What are publishers looking for in an author?

So what are publishers (and agents) looking at when you reach out to them and see if they want to take on your book? This is relevant for non fiction authors.

They are looking at your author brand

They want authors who are engaged, who back a cause, who take a stand and who are not afraid to speak out.  Publishers want an author with an existing platform. They want you to take a stand in the world and to share it. They want names and faces. They know that it’s easy to have a voice out there in the world, and they want one that stands out. They do not want authors who hide and wait for readers to find them.

They are looking at your argument and your book’s big idea

They are taking a look at your story and asking – what are you selling me (the reader) in this book? Is it weight loss? An exercise plan? A new way to talk to teens? A smoking hot guide to sex? A terrifying trip into the mind of a serial killer? A smart way to think about work? A guide to help me make a sale?  A new way to lead?

They are looking for completed and polished books

That means that if you have actually written (and finished a book) you have a fighting chance. Don’t laugh. You would not believe how hard it actually is to finish a book and get it polished to a level where it is ready to send out.  So if you have done that work, if you have a solid structure and it reads well – your chances are higher to find a publisher.

They are looking at the take-out for the reader

I always ask writers to step out of what you want to tell your reader, and marry that with what they actually want to read. If you are writing a memoir and the memoir is about YOU, you are in trouble. Unless you are a celebrity, an assassin, a serial killer or you were reared by wolves. But if you are just an ordinary person who has been through some shit – you need to make sure you book is about more than YOU. It has to be about a bigger concept … addition, parenting, hope, courage, grief, loss, survival, insomnia, extreme challenges. Why would a reader want to follow your story for 280 pages?

They are looking if your writing is engaging

Most often this is not about being a good writer. This is about letting your personality come through. Do you have a tone to your book? Do you talk to your reader? Do you have a unique voice? Do you have a fresh, new take on stuff?

They are looking for worthy stories

Publishers want to sell books, and they want books that sell. But not all books have to be bestsellers. Many books are published because we need a record of a time, an era, a story or a generation. I often encourage writers to pitch books on modern history, or biographies. They are great ways of getting published.

All of this feels very daunting. However, if you have a calling to write, to share your story, you need to look at presenting a package deal. It’s not just about your book – it is about how they are going to sell it. Writing a book is a huge investment in your future so make sure it is the book you need to write.  

Are you willing to ‘stand in the arena’ of life, like the gladiators of old, and entertain the crowds.  It is not easy being in the arena. It requires huge courage to share your story with the world. It is far easier to be a critic, or a spectator.