How to Pitch a Book Project?

[giganova]

Hi all!

I have recently completed a photo project (coal towns in West Virginia) that I would like to have published as a photo book.

• Do book publishers accept unsolicited submission?
• How do you approach book publishers? Write them an email, send a letter?
• How do you present your work? Web site, printed portfolio, a sef-printed book mockup (e.g., Blurb), or send a thumb drive?

Would be happy if you could share your experience or thoughts!

 

[mpaniagua]

Never published a book before but I'm working a proyect as a gift for friends. Check Blurb.

http://www.blurb.com/

 

[aizan]

yeah, it's ok to contact a publisher out of the blue. you'll want to write a cover letter explaining why your book would interest their audience and send a PDF with sample images.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Go to the bookstores and see who publishes similar books.

Write to appropriate publishers with a BRIEF covering letter. On a separate sheet provide a synopsis and chapter breakdown. Also provide sample pictures.

You would be well advised to buy a copy of the Writers' and Artists Yearbook.: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B011U4EBKE/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 This will tell you who to contact, and in what format.

Rejection rates are very high, so keep re-submitting until you run out of publishers or enthusiasm -- or get an acceptance.

Cheers,

R.

 

[kxl]

Providing your Bona fides would be helpful.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Providing your Bona fides would be helpful.

Dear Keith,

Not sure what you mean. This is not a phrase I have ever encountered with respect to making a book submission (and I've made lots, and sold a fair few in the past).

Cheers,

R.

 

[kxl]

Dear Keith,

Not sure what you mean. This is not a phrase I have ever encountered with respect to making a book submission (and I've made lots, and sold a fair few in the past).

Cheers,

R.

Roger - as you know, Bona fides refer to the submitter's (author's, photographer's, etc...) credentials. In this case, Bona fides might include past photo book publications or acknowledged expertise in photography, or again specific to this, expertise about those coal mines.

As a personal example (not photo book related), I am currently writing a text book on data management that I plan to use in a course that I am teaching at a major university. In addition to my experience as course developer and instructor for that course (Data Management), my Bona fides would include my professional experience in this field; previous publication on this subject matter; membership of Advisory Board for data sciences at the same university; and, experience as speaker and expert panelist at data conferences.

My book pitch would include the above credentials, which hopefully would help a publisher's decision in my favor.

On the other hand, if I were to pitch a book on Renaissance Art or the History of Aircraft, I would have no such credentials.

Cheers,

-Keith

 

[Roger Hicks]

Roger - as you know, Bona fides refer to the submitter's (author's, photographer's, etc...) credentials. In this case, Bona fides might include past photo book publications or acknowledged expertise in photography, or again specific to this, expertise about those coal mines.

As a personal example (not photo book related), I am currently writing a text book on data management that I plan to use in a course that I am teaching at a major university. In addition to my experience as course developer and instructor for that course (Data Management), my Bona fides would include my professional experience in this field; previous publication on this subject matter; membership of Advisory Board for data sciences at the same university; and, experience as speaker and expert panelist at data conferences.

My book pitch would include the above credentials, which hopefully would help a publisher's decision in my favor.

On the other hand, if I were to pitch a book on Renaissance Art or the History of Aircraft, I would have no such credentials.

Cheers,

-Keith

Dear Keith,

No, I don't know. I have never heard the phrase bona fides (literally, "good faith") used in this context. It must be an American usage, and not a common one at that: I don't recall my New Yprk agent ever using it. How would you distinguish it from "credentials"? Or, more simply still, from qualifications (formal or informal) and experience? And of course knowledge, enthusiasm and skill?

Addendum: I just asked Frances, who is American, and she'd never heard the usage either. Is it recent? We've not lived in the USA since 1992 and have only visited the country six or eight times in this century.

Cheers,

R.

 

[dasuess]

It is being used quite a bit regarding the credentials of the two nominees in the current presidential election here in the US.


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[giganova]

Good advice!

Does 20 sample images sound about right or is it too little/much?

Would submitting a book mockup with Blurb help or is that overkill?

 

[kxl]

It is being used quite a bit regarding the credentials of the two nominees in the current presidential election here in the US.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Roger - what David said--akin to credentials but encompassing so much more. I've heard it used in that context in the past 15-20 years, at least in the US.

While it literally does mean good faith, dictionaries often assign "credentials" as a secondary or tertiary definition.

 

[Bob Michaels]

I have recently completed a photo project (coal towns in West Virginia) that I would like to have published as a photo book.
..........
Would be happy if you could share your experience or thoughts!

I see the key question is:
1) do you want to try to make a profit on this book? or,
2) is this a way of spreading your information to those outside your circle?

I see that as determining if you turn left or turn right when you walk out your front door.

 

[michaelwj]

Why not PM a few members who have books out there? NY_Dan and cole come to mind immediately - I see cole has just got a book up for sale now.
It could be that self-publishing is a good way to go, you might be able to get some pre-orders to cover the costs of the first print run and go from there. Either way I agree with Bob, what to you hope to get out of it? Sharing your work or making some money?
Good luck and keep us informed, some of us might like a copy when it's ready!

 

[x-ray]

Four years ago a longtime friend and professional writer decided to publish a book together. We had completed a very succesfull documentary that toured museums from 09 until spring of this year. One of the segments of the documentary was on the late moonshiner Popcorn Sutton who killed himself rather than go to federal prison for multiple felony offenses. My friend and I spent 3 years documenting his life including making illegal whiskey.

We knew from the responses regarding the segment on Popcorn in the show that there was a huge interest in him. In addition footage of him was used in the TV show Moonshiners. My friend wrote the book, my wife is a retired creative director and designer and designed it and I provided the photos.

As mentioned we self published and procured a really excellent printer we had worked with in the past. We also struck a deal for our printer to fulfill the orders. All three of us are old advertising guys so we knew how to promote our book. We did book signings in libraries, museums, book stores and even liquor stores. We also did numerous radio shows.

We did a nice book but our success was helped because our subject became an icon after his death. The TV show helped as well.

In the four years we've been selling the book we've sold thousands of copies. I don't have the exact number but sales exceeded six figures some time ago.

If you do as we did the profits will be much better but the losses are yours too. Good luck.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Roger - what David said--akin to credentials but encompassing so much more. I've heard it used in that context in the past 15-20 years, at least in the US.

While it literally does mean good faith, dictionaries often assign "credentials" as a secondary or tertiary definition.

Dear Keith,

Thanks. In other words, yes, it is a recent US usage.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Good advice!

Does 20 sample images sound about right or is it too little/much?

Would submitting a book mockup with Blurb help or is that overkill?

Probably the top end of how many to send; I'd say 12-20. Refer them to your web-site also.

The value of a Blurb mock-up will depend on who sees the proposal. Some will think, "Yes, this could work". Others will thinks, "This person is trying to teach me my job."

I repeat: get a Writers' and Artists' Yearbook. It's full of excellent advice on exactly the topics you need to know about, and the individual publishers'entries (it's a directory) will tell you what formats they prefer for submissions.

Cheers,

R.

 

[chasfreeland]

Find a publisher whose books you like. Find out if that publisher has a website. Often, a publisher's website will have instructions or information for persons seeking to submit a manuscript or project. They will instruct you as to exactly what materials (photos, for eg.) are required before submitting your project. A CV may be required, for example, or a couple of sample chapters, or an outline. Publishers will then screen your submission before you submit a completed work. After this initial screening process, if they like what they see, their acquisitions editor(s) will then ask you to submit the completed work.
But my advice is to seek out the websites of the publishers with whom you'd like to see your work published and find out exactly from that what's required. Good luck.

 

[Talus]

Dear Keith,

No, I don't know. I have never heard the phrase bona fides (literally, "good faith") used in this context. It must be an American usage, and not a common one at that: I don't recall my New Yprk agent ever using it. How would you distinguish it from "credentials"? Or, more simply still, from qualifications (formal or informal) and experience? And of course knowledge, enthusiasm and skill?

Addendum: I just asked Frances, who is American, and she'd never heard the usage either. Is it recent? We've not lived in the USA since 1992 and have only visited the country six or eight times in this century.

Cheers,

R.

Just a note on "bona fide." It's an English term meaning "genuine" or "real." It's not often used in our language these days, but was very common a few decades ago. I would imagine the word has been adopted for usage as Keith had explained. Hope this clarifies.

Greg

 

[Roger Hicks]

Just a note on "bona fide." It's an English term meaning "genuine" or "real." It's not often used in our language these days, but was very common a few decades ago. I would imagine the word has been adopted for usage as Keith had explained. Hope this clarifies.

Greg

Dear Greg,

Oh, I'm familiar enough with the English usages. In law it was often used as a description of someone who did something in good faith, i.e. with the honest moral and intellectual belief that they were doing the right thing, cf. http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/bona+fide Another definition (1845) is as "opposed to fraud".

It was less used in the context of "real", though it was sometimes used in odd conjunctions: I have heard someone described as a bona fide idiot. It's just that I'd never heard it used as a near-synonym for "credentials". It seems, as I said, that it's a recent American usage, without (as far as I can see) any very good justification except that those who introduced the usage didn't know its origins, but thought it sounded impressive. Strictly, of course, it's bona fides; "fides", faith, is not the plural of "fide".

Cheers,

R.

 

[Big Ursus]

As chasfreeland said, you can often find out whether book publishers accept unsolicited submissions, by checking their web sites.

If they say they do, you should look for information on:
the name of the specific person you should approach;
whether he or she prefers emails;
and, which format the submission should be in,
as well as how many pictures he or she wants.

Of course, if that information isn't readily available, you can simply send emails to publishers who do books like yours, and ask for it.

Then, you should prepare to write what's known as a "query letter." You can get oodles of info about "queries" on the web. That will help you draft your cover letter, and tailor your resume.

By the way, a three month wait for a reply isn't unusual, so you might also want to ask whether they will accept "simultaneous submissions". That means, is it ok with the publisher if you pitch the same project to several publishers at the same time.

I hope this helps.