This question can be answered in several ways, all of which are valid. Publishers have a global perspective on the publication of a book and are as interested in the quality of the material and the author’s figure as in its commercial appeal and the number of followers it may have on social networks. For that reason, if you are wondering how to publish your book and what is the best way to capture the attention of a publisher, you are in the right place.
What Do Publishing Houses Search for in a Manuscript?
Although the publishing market is large and there are plenty of options for publishing a book, having a publisher choose your manuscript is certainly the best option. However, not all publishers are the same: there are some that are more oriented towards the promotion of new authors, others that focus more on the commercial aspect, and others that are devoted to niche topics.
There are many publishers to send our manuscript to. In general terms, we can say that there are two distinct logics in the publishing sector: independent publishers tend to have a logic centered on the work and its literary potential, while large publishing groups tend to have a logic centered on the sales potential of the work. This is something we should also keep in mind if we want to create our own publishing house and compete in the publishing market.
How Can I Get The Publishers’ Attention to Publish My Book?
Catching the attention of publishers in order to make a living from writing is no easy task. To begin with, we have to narrow down the publishing sector and the market so that our efforts are not in vain.
This means that we need to identify which publishers are likely to be interested in our book or content: the topics they deal with, the authors they publish, and the media and cultural events in which they are invested.
Of course, we need our book or book idea to be of the highest possible quality. It would make no sense to go through all this only to have our manuscript rejected for being poorly written or not responding to what the publisher needs.
Once this is done, we can do several things to try to get the attention of publishers and eventually send them a proposal. Here are some of the most effective tactics.
Showcasing Followers’ Engagement on Social Media
A great way to get the attention of publishers to publish your book is to build an engaged audience on social media. If you already have one, you should communicate your intention to publish and let your audience be the one to get the publishing house’s attention for you.
This can be achieved by generating content such as live streams, campaigns, polls, and contests in which you mention the publisher. If the publishing house sees that there is a high demand from your audience, the agents will realize that, with a little promotion and a good pitch, your book can be just as in demand.
Focusing on a Hot Topic That the Publisher Is Currently Covering
Another great way to get your manuscript published is to become a reference for a current topic in which the publisher has shown an active interest. If the publisher we’re targeting is interested in a particular field, it’s likely they’ll be looking to capitalize on it.
Of course, this is easier said than done. However, if we have enough followers and some network inventiveness, it is a viable option, especially if we are dedicated to non-fiction: cookbooks, sports, cinema or architecture, and other similar topics can arouse the interest of publishers.
Self-Publication on Digital Platforms
This option requires using digital media and digital publishing platforms to generate interest from publishers. This has been done by many authors before they became famous. Although this may take more time, it is something we can do while trying to get their attention in other ways.
Indeed, publishing your book on Amazon or Wattpad can be the first step in your career as an author. These platforms are relatively easy to use and offer access to a wide audience of readers who may be interested in your work if you choose a good title. Moderate success on these platforms can be the boost you need.
Booktubers and Social Media Influencers
If our efforts don’t cut it when trying to get a publisher’s attention, maybe a little help is what we need. Today’s content creators, influencers, and booktubers attract large audiences that will catch the publishers’ eye.
If we can team up with other social media personalities to discuss our work or a hot topic that raises our profile, we’ll have a better chance of getting on the publishers’ radar.
Entering Literary Contests and Festivals
Literary contests and festivals are a great way to get the attention of publishers. Of course, competition is high, and winning these types of contests may seem difficult, but you don’t necessarily have to get the gold: a mention here and there, a second or third prize is enough to draw the publishers’ attention and add competitive attributes to your publishing proposal.
To apply to a literary contest and have a chance of winning, it is necessary to strictly follow the contest’s guidelines and conditions, but we can think of it as a drill for when we want to send our proposal to a publishing house.
Is It Necessary to Have Many Followers to Get My Book Published?
This question is very common among new generations of content creators, especially those who have a solid base of followers and an engaged audience. And the answer won’t surprise them: while it’s not strictly “necessary” to have a large fan base to get your book published, the more followers you have, the better.
Of course, if you have a million followers on Instagram or YouTube, a publisher will likely seek to capitalize on your audience —even if you don’t have a book to publish. Now, if we have a moderate follower base, it is possible to turn it into a competitive asset of our publishing proposal to get a publisher to notice us.
Even though there is no specific number of followers that ensures getting published, it is safe to say that after 50,000 followers, your chances of getting published increase considerably. In fact, if you conservatively assume that only 1% of that audience will be interested in buying your book, you already have 500 books sold! This estimate will always be present in a publishing house.
Of course, this can vary depending on the type of content and the relationship you have with your audience: a smaller but much more engaged fan base can be more attractive to a publisher than a large number of followers with whom you have a less engaged relationship. Independent publishers, for example, usually have print runs of between 300 and 500 copies per title.
Finally, the publisher’s interest in your number of followers will also depend on whether the platform or social network is relevant to your audience: books by youtubers, for example, tend to be very successful among children and young people. Therefore, the type of audience and the type of relationship you have with them will be more important than the number of followers.
Authors Who Have Been Published Thanks to Their Social Media Followers
Let’s illustrate what we said when we talked about the number of followers and the quality of the relationship we have with them. Here we have a list of authors who owe their publishing success to their social media audience.
- Andy Weir is one of the most successful cases: he is the author of the novel The Martian, originally published on his personal blog. Thanks to its audience in networks and great reception, the novel was then published by Crown Publishing and later made into a movie by the legendary director Ridley Scott, starring Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain.
- Jenna Moreci is a fantasy and science fiction author who managed to attract the attention of major publishers thanks to, of course, the quality of her work, but also thanks to her YouTube channel, where she offered writing tips and content related to the publishing world.
- Germán Garmendia, with more than 40 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, he’s a publishing phenomenon in the Spanish-speaking publishing world. The Chilean knew how to capitalize on his young audience to publish his debut novel, Di Hola, under the homonymous imprint of the giant Planeta group.
- Mariand Castrejón Castañeda, known as Yuya, was one of the first youtubers to venture into lifestyle, fashion, and beauty, with an audience of around 20 million subscribers. Her second book, Los secretos de Yuya, was also published by Planeta.
How Do I Ensure My Manuscript’s Quality So It Can Be Chosen by Publishers?
After having followed all the tips in this article, the quality of the manuscript will be the last test we must pass. While the editorial proposal must meet certain requirements to be taken seriously by the publisher, the manuscript itself must also meet certain quality standards in its writing.
Likewise, it is advisable to resort to editing and proofreading services to ensure that no spelling, grammatical, or any other type of error is missed. At Palabra we have a team of professionals with experience in the publishing field who can help you create a proposal to improve the chances of a publisher choosing your manuscript. Get in touch with Palabra and start thinking about what kind of author you would like to be!
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