For the last couple weeks I have been working on a book proposal for a book that I plan to finish up before summer. Then today I spent about an hour on a conference call talking to a couple publishers about a new line of books and what they are looking for before they agree to publish a book. I learned a few things.
Last year Jon, Eric and I were fortunate enough to be able to publish our first book, The BIG IDEA. We were able to work with a couple of terrific publishers: Zondervan and Leadership Network. Coming out of that rookie experience we learned a few things about publishing, what publishers are looking for, etc.
So if you are interested in getting published or you have some ideas that you would like to share with the rest of the world in a book here are three of the things I believe publishers are looking for before they say "yes" to publishing.
CONTENT - The number one thing that a publisher is looking for is great content. You have to have a big idea that you want to share and the world wants to hear. When it comes to publishing content is still king. If you don't have good content you will not get published.
INFLUENCE - Publishers are also looking for people who have influence. If you have a following this is a signal to a publisher that you have a ready-made market for your content.
DEMAND - If there is a pent up demand for the book you want to publish that is also a factor. If the publisher believes that the timing is right for the book you want to publish that will be important in the decision to publish your book.
Thanks for the concise info :)
Posted by: Charles Lee | January 15, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Great points - Could you please expound on them a little for those of us who are novices? Thanks!
Posted by: Anita | January 16, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Great post Dave. Thanks.
Posted by: Pete Wilson | January 16, 2009 at 11:34 AM
You nailed it. Dead on.
Posted by: Greg Atkinson | January 16, 2009 at 08:46 PM
I must say...I've never lost sleep over a pent up demand for a book (other than the Big Idea of course).
Posted by: KathyK | January 16, 2009 at 11:03 PM
I would add (if you will) RESEARCH to your list. Many can/will write, illustrate and/or publish information that could be factual but unproven (is it fiction or "non"?)
Posted by: Kristine Knight-Holzwarth | January 17, 2009 at 05:54 PM
I think I understand the first two points, but I'm stuck on how to measure demand? I've never been able to figure that out.
Posted by: Michelle Thomas | January 18, 2009 at 01:07 PM
Hi, Dave. I attended the CMA Conference at Indian Creek Community Church. Your conferences were a great blessing to me and my church plant -- Hope Point Church -- near Jackson, MS. The Big Idea has also given us a lot of helpful pointers, thanks for investing the time and energy in publishing it. I am currently working with Intermedia Publishing, who published Robin Wood's book (I've known Robin since he was in high school). They are a "class act", and they have a great marketing department, too; and a great royalty plan for the writer! I just attended their writers conference with Eddie Smith, in Houston, last weekend. I picked up some helpful pointers that I believe will help me tweak my book, "Firewall: Keys to Spiritual Formation", which will be used as a text for the online course I wrote and will begin teaching at Mid-America Christian University (OK City) on March 1. I recommend Intermedia highly. You may publish my email address if you wish. Sam Bruce
Posted by: Sam Bruce | January 22, 2009 at 06:51 AM
Great post and as a publisher this is great advise for anyone desiring to publish....
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