Sara Megibow

#PubTip
If you sign contract with Big 5 publisher, some things you own:
- copyright
- advance
- your royalties

Some things you don't own/ control:
- cover/ title
- price
- metadata
- distribution
- release date

Published Author #PubTip =

If your agent/ publisher has sold audiobook rights for you, that's GREAT!

Please please please please please promote the audiobook on your website including narrator and buy-links!!

@JaleighJohnson does it correctly here: jaleighjohnson.com/the-mark-of-th…

Great #pubtip from last week's #KTLitRetreat18 =

If you're reading an excerpt from your book at bookstore, library, school, launch party, etc., end the reading on a cliffhanger.

#excerpt
#surprise

Statistically speaking, it’s very likely your book needs editing/revision before pursuing an agent/book deal.

Critique parter/ beta reader/ critique groups/ etc. can be a huge help in pre-submission preparation.

#pubtip #agenting

#PubTip = I've heard this mantra about publicity for years and just wanted to share:

- What works (in publicity) every time? Word of Mouth
- How do we control Word of Mouth? We can't, alas

So we put together a publicity campaign to elevate visibility and...hope.
#agenting

#PubTip = to query me, include the word “query” in subject line of email.

Subject line, “Query: Red Hot Love” goes to my inbox.

Subject line, “Red Hot Love” goes to my spam.

#queries

#PubTip = a book's cover should be evocative if not, necessarily, literal.

Great question from #DCC2018 last weekend = "what if I don't like the contract a publishing house offers?"

Answer = agent doesn't accept any offer without permission of the author. An author should understand the offer and have the time to say yes/no!

#agenting #pubtip

A book is about more than "two people have an adventure." Know the thematic elements of your book. #PubTip

#PubTip = high level thematic elements of your book make great talking points. Example, THE LAST SUN by @KDEdwards_NC is about loyalty.

#PubTip = high level thematic elements of your book make great talking points. Example, THE DOOR TO THE LOST by @JaleighJohnson is about overcoming prejudice.

#PubTip = high level thematic elements of your book make great talking points. Example, THE ONE YOU CAN'T FORGET by @RoniLoren is about hope.

A reminder about reviews...

Publisher pitches our book to reviewers (PW, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, etc.).

The reviewer chooses which books to review.

The reviewer chooses *how* to review those books.
#pubtip

Too many middle grade queries in which protagonist, "is really mad at parents." This is, of course, a legitimate tween emotion but because I see it so often this particular conflict can feel generic. #pubtip #middlegrade

Making freebies for your book launch? (bookmarks, postcards, etc)

WAIT until at least 3 months before as release dates frequently change and you want the freebies to have correct info. #pubtip

An editing question to ask yourself before typing The End = “how does my protagonist grow/change from beginning of book to the end?”

#pubtip

#pubtip = It's common for amazon rankings to be lower for middle grade novels. MG sells very well at B&N and indie bookstores - especially in print. Amazon rankings and reviews *tend* to come from consumers who buy on amazon.

Know what you signed. World, World English, North American English...

Who is shopping your book for translation deals - your publisher or your agent? #pubtip #translation

Example: THE DAEDALUS INCIDENT by @mikemartinez72 in Hungarian (awesome!)

If the contract is a World Rights deal, the subrights team at the publishing house shops and closes translation deals.

Example: the amazing subrights team at @Sourcebooks sold Hebrew translation rights to THE ONES WHO GOT AWAY by @RoniLoren #pubtip #translation

During contract negotiation the agent either retains translation for the author (North American English deal or World English deal) or sells translation rights to the publisher (World rights deal). #pubtip #translation