A Playbook To Land Your First Book Deal

Read time: 4 minutes

Today I’m going to explain how most nonfiction writers land their first book deal.

As a senior editor, I’ve coached many discouraged writers who have spent hours tweaking and reworking their book, but they can’t seem to gain traction with publishers.

Their problem isn’t effort; it’s knowledge. Without a proven playbook, a lot of time is wasted.

There’s a better way.

The first step is to understand how book deals happen. If your goal is to publish your work with a reputable Christian publisher, make this newsletter your playbook. By the end, you’ll have a clearer picture what your next step should be.

A lot of writers wrongly assume the playbook looks like this:

Playbook #1:

Step 1: Create a concept

Step 2: Write the book

Step 3: Sell it to a publisher

Step 4: Launch and market the book

The problem with Playbook #1:

• It wrongly assumes you should write the whole book before pitching to publishers
• It’s missing a book proposal
• It’s missing a literary agent, which makes publishers less likely to take you seriously

Replace this flawed plan with Playbook #2:

Step 1: Create a concept

Step 2: Craft a book proposal

Step 3: Find a literary agent

Step 4: Pitch your book to publishers

Step 5: Land a book deal/sign contract

Step 6: Write the full book

Step 7: Launch/market your book

At first, it seems like Playbook 1 (4 steps) is easier than Playbook 2 (7 steps). But the number of steps does not indicate which one is easier.

Playbook #2 has a completely different goal sparks a crucial mindset shift that will make or break your publishing goal. Here it is:

Shift your focus from writing your book to presenting it.

This might seem like a small shift, but it changes everything. Some authors spend countless hours writing and rewriting, hoping the next version will win over a publisher. Instead of offering a finished product, work hard drafting the best possible preview of your book.

Borrowing from television, you’re trying to sell the pilot episode (chapters 1-2), so that—together with a publisher—you can produce the whole series (book).

So let’s unpack Playbook #2. At the end, I’ll suggest some next steps for you, wherever you’re at in this process.

Step 1: Create a concept

In the early stages of developing a book concept, don’t spend countless hours writing the whole thing. Instead, invite feedback early and often about your concept.

The 5 P’s framework is the best method I know of workshopping a book idea in the early stages.

You can download it for free on my website.

Step 2 and 3: Book proposal and literary agent

Once you’ve honed your concept, you need to package and present it in a brief book proposal. I say brief because you don’t need a full-fledged proposal yet—just enough to attract a literary agent.

Here’s what to include:

• Professional headshot (No blurry pictures where your family is awkwardly cropped out. Take yourself seriously!)
• A 1-paragraph bio highlighting your professional and writing experience
• Tentative title and subtitle of your book
• The 5 P’s of your book
• Table of contents (with 1-paragraph summaries of each chapter)

If you have graphic design skills, utilize them. If not, a basic Word doc or PDF with the following information will still give you an edge. This document should be 10 pages max, but ideally 5-6. Agents are busy, so put your best foot forward with brevity.

How do you find literary agents to send your proposal to? It sounds simple, but Google “best Christian literary agents” and start working through the list. (I just did this, and many of the top results are people I know and trust).

Btw, occasionally you’ll hear this question: Is a literary agent really necessary?

My answer: yes!

They are the gatekeepers of the industry. Many publishing houses, including Waterbrook and Multnomah (where I work), only accept submissions through agents.

Leverage their connections. It’s their job to help you!

Step 4: Pitch to publishers

Once you find an agent, they will help you strengthen your concept and build a full proposal. Then they’ll strategically send it out to publishers who may be interested. Since agents know book contracts inside and out, they’ll have your back, ensuring you get a fair advance and terms.

Step 5: Land a book deal!

This is the exciting part. If a publisher is interested in you, you’ll have an acquisitions call (or “author call”), with your agent, an editor, and likely several other people from the publishing house.

Essentially, it’s a first date.

If all goes well, they’ll send an offer letter. When you sign, you’re on your way to publishing a book!

Step 6: Write the book

Once you've signed a contract, now you can start writing your book. Depending on your contract, you’ll have 6-9 months to do so.

Because you’ve workshopped your book extensively and now have an editor at your disposal, you’ll write with more speed and clarity.

Step 7: Launch/market your book

Finally, once your book is written and edited, it will go on sale. Your publisher will employ marketing strategies to get the word out, but they'll also want you to have skin in the game.

Using whatever platform or networks you have, promote your book with gusto.

Your Next Move

I hope this playbook is helpful.

Depending on where you are in the process, identify which of the following is your next move. Carve out 1-2 hours, choose a specific date and time, put it in your calendar, and knock it out.

Possible next steps:

• Workshop your book using the 5 P’s
• Send your completed 5 P’s to 3 friends or colleagues for feedback
• Create your 1-page introduction (step 2-3), then email it to 5 literary agents

I hope this playbook focuses your efforts. If it helps you land your first (or next) book deal, let me know!

See you next week.