Category: Publishing Tips

Coauthoring a Book: 4 Recommendations for a Smooth Publishing Experience

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I noticed that quite a number of books that I acquired have multiple authors. Whether they’re longtime business partners penning their first book or previously published authors sharing a byline for the first time, coauthors can do the following to make the process easier on them and the publisher.

  • Have a clear, joint vision for their book: Successful books have a clear audience, message, and cohesive voice. Before submitting their proposals, coauthors should discuss and agree on these elements.
  • Know how they will split royalties: It is not a given that all parties will split royalties equally. If one is contributing more in terms of authorship, research, marketing, or celebrity, it is okay for that person to get a larger percentage of the royalties if coauthors agree. Or coauthors may want all royalties to be paid to a single entity like a charity or institution. Either way, they must notify their acquisitions editor, so she can add the proper designations to the contract.
  • Choose one party to be the primary contact: Especially if there are three or more authors involved, it will make for a more cohesive publishing process for editorial, design, and production if the managing editor or acquisition staff can contact one person to respond to questions or assign tasks. This does not mean all parties can’t be copied on all email correspondence. It is just more time efficient to have one person compiling and then communicating cover design considerations, for example, instead of the publisher receiving multiple emails that may state very different desires. That leads to the next point.
  • Designate collaboration time and assign tasks: Coauthors should create a schedule that gives them time to discuss their writing strategy, promotion and sales information from their publisher, deadlines, and so on. Along those lines, considerations when designating work include asking who will:
    • Solicit or compile endorsements
    • Review the copyedit and respond to editor queries
    • Review page proofs
    • Proofread the draft before sending it to their publisher

This is by no means an exhaustive list but does help coauthors plan for a smooth publishing process.

Naming Your Book

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A book’s title is arguably as important as its content. A vague title or one too common runs the risk of being overlooked by retail customers. A title that’s too niche is also unlikely to gain traction.

One must also make sure the book’s title complements the cover art. Simple, short titles look great on covers with little or with tremendous artwork. On the other hand, a long title (think more than seven words) on a 6 x 9 trim book or on a cover that already has a lot of images may look too busy and off-putting, especially as a thumbnail–the size the cover will as on online retailers.

The following are a few questions to consider to get a title that resonates on the market.

• Does the proposed title identify the book’s audience and the book’s goal?

• What key terms will buyers use to search retailer sites or inquire at bookstores about books on the topic?

• What terms are popular among leading competitors?

Authors shouldn’t consider titling their book a solo task. They should consult their publisher, which has access to marketing and sales professionals. The latter know which key words, title, or subtitle will best position the book for success on the market.

Good luck!

Bragging on Yourself, Selling Yourself

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Some see humility as a virtue, and I concede there is a time for it. However, that time is never when writing your proposal or pitching yourself to a publisher. When writing your proposal or pitching yourself, you as prospective author should detail:

  • Your expertise—What are your credentials? Have you received any national or international awards or appointments because of your work?
  • Your platform—How many unique views does your website, YouTube channel, or podcast receive each month? How many subscribers do your various social media? How many “shares” do typical posts or Tweets receive?

Brag about yourself! Learn to distinguish yourself early on because you’ll have to do more self-promotion when your book releases.

Preparing to Meet an Acquisition’s Editor

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Whether you contact the editor or she prospects you to discuss your book idea, you should bring your A game to the meeting. That is:

  • Be professional—Arrive on time, minimize distractions as much as possible, and be ready to discuss your work and your book idea. Editors often schedule meetings back-to-back so it’s a good use of both parties’ time to quickly communicate your goal, your vision for your book now and for years to come, and why you want to work with that publisher.
  • Ask questions—The meeting is your chance to assess whether the publisher is a good fit for you. One way to do that is to question those parts of the process you’re unclear about and see if the editor responds seriously, sincerely, and to your satisfaction.
  • Be coachable—While you may be a content expert, you likely aren’t an expert on matters such as best marketing practices, consumer buying trends, translation rights, and so on. If an editor tells you that it’s better to include reproducibles or reflection space in your book and bump its trim size to 7” x 10” instead of releasing a book and companion workbook, for example, heed the advice—but don’t shy from asking why. To have a successful working relationship, editors like myself will note how you respond to feedback. Are you engaged and coachable, or do you insist that you know best?
  • Sell yourself and your expertise—Be true to yourself. If you’re an introvert, lean into that. However, you must convince the editor that you are the perfect person to take a chance on—especially if discussing a scholarly or work-for-hire project. A publisher invests a lot of resources into a book, so it wants to know that you’re worth the risk.

Good luck!

Learning from a Publisher’s Rejection

So, you prepared your proposal (summary of your book idea, where you think it’ll fit in the market, your credentials, and all that other requested info) and submitted it for your dream publisher’s consideration. After your painstaking work, an acquisitions editor (the publisher’s representative) rejects it. How do you handle that?

The following are a few suggestions.

  • Recognize the publisher isn’t rejecting you: A rejection is not a personal attack. It reflects the acquisition editor’s assessment that your book does not complement the publisher’s goals at the time. Sending the acquisitions editor a short message thanking him, her, or them for consideration—or not responding at all—is appropriate; do not berate the publisher’s choice or insult the editor.
  • Look for takeaways in the rejection letter: It may be tempting to simply send a rejected proposal to another publisher, but it will be an exercise in futility if you dismiss valuable feedback. Instead, treat it as a learning experience.
    • Did the acquisitions editor tell you that there isn’t a demand for the topic? Consider shelving the book for a time or re-evaluating the project to see if you can expand it to include more relevant themes.
    • Did the acquisitions editor tell you the project reads like a dissertation? Revise it. This usually means that you as the writer must trim the literature review; consolidate footnotes; and foreground your ideas.  
    • Did the publisher tell you they want you to grow your platform? A lot of prospective authors mistakenly believe it’s entirely up to their publishers to create, grow, and sustain their platform. This is untrue. You as prospective authors should create professional websites or social media accounts to promote yourselves; book speaking engagements, seminars, or workshops (even virtually); or perform other relevant tasks to further your brand. A book will complement this work—not replace it. This also shows the publisher that you will be an active partner.

Once you have incorporated this feedback and updated your book proposal to reflect the changes, send the proposal back to that and other publishers in the field. Know that sometimes making these changes takes months or years.

Good luck!