What's Your P-IQ (Publishing Intelligence Quotient)?

What's Your PIQ (Publishing Intelligence Quotient)?

How much do you know about publishing and writing for today's market? Take the P-IQ test and find out. Remember: When you know what you don't know, you've taken the first step toward success in the publishing world.

1. Agents typically get most of their new clients from query letters. True or False?

2. The most important aspect of the book you want to write is the idea behind it. True or False?

3. Anybody with a great idea can get published. True or False?

4. Even complete manuscripts must be accompanied by a compelling book proposal. True or False?

5. Publishers and agents like books by “ordinary people” who can give a more common-sense perspective on an issue or problem. True or False?

6. Writing isn't so important because editors will help you fine tune your manuscript. True or False?

7. Agents prefer to be contacted by phone or email. True or False?

8. To ensure that you get an agent as quickly as possible, do a blanket mailing to as many agents as you can find who might be interested. True or False?

9. Your profile and qualifications as an author are just as important as your idea. True or False?

10. Editors in publishing houses have the final say on the books they acquire. True or False?

Answers

1. False. Most agents, especially the most successful ones, get their new clients by referrals from other clients or from other publishing professionals. Most agents say that they accept queries and are open to new clients, yet they reject more than 90% or more of the queries they receive.

2. False. Your profile as an author — which includes your visibility, publishing track record, the quality of your writing, your credentials, and your ability to help promote your book — is just as important as your idea.

3. False. There are a lot of great book ideas floating around, but many do not end up between the covers of a book. You need a compelling author profile as well as a well-developed idea and excellent writing skills.

4. True. A manuscript can't always speak for itself. The book proposal puts your book idea into the context of the market — it explains to agents and editors why it will sell, who will buy and read it, who you are and how you will help promote the book, why your book is needed as an alternative to other published books, and why it is organized and conceptualized in a particular way.

5. False. Many aspiring authors, especially those who have written books based on their personal passions or interests, believe that their informal credentials are an advantage. They may say something like, "I care deeply about this subject. I've studied it for ten years, and now I want to share what I've learned. The fact that I'm giving the lay person's point of view will make my book distinctive and successful." This assumption may seem reasonable, but it just doesn't fly in the publishing world. Agents know that publishers are looking for writers who have authority and expertise as well as passion. Otherwise, how can they be sure that the book is valid, that it's not just one person's opinion? We all have opinions, but they are just that unless we can back them up with some sort of expertise and credibility. In publishing, lack of formal professional expertise is almost never seen as an advantage.

6. False. Editors today are under a great deal of time pressure; they do a lot more than just sign up authors and edit books. And that means they have less time to edit your manuscript. They are looking for good, solid writing that needs little editorial work. Many authors work with editors throughout the writing process. If you feel unsure about your writing, you are well advised to work with a freelance editor.

7. False. Most agents are very busy — they don't like to answer calls from writers they don't know. What's more, most writers are not very good at pitching their ideas over the phone — they just don't make a good impression. The best way to get an agent's attention is to write a first-rate query letter. (Some agents accept email queries. Before you send one, verify that agents you approach read email queries. If they don't, you may not get a response.) Don't be afraid to sell yourself! Remember that the letter has only one purpose: to get the agent to ask to see your proposal or manuscript. Intrigue and charm them, but don't waste their time.

8. False. Mass mailings to agents rarely yield a quick or positive response. Nobody likes to get the equivalent of untargeted junk mail, including agents. Better to select a few (five to eight) agents from a reputable directory and spend your time crafting an intriguing, excellent query letter tailored to what you know about each one (current clients, particular interests, and so on).

9. True. Just as you have to write an employment résumé to tell prospective employers why they should hire you, you have to present yourself to agents or publishers as the perfect author for your book and the secret ingredient in its future success. There are very few exceptions to this emphasis on author platform, so take it seriously when you approach agents or editors.

10. False. Just as you have to sell your idea to an editor, the editor in turn has to sell your idea to her colleagues in an editorial acquisitions meeting. She has to make a case that you and your book are marketable, and stand a good chance of making money for the publisher. Even when editors love a project and work diligently to sell everybody else on it, they may not be able to get their colleagues to agree. An editor at a large, well-known publishing company once estimated that of the projects brought to the editorial acquisition meeting, perhaps only 50% met with enough enthusiasm so that the editor was empowered to offer a contract to the author.

What's your score?

8 - 10 correct: Congratulations! You're an insider!

5 - 7 correct: Not bad! You've got a foot in the door, but you can benefit from learning more about publishing.

0 - 5 correct: Give yourself and your book a much better chance by finding out more about how publishing works.