Recently I was talking with an author who is now working on his third traditionally published book. I was curious how the process worked for him. “How did you pitch the second book to your publisher?” I asked.

“Oh, I didn’t, really. The first book was doing so well they came to me and asked if I’d thought about writing another one. I sent them an email that described the idea, outlined the content. That was all they needed. I got a contract the next week.”

The way to get a publishing contract without writing a book proposal is for your first book to sell much better than the publisher’s expectations.

Shifting What You Aim For

This happens all the time in the publishing business. In fact, most of our biggest deals go to authors who have already written books that have performed well in the marketplace. That doesn’t help you break into traditional publishing, I realize, but it does point to a possible shift in focus—one that could serve you well.

Here’s what I mean. A lot of writers try to get published. That’s where their focus is.  Maybe that’s where your focus is. Maybe you’ve already spent a lot of time, money, and energy on this goal.

What if instead you took the contract for granted and focused instead on making sure your first book exceeded your publisher’s expectations? What if you wrote your first proposal with that goal in mind? How would it influence the way you write your book? How would it change the way you approach your platform and promotional efforts?

When martial artists break boards with their hands, they don’t aim for the board. They aim for a few inches beyond the board. The same principle applies here. Aiming for the board is trying to get published. Aiming beyond the board is making sure your book’s performance knocks the publisher’s socks off.

Sometimes writers focus so much on getting published, they forget to think about what it means to be a good publishing partner. Yet writers who make sure publishing their book is a win-win-win for publisher, author, and reader—these are the writers who don’t have to worry about writing a book proposal or getting a contract. Publishers fight each other to work with them.

How to Be an Author Publishers Fight Over

How can this be a reality for you? I’ll give you some ideas:

• Develop a fresh concept that meets a real need. That to my mind is the definition of a compelling concept. As you develop your concept I encourage you to get feedback from others, but you can do a lot of work on your own. For an infographic and video training on developing a great book concept, click here.
• Build your platform. I write that sentence as one who has been building his platform for the past four years. I also write it as one who has been frustrated with how slow progress is at times. But I also write it as someone who over time has developed at least a bit of a following. If you haven’t already, read Platform by Michael Hyatt and look for the next time he opens Platform University, then join!
• Hone your craft. Yes, some folks seem blessed with more natural talent than others. But I’m convinced that just about everyone can improve as a writer and get pretty good if not really good. Like so many things it takes commitment and practice. There’s no silver bullet here. Read a lot and write a lot. Also, see my recent article on narrative if you haven’t already.

Upcoming Webinar

Want to learn how an acquisitions editor reviews a book proposal? I’m hosting a webinar on Friday, August 5, in which I’ll share how publishers make decisions, what the main elements of a book proposal are, what steps I take when I receive a proposal, the ONE thing you simply must do to get a publisher’s attention, and other elements that really make a proposal stand out. Join us! All registrants receive a replay. To save your spot, click here.

Question: What is one thing you can do to “aim beyond the board”? You can leave a comment by clicking here.