Perfect Pitch: Getting Me to Request Your Manuscript With Guest Susan Brower

Literary Agent Susan Brower

Rejection is a frustrating reality for the unpublished writer and it often feels like a personal attack from some unknown critic who holds your career in his/her hands. It’s like applying for a job and being told you are not the right fit, or the position has already been filled. I can tell you from experience, though, that editors and agents open your proposals with all the anticipation of a child on Christmas morning.  We love story, and we are dedicated to providing quality writing to readers.

Let’s assume you’ve followed my guidelines for queries and proposals. You’ve sent me your proposal as an attachment to an email and now you wait for the reply.

Why do I not ask to see the full manuscript after reading a proposal?

Ø  It’s not what I’m looking for right now. We have to follow trends of what is selling and where the market is saturated. Editors tell us what they are looking for and it makes sense to go out and find the genre, tone or style that they want.   

Ø  It’s not a good fit.  This really isn’t a cop out. There are books that I just don’t feel I can represent well. It’s in a genre that I am not comfortable with.  Usually this will be identified in the query stage, but I do try to focus on certain genres in both the mainstream and Christian markets. Regardless of the marketplace, I am not likely to ask for a complete manuscript that might have graphic violence and language. I also don’t care for horror or dark images that give me nightmares. I look for hopeful (not sappy) endings and justice for the bad guy.

Ø  I don’t like the characters. The hero is weak or arrogant; the heroine has no spine. I may feel sorry for them, hope they are able to change, but I have got to care about them from the very beginning.

Ø  The synopsis indicates that there are just too many plots; I just can’t see how the writer can wrap everything up without having a hurried ending or a confused reader.

Ø  The story is too “issue” driven. I am not interested in politics or issue-driven agendas. If they show me something about the characters, fine. But don’t tell me an opinion. 

Ø  The writing in the sample chapters is not compelling. Dialog is stiff, characters are not likeable, and there is no sense of time or place.  You’ve got to show me your very best writing in every part of the proposal.

To get me to request a full manuscript, you have to draw my interest from the very beginning. I should be pulled through the document from the first Jacket Blurb to the last page of the Sample Chapters. I should be tearing my hair out that I don’t have more chapters to read right away.  That’s a compelling proposal. My favorite quotes capture the feeling I anticipate with every novel I read. 

“…fiction does its work by creating a dream in the readers mind.” “…one of the chief mistakes a writer can make is to allow or force the reader’s mind to be distracted, even momentarily by the fictional dream.”— The Art of Fiction by John Gardner

I love this!  So what am I looking for in the proposals I come across now?

Ø  The Jacket Blurb is intriguing and fits the genre in which the novel will fit. I am reading it just like I would be reading a blurb in the bookstore or on the internet. You have five seconds to get my attention.

Ø  The hook has to be something that I can use to 1) identify the publisher that will be the best fit for this author and 2) focus the marketing on one key them that readers will respond to.

Ø  The synopsis gives me a beginning, middle and ending and a general idea of how the main characters are going to make that journey. Identify their biggest hurdles and tell me how they are resolved. Include major plots and subplots.

Ø  Much of the marketing is something I can work on with an author.  But I need to know that you are willing to partner with your publisher to promote and publicize.

Ø  I would also like to know your ideas for future novels. Is this the first book in a series? Briefly tell me about plans for your next 2-3 books. 

Ø  Show me something unique. This is very subjective, but what I want to see is something that fits within a popular genre like suspense, but has a new twist.

Ø  I love emotion in the novels I read and I want to care enough about the characters to cry.  Show me in your synopsis or overview how you are going to engage the reader on a deeper level.

Ø  I want to read about strong women, flawed heroes, and tragic characters. I like to read about community and friendship and dogs…yes, dogs.

The #1 way to attract my attention is to learn your craft! If I have a well-written story that shows the writers talent and ability, I am more than willing to work on the market and find the right audience.

Questions?  Do you get enough feedback from agents on your proposals? How do you respond to criticism? What recommendations would you make to your fellow authors?  Have you learned anything new about how writing proposals? What is your biggest takeaway?

A chance to pitch to Susan Brower. We can all learn how she wants you to pitch to her the next two days--but you are eligible to enter the contest--ONLY if you were involved in SPEEDBO--The rules are under the rules tab at the top of the page for our PERFECT PITCH CONTEST!

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Sue Brower is an agent with Natasha Kern Literary Agent www.natashakern.com. She is looking for novels in the Suspense, Romance (contemporary and historical), and Women’s Fiction categories.  She is also a consultant and freelance developmental editor at Susan Brower Editorial www.susanbrower.com. 

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