THE ELEMENTS OF A BOOK PROPOSAL

By Nancy Peske | January 22, 2021

The elements of a book proposal all have to be included in what is a marketing piece that will convince the recipient that your book is marketable. You will need a book proposal even if you have the entire book written. To write a book proposal, start with an overview describing the book, why it fills a…

Read More

WHAT TYPE OF FREELANCE EDITOR DO I NEED?

By Nancy Peske | January 22, 2021

Hoping to get your book published? You may need to hire a freelance editor to help you achieve your goal. There are two types of freelance editors, and each has different credentials and skills. If you are wondering, “What type of freelance editor do I need?” read on.
First, recognize that if you get a book deal with a traditional publisher, your editor will do a moderate to minimal amount of editing of your completed manuscript. You don’t have to worry too much about copyediting, also known as light line editing, because the publisher will have in-house or freelance copyeditors who do that work.

Read More

HOW TO CREATE A COMPARATIVE BOOKS LIST THAT WILL GET YOU A BOOK DEAL

By Nancy Peske | January 22, 2021

The comparative books list is a crucial element in a successful book proposal. It is your best tool for convincing an agent or an in-house acquisitions editor that your book will stand out in the marketplace and add something new while appealing to an established book-buying audience. How do I know this? Because when I was an in-house editorial assistant at HarperCollins Publishers many years ago, it was my job to check out the comparative books lists in book proposals my boss was considering to see if there was any way to strengthen them, which would make it easier for us to convince the rest of the book publishing team that the book would make money for us and be right for our list. I know how to create a comparative books list that will get you a book deal because I’ve done it many times.

Read More