Lynn Jones Johnston

Book titles are tricky! Think what you want to signal (literary, prescriptive). Is it searchable? (1 word titles are hard to google.) Look to comp titles as a guide. #pubtip

My advice if you’re working on a nonfiction book proposal and struggling with the overview: write how you got interested in the topic. What pulled you in? What made you want to write a book about it? Tell your origin story. #pubtip

With books, confer with your agent in advance about missing a deadline. Usually ok as long you keep the editor informed. But since most contracts allow the publisher to cancel if you miss your due date, your agent can read the tea leaves and advise. #pubtip

#Authors: whenever you publish an article, please ask to include your book title with your byline, preferably with a link. Example below. #pubtip

#Pubtip Sharing my B-LIST system for sorting people & orgs that can help w/ book sales & promo. Check all that apply for each name:
-BLURB the book
-BOOST the book
-BULK BUY the book

Authors: create this list 6+ mo before pub & share with publisher.

If you want specific grammar rules applied to your ms that deviate from Chicago MOS (commonly used by book publishers) state it clearly before it goes to copy editing. #pubtip

Straight memoir sits on an extremely competitive shelf esp if you're not a household name or have a huge platform. But making your story the backbone of a bigger story can attract more readers to your book. #pubtip

Getting the exact right book title is a dark art. One approach is unexpected pairings: #pubtip
-Radical Candor
-The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up
-Good to Great
-Eats, Shoots & Leaves

Most blurbs come from an author/editor/agent/pub contact. Ways to personalize the request/galley mailing:
1) Annotate the cover letter w/ a personal handwritten note.
2) Write a notecard to go with the letter.
3) Email directly.
#pubtip

Every publishing program should do the same. Among the topics: #pubtip #writinglife
-Why payout matters, not just the total advance
-Calculating what it takes to earn out of the advance
-Tax advantages to incorporating as an author

This description of comp books applies to nonfiction as well. I would extend to 5 years for NF. Don’t leave comps to last. They can guide organization & positioning of your book. A good comp is gold. #pubtip

Your nonfiction book proposal is an argument. The overview sets up the argument. Every chapter in the TOC makes a sharp case of its own that builds your bigger thesis. The sample chapter shows you can "argue" your case persuasively. #pubtip

Book title inspiration can come from anywhere: turn of a phrase, poem, literary ref, quote, fresh word pairings. Watch 1-word titles, which are not search friendly but otherwise, don't shy away from DARING GREATLY. (see what I did here?) #pubtip

4. Finally, support authors in and outside your genre. If they’re on social media, learn from, engage with, and boost their signal. Trust me when I tell you literary karma is strong.

3. ID agents & publishers in your category by looking up recent deals on Publishers Marketplace (requires a 1 month $25 subscription). Follow on social media to get a sense of personality & tastes.

2. Make a running list of notable books in your genre. Scan bestseller lists and titles from your dream publishers. You should at least know about if not read your category leaders. This info will feed into your book proposal.

1. Sign up for free e-newsletters at Publishers Weekly to stay current on trends & news. Start with the Sunday Must Read & Global Rights Report. Specialty newsletters also avail.

Publishers rely on comps to gauge sales of potential projects. Hence one author’s success can lift all boats in the category. I’ve seen this many times. Likewise failures make some topics radiation. #pubtip

-Do not put the copyright notice. As soon as you write something, you have a natural copyright to it.

Formatting doesn't make or break a project but the care & professionalism signals to agents/editors the kind of author they can expect. #pubtip

If you're planning to pitch a nonfiction book, use one of the most powerful persuasion tools--storytelling--to make the proposal memorable. I'm not talking about the sample chapters or ms (that goes w/o saying) but the overview, bio, TOC & marketing. #pubtip