Tips for getting your novel, memoir, or nonfiction book traditionally published.

1. The path to traditional
publication
Lessons learned from my
publishing journey
Kathy Wagner
@KWagnerWrites
www.kwagnerwrites.com

2. Hi!

3. Introductions
What’s everyone
working on?

4. Introductions
Turn to someone you don’t know:
• Introduce yourself
• What are you writing?
• What are you wanting to get out
of this presentation?

5. Traditional vs
self-publishing?
There is NO bad guy!

6. Traditional vs self-publishing
Traditional publishing Self-publishing
Paid on acceptance Full control over all aspects of book
Publisher pays all publishing costs Earn much higher royalties on each book sold
Professional quality publication Can be faster to publication
Wider distribution and reach Guaranteed to get published
Sales support Retain all rights
Marketing and publicity support
Access to more (prestigious) festivals and
awards
Industry credibility
Pros:

7. Traditional vs self-publishing
Traditional publishing Self-publishing
Limited control over some aspects of book Pay for all costs of publication
Earn much lower royalties on each book sold Lack of support
No guarantee you’ll find a publisher Lack of credibility
Can take a long time Limited access to festivals and awards
Do not retain all rights If printing copies, required storage area
Possibility of a difference of opinion
Cons

8. Choose what works for you!
Traditional vs
self-publishing?

10. Establishing platform and credibility
If you’re a social media influencer, fantastic! But you don’t need
20,000 TikTok followers.
You DO need to demonstrate that your writing is marketable and
that you can reach your audience.
Find your strengths and interests and lean into them! Start today.

11. Establishing platform and credibility
• Publish as much as you can in reputable literary and/or popular magazines,
newspapers, journals.
• Target publications that reflect the style or substance of your upcoming book.
• If you’re writing nonfiction, become an expert (here, a “following” is especially
important)
• Submit your writing to contests.
• Join in-person and social media communities of interest. Be part of the
conversation!
Blogs and newsletters? Sure, but unless you have thousands of followers, they won’t
help you get a publishing deal. Quality publications and connections will.

12. Preparing your manuscript
• Fiction and memoir manuscripts must be complete, revised (and
revised and revised and revised and revised), and polished.
• Nonfiction must have a full outline and few complete and
polished chapters.
If you think that you could make it better, then make it better.

13. Preparing your manuscript
Ways to ensure a quality manuscript:
• Critique groups
• Beta readers
• Editors (developmental, line level, proofreaders)
• “Blue pencil” reviews

14. Putting together your proposal package
 Comp titles
 Length & delivery
 Structure and TOC
 Chapter summaries
 Sample chapters
What’s in a proposal?
 Overview/rationale
 Synopsis
 Author bio
 Target audience
 Marketing & promotion
 Series potential

15. Putting together your proposal package
Overview/rationale: Brief description of what the book is, why it
matters right now to the intended audience, and why you’re the best
person to write it. Aim for between one and two pages, double
spaced.* Cite references if used.
Synopsis: A summary of the entire book. Include spoilers. Aim for
between one and three pages, double spaced.*
*Always adjust to submission guidelines.

16. Putting together your proposal package
Author bio: Include your writing credentials, publications, awards,
relevant expertise or lived experience, and your own secret sauce.
Include a quality photo. Aim for half a page to one page, double spaced.*
Target audience: Be specific about who is the primary market for the
book, and then extend to secondary and tertiary audiences. Explain why
they will want to buy this book. Provide statistics where relevant. Aim for
half a page to one page, double spaced.*
*Always adjust to submission guidelines.

17. Putting together your proposal package
Marketing and promotion: This is one of the most critical sections of your
proposal. Go deep! Show all of the ways in which YOU can market and promote
the book. Aim for two to five pages, double spaced.
• Indicate personal connections where you have them.
• List media and other opportunities that you will reach out to.
• Show the potential reach of each opportunity.
• Include your online and in-person communities and relevant podcasts,
newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, conferences, events.
• Include topics of interest to media that can give your book a lift.
• Include your own blog, newsletter, or social media platforms if they have a
substantial following.

18. Putting together your proposal package
Series potential: Include this section only if you plan a series.
Provide a brief outline of additional books in the series, and any
pertinent selling points. Aim for less than one page.
Comp titles: “Competitive” or “comparative” titles should be less
than five years old, have a good (but not superstar-level) sales
record, and be similar to your book in at least one specific way.
Think about themes, topics, writing style, structure, characters,
plot. Choose five books that are similar in a variety of ways. Aim for
about 1/3 to 1/2 a page per comp title.

19. Putting together your proposal package
Length and delivery: Indicate the wordcount of the manuscript and
the date that you expect it to be completed. Note that if you’re
submitting a fiction book or a memoir, that date should be now. This
section does not need to be more than one sentence.
Structure and table of contents: Include an overview of the book’s
structure, and then a table of contents or chapter list.

20. Putting together your proposal package
Chapter summaries: One or two short paragraphs that summarise
each chapter. In addition to plot points, indicate themes, character
arcs, and why that chapter is important and moves the story
forward.
Chapter samples: Include three sample chapters (or adjust to
submission guidelines). The first chapter is often a good place to
start, but you do not need to provide consecutive chapters.
Showcase your best work!

22. Proposal package: example

23. Proposal package:
example

24. Targeting agents or publishers
Benefits of having an agent Benefits of querying publishers
directly
Access to “Big 5” book publishers Considered faster and easier than getting an agent
Editorial support prior to submitting to
publishers
Niche publishers may have direct access to your
market
Industry expertise & connections in selling to
publishers
Do not lose any percentage (~15%) of royalties to
agent
Experienced author advocate when reviewing
and negotiating contracts
Industry professional to champion your book
through its entire lifecycle
Agent or publisher?

25. Beware of
predators

26. Reputable agents
and traditional
publishers DO NOT:
• Ask for money. Ever.
• Make an offer without reading a full
manuscript and having a
phone/video call.
• Rush you into a contract.
• Rely on verbal agreements.
• Offer you (and charge for) an ad-on
package for marketing and publicity.
• Provide sales guarantees.

27. Targeting agents
• Do your research. Don’t send out generic, blanket emails.
• Target agents who have represented and sold books similar to
yours.
• Don’t necessarily limit yourself to Canadian agents.
• Be sure they are accepting submissions.
• Meticulously follow submission guidelines.
• Select an agent that you have good connection with.

28. Targeting agents: Resources
• Publishers Marketplace (Agent research and tracking)
• Query Tracker (Agent research and tracking)
• Duotrope (Agent research and tracking)
• The Shit No One Tells You About Writing (Podcast and newsletter)
• Carly Watters (Instagram)

29. Targeting publishers
• Do your research. Don’t send out generic, blanket emails.
• Target publishers who sell books similar to yours.
• Don’t necessarily limit yourself to Canadian publishers.
• Be sure they are accepting submissions.
• Meticulously follow submission guidelines.
• Select a publisher that you have good connection with.

30. Targeting publishers: Resources
• Your library or bookstore shelves
• Authors Publish Magazine/Newsletter (Publisher database,
reviews, resources)
• Query Tracker (Publisher research and tracking)
• Duotrope (Publisher research and tracking)
• The Shit No One Tells You About Writing (Podcast)

31. Query letters
• Show you’re a good writer!
• Be brief. Very, very brief (Max 450 words, and less is more).
• Follow query guidelines meticulously.
• Always include these elements:
• Logistics: Your book’s genre/category, word count, title/subtitle
• A hook/description of your story
• Author’s bio
• Thank you & closing
• Customize and personalize when meaningful.

32. Query
letters:
Example
Logistics
Hook
Description
Rationale/
Audience
Bio
Closing
~380 words

33. Query letters:
Practice
Draft a query letter for your work-in-
progress.
Start by jotting down bullet points to
include in these sections:
• Logistics: Your book’s genre/category, word
count, title/subtitle
• A hook/description of your story
• Author’s bio
• Thank you & closing
Time permitting, start crafting the query
letter to showcase your writing skills!

34. Tracking your queries

35. Setting expectations
• Agents and traditional publishers get far more submissions than
they accept.
• Most books submitted do not get traditionally published.
• Most traditionally published authors don’t make much, if any,
money.
• Everything takes time. Be prepared for a marathon, not a sprint.
• Rejections may hurt and wear you down. Don’t take it personally.
• Resource when you need a dose of positive realism:
Desperate Writer
https://rachelrosewritesprose.substack.com/

36. The offer!
• Don’t let your excitement
impede common sense!
• Have your contract
professionally reviewed.
Check out
The Writers’ Union of Canada:
Fair Contracts

37. Getting permissions and blurbs
• This is on YOU!
• Reach out for permissions to use quotes from other artists ASAP.
• Permissions cost money—your money.
• It’s often easier to rewrite to avoid quotes.
• Personal connections to blurbers work better than random
outreach.
• Don’t limit yourself. Dream big.

38. Getting permissions and blurbs
Dream blurb brought you by connections and luck.

39. Working with publishing teams
• Publishing Editor
• Final say on book title
• Final say on book cover
• Assigns editing, publicity, marketing team
• Editors
• Developmental editor
• Copyeditor
• Proofreader

40. Working with publishing teams
• Sales and marketing
• Contribute to title and cover discussions
• Sales and marketing within industry-only channels
• Design and print event posters, bookmarks/postcards, etc
• Publicists
• Submit book to festivals, traditional media, contests, reviewers
• Send books to additional opportunities that you identify
• Help find locations for launches and readings
• Send press releases to local media for book events
• Liaise with bookstores who host your events

41. YOU will still need
to market your book
By the way:
You can buy Here With You wherever you
buy your books!
Also, ask for it at your library, review it, share it, gift it, talk
about it.
Oh, did you know I have a book club guide?
But seriously, PLEASE leave a review. If you don’t mind. If it’s not too much trouble.
I mean:
I have a fantastic book
club guide! Grab a set of
four books for you and
your friends and please
leave reviews!

42. Questions?
Find me on
Instagram or Facebook
@KWagnerWrites
www.KWagnerWrites.com
Find my book, Here With
You: A Memoir of Love,
Family, and Addiction,
wherever you get your
books.