The Ten Most Common Reasons Book Proposals are Rejected — and What These Reasons Really Mean
by Marcia Yudkin
1. The
market is too small.
Translation: We don’t know how to make money publishing your book.
Remedies:
-
Add market
numbers to your proposal.
-
Add specific
marketing suggestions.
-
Try a smaller,
niche publisher.
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2. It
doesn’t fit our list.
Translation: We haven’t published a book in your category, of your format, or
for your audience, and aren’t about to try.
Remedy: Try elsewhere.
3. This
type of book doesn’t sell.
Translation: Books like this haven’t sold in the past.
Remedies:
-
Research this
assertion through Publisher’s Weekly.
-
Compare your
book to something that has sold.
-
Try a more
specialized publisher.
4. It’s
not right for us.
Translation: We didn’t like it.
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Remedies:
5. It’s
too narrowly focused.
Translation: We sell more general books to the general public.
Remedy: Try a more specialized publisher.
6. It’s
already been done.
Translation: You didn’t convince us your book differs enough from what’s out
there.
Remedies:
-
Re-research
your competition.
-
Differentiate
your book better in the proposal.
-
More
carefully define your readers.
-
Change
the angle, audience, approach of the book.
7. It’s an article, not a book.
Translation: You didn’t persuade us that you can fill 150-250 printed pages
with meaningful material.
Remedies:
8. There’s
too much competition.
Translation: You didn’t convince us there’s an unfilled niche out there
waiting for your book.
Remedies:
-
Do/cite
market research on the need for your book.
-
Rewrite
your proposal’s analysis of competition.
-
Try
a publisher without any titles on the topic.
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9. It’s
too costly to produce.
Translation: We can’t make a profit publishing your book.
Remedies:
10. You’re
not an expert in your field.
Translation: We can’t book you credibly on talk shows.
Remedies:
Copyright
2001 Marcia Yudkin. All rights reserved.
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