch to an agent or publisher, both will offer you advice on how they think your first draft can be improved. Be open to feedback even before you signĮven before you sign on the dotted line, you should be prepared to receive some feedback. From slush pile to shortlist: Michelle Winters reveals the gory details of the publishing processĥ.But it's getting harder and harder to do now with the long lead times we need for good promotion." "I always try to leave a couple of slots open so if something fun comes up I can slot it in. (A slush pile is where unsolicited manuscripts go until they have time to be reviewed.) Nash says that there are exceptions, but that duration is fairly common. It could take as long as two and a half years to get your book published - and in that time your work might sit undiscovered from six months to a year. Michelle Winters's book I Am a Truck, which went on to become a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, sat in a slush pile for six months before it was unearthed. Join our Canada Writes Facebook group to get support and feedback from writers.For example, mentioning that you have a large social media following can also be helpful in your pitch. Know your strengths and show publishers why they should invest time and money in you. I think that it's really helpful from a marketing perspective when people can really articulate what they're doing," Nash said. "It's always interesting to see people be able to talk about their work.
No one expects you to condense hundreds of pages into a paragraph, so think about the main theme or a central event in your story. For the synopsis part of your letter, stick to the main highlights. Your letter should not only describe what your book is about, it should - particularly in the case of nonfiction - explain why you're the right person to write about the subject. 9 mistakes to avoid when submitting to the CBC Literary PrizeĪ query letter is your first chance to get an agent or publisher excited about your work.While every publisher has unique requirements, the most common materials you'll be asked for are a summary of your story, an updated CV and a query letter.ĭo your research and submit exactly what is requested of each publishing house you are interested in. It's a tough market out there so don't waste your time - or theirs - by failing to review and follow the guidelines. That's where you can confirm whether they accept unsolicited material and the genres they accept. You can find the submission guidelines for most publishing houses on their websites. Leigh Nash is the publisher of Invisible Publishing. Find a Canadian literary festival near you.Get to know the right connections in the publishing world and identify the best ones to pitch. What are they tweeting? What are they interested in? Do their values align with yours?" "It's just as important for authors to consider the personality of a publisher as well. Nash also says that social media is a good tool to get insight into a company's philosophy and culture. That's really the best way to get a sense of what a publisher does." Ask them about their books and buy a copy. "Go to book events and festivals like the Word On the Street where you can meet with publishers or people that work there. While the internet is a good starting place, Nash suggests getting out to meet and network with publishers. Think your work is comparable with a number of bestselling books in your genre? Find the publisher behind those successes. Do you think your book is like the work of a favourite author? Look up their publisher. Nash says working with the right team to publish your book is critical.
Find publishing houses that are a good fit Invisible published Michelle Winters's debut novel I Am a Truck, which made the 2017 Scotiabank Giller Prize shortlist.ġ. She also serves as chair for eBOUND Canada and sits on the board of directors for the Association of Canadian Publishers.
PUBLISHERS ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS 2017 HOW TO
We begin with how to find a publisher with Leigh Nash, the publisher of Invisible Publishing. We will take you through the whole process - from approaching an agent to getting your work on bookshelves - with answers from Canadian pros. Have you written a book - or just have the seeds of an idea? CBC Books' new Publishing 101 series will help emerging writers navigate the publishing industry.
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