Sean Buvala, Storyteller and Author

📚 Approaching A Publisher As An Aspiring Author 📚

“How do I get a book published?”

As an aspiring author, approaching a publisher can feel intimidating. After all, you’ve spent months, or even years, crafting your masterpiece, and you want to make sure it’s presented to potential publishers in the best possible light. Here are some tips to help you make the best first impression:

🤝 Be Professional: Publishers are busy, so ensure you are professional, courteous, and to the point. Be sure that you’ve researched the publisher’s website and social media to know what they are interested in. Introduce yourself and the book you would like to publish.

📝 Have A Pitch Ready: You should have a concise and compelling pitch ready. This should include a brief description of your book, including the genre, the target audience, and why it’s timely and relevant.

💎 Or Don’t Have a Pitch: On the other hand, some publishers are allergic to pitches and would prefer you talk like a human being about your book. How do you know what to do? Understand the publisher you are speaking with– study about them and their company. Are they casual? Aloof? Inviting? Stand off(ish)?

📚 Know Your Book: Before meeting with a publisher, you get familiar with every aspect of your project. You should be able to answer questions about the content. No publisher expects you to know everything about the process; that is our job.

🤔 Be Open To Feedback: Be prepared to hear your publisher’s feedback and be open to making changes to your book. Your publisher may have ideas for how to make your book even better.

💫 Be Passionate: Show publishers you’re passionate about your book and writing. Be ready to point out how your current social media is active and establish the groundwork for your future book and presence as an author. Explain why you’re the best person to write this book, why readers should be excited about it, and why are ready for the long haul of promoting your book. 

🤗 Be Personable: Present yourself in a positive light throughout your meeting. Show that you’re reliable, friendly, and excited to work with the publisher.

📝 Follow Up: Never take a “no” or rejection personally. Publishers know what they need. After the meeting, follow up with a thank you email. This will show that you’re organized and professional.

Approaching a publisher can be a great experience, even if nerve-wracking. Following these tips can make a great first impression and increase your chances of publishing your book. Good luck! 🤞