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This Week’s:
Features
Step-by-Step: We Don't Want Your Kind Around Here - Alienating Visitors
On Focus: Writers — Part 4
— Promoting a Writer's Work to Publishers & Agents
Banner Sizes By the Numbers
Reviews
A Home for Writers - WriterSpace.com
Call Me an Idiot! - The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Marketing
Techniques
Instant Art - Instant Illustrations from Stock Photos
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On Focus: Writers — Part 4
— Promoting a Writer's Work to Publishers & Agents
by Carolyn Cooper
Last week, we looked at building an online community to promote the writer or a series of titles. Increasingly the writer's site is used to provide access to a book proposal to an agent or editor.
Promoting a Writer's Work to Publishers & Agents
As the business pundits cheerily quip, the market today runs on "Internet time" meaning that the race is to the swift. Or as one writer put it, "Yeah, now I can get all my rejections in one day." Seriously, the web offers a place for agents and editors to review writers' proposals without waiting on the postal service or having to cart around mounds of pounds of paper. The digital slushpile has arrived.
And so has the electronic submission and promotion to agents and editors.
A number of writers are posting their proposals, writing resumés, and sample chapters on the web. They can then send inquiries to editors or agents, either through traditional mail or email, providing the URL to the first page of their proposal package. They save on postage, time and reduce paper waste. And the number of editors and agents favoring this technique is rising because of its efficiency and reduced paperwork on their end.
The sample chapters and proposal material may be placed on the web in various formats. The most common formats are: HTML, PDF and MS Word. Both PDF and MS Word documents can be linked for download. Because of the size of these files, they should not be sent to an agent or editor without prior permission. In any case, many business people have their e-mail set to reject files above a certain size, particularly attached document files.
Formatting the material in HTML is the most common method. It can be done quickly in many wordprocessing programs or hand edited depending upon the length of the sample. Obviously, several pages of material should not be placed on a single web page. It will also be ncesssary to have some form of basic navigation between the pages. For any business proposal web site, it's critical that the site be exceptionally clean, neat and professional. The background should be white, the text black and the header and navigation graphics minimalist. It should look as much as possible like the printed page. The only graphics that should stand out are those that must accompany the manuscript itself. For example, available screenshots for a technical title or photos for a non-fiction title.
PDF stands for "Portable Document Format" and is a file format created by Adobe. The big advantage of a PDF file is that you can send an electronic version of your exact layout. In addition, it's become a standard format for the publishing industry. It's based on the Postscript language which is used for making digital printing plates and color separations among other things. In order to create a PDf file, you'll need either Adobe Acrobat software (not just the Acrobat reader, but the actual software) or a software package that has the Acrobat Distiller technology built into it, such as Adobe Pagemaker. If you don't have a real need for high-end desktoop publishing software, this format isn't for you.
Microsoft Word is the most popular wordprocessor in the world. It is the business standard. Most writers are already using it and most business wordprocessor programs can read it. MS Word doesn't create small files and you have to have the ability to upload the file to your web site. You will also have to create a link to the file for downloading.
Of the three popular formats, HTML has the advantage of immediacy — the agent or editor can begin reading your material as soon as he or she connects to the web page.
But What About Security?
Unless you actually promote the URL to the web address, it's highly unlikely anyone will accidentally stumble across it. Most people have to work very hard to even get themselves listed in a search engine! You can use a number of security methods to limit access to the pages. The most common method is password protection using .htaccess. The downside of these additional security methods, is that the editor or agent must remember — and correctly enter — the security codes you provide them. It's one more step between the editor or agent and your material. Simply distributing the URL only to the editors and agents you want to see the material and not including links to the pages anywhere else, should provide sufficient security. Particularly since you are only posting sample chapters and not the full manuscript.
Commerical Showcase Web Sites
There are also a number of web site designed to showcase writers' works. Most require the writer have a completed manuscript and charge varying fees for posting. The concept is viable, but I haven't actually tried any of these services, so I offer no warranties or guaranties. Investiage any online business thoroughly, getting references and checking in the appropriate mailing lists, usenet, forum or BBS communities to get the opinions and experiences of others before paying for any business services that you are unfamiliar with.
- AuthorLink
Only ready-to-submit manuscripts may be showcased via a quick synopses, excerpts and author resumes. Prices are by quarterly subscription at US$105/12-months, US$57/6-months, and US$36/3-months plus an additional setup fee of US$20-30.
- Authors Choice
Manuscripts may be showcased in an authors' marketplace. Prices were unavailable.
- iUniverse
Part writer's showcase, part Print-on-Demand publisher. All manuscripts are reviewed and comments for improvement are provided, but only manuscripts that pass the editorial board are accepted for PoD publication and showcasing on the site. Works in partnership with Writer's Digest and owned by Barnes and Noble. Cost US$299.
- New Writer's Market
Provides a manuscript showcase for writers along with advertisements of writer services. Prices unavailable at the time of writing this article.
- Query Guild
A new showcase for aspiring fiction and screenplay writers to publish a query, synopsis and sequential sample of a completed manuscript. At the time of writing, novelist could take advantage of a free trial period.
- Writer's Line
Showcases to agents, editors and publishers completed fiction, non-fiction and screenplays, story treatments and unfinished non-fiction with samples and synopsis. Costs run US$19.95/3-months.
- Writer's Moon Author Showcase
A showcase for manuscript partials and poetry for review by agents and publishers. Cover letter, author name, bio and manuscript partial(s) are listed depending upon the package. A number of additional services, such a author site hosting and web site design, are offered in a smorgesboard of pricing. Basic price ranges are US$35-50/3-months, US$65-85/6-months and US$90-140/12-months.
- Writers' Showplace Inc.
A literary referral agency for completed manuscripts only. Posts an Author's query letter (w/author bio) and first 2,500 words of a completed novel in a specified genre. Rated 1 of the top 3 Internet agencies by Writer's Digest, 10, 2000. Charges US$75/12-weeks.
Find out how to arrange an independent consultation or a workshop for your conference or organization on this or any other Internet-related topic.
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Copyright ©1995-2001 Carolyn E. Cooper. All rights reserved.
carolynecooper.com, web site consultation, workshops, design and development. Contact us at cpadmin@caine.com.
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More and more writers are using the web to reduce postage costs, paper use and allow quick access to their work!
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