I make my living in part by helping writers craft compelling book proposals to increase their chances of landing a book deal with a traditional publisher. So it might seem strange for me to devote a blog post to a method of impressing agents and publishers that does not center on the book proposal.

Book proposals, to be sure, are helpful for a wide variety of reasons, only one of which is to win a book deal. For example, writing a book proposal helps you:

• Refine your book concept
• Develop a compelling architecture for your book
• Learn how to talk about yourself as a legitimate authority for your book’s topic
• Begin to write the book itself, as is necessary to include a writing sample in your book proposal
• Think strategically in advance about your book’s marketing and positioning

For all these reasons as well as others, book proposals are important.

But the method of impressing agents and publishers I want to share with you goes beyond the book proposal to what agents and publishers are really looking for. They are looking for a great partner. They are looking for an author who can both write a great book and help them promote and sell it.

The Surprising Way to Impress Agents and Publishers

The surprising way to impress agents and publishers is this: self-publish a book that sells thousands of copies. If you can demonstrate your ability to write a great book that sells thousands of copies, your chances of landing a book deal the next time around go way up.

Why? Because the next time around you can say to agents and publishers, in essence, “Look what I did. I wrote this book, set a price of $14.99, and it sold three thousand copies. Now I have an even bigger platform and more credibility. I’d like you to consider partnering with me on this next book so together we can reach even more people.”

No Permission Necessary

This leads me to a question: Whose permission do you need to self-publish and sell your book? Answer: nobody’s.

I talk to a lot of writers who are fixated on landing a traditional book deal, and I get it. I am a huge fan of traditional book publishers. They provide more in the way of editorial, marketing, publicity, and sales resources than you are likely to get by any other means.

The problem is not that authors want to pursue a traditional publisher. The problem is that they want it so badly, if they don’t get it, they give up.

Here’s the advice I give authors all the time: Try pursuing a traditional book contract. If it doesn’t work out, for God’s sake don’t let your dream die. Rather, pursue self-publication and sell thousands of copies.

Don’t do this by trickery. Do it legitimately. Set your book at a reasonable price and sell thousands of copies on the strength of your book and your platform.

Ah, platform, there’s the rub. Yes, it does take work to build an audience. Yes, you can do it.

I’ve seen too many successful authors who have no more resources than the next person to build a platform. They simply did the work, little by little over time. That’s all you need. Little by little over time, you can grow a significant audience.

Your Next Step

Please don’t miss this: Writers today have before them an opportunity of historical proportions, reminiscent of when Gutenberg started publishing Bibles. It is that revolutionary.

You don’t need a green light from an agent or an editor or a big company. All you need is to decide to get your book into the world—one way or another.

Take a step. Be bold. And serve the people you want to serve with your book. You can do this, and we need you to do this.

Question: What’s the book you want to get into the world? You can leave a comment by clicking here.