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The Book Bible: How to Sell Your Manuscript―No Matter What Genre―Without Going Broke or Insane
A Brilliant, Buoyant Guide to Publishing Your Book
Hundreds of thousands of books come out every year worldwide. So why not yours? In The Book Bible, New York Times bestseller and wildly popular Manhattan writing professor Susan Shapiro reveals the best and fastest ways to break into a mainstream publishing house. Unlike most writing manuals that stick to only one genre, Shapiro maps out the rules of all the sought-after, sellable novels, memoirs, biography, how-to, essay collections, anthologies, humor, mystery, crime, poetry, picture books, young adult and middle grade, fiction and nonfiction. Shapiro once worried that selling 16 books in varied sub-sections made her a literary dabbler. Yet after helping her students publish many award-winning bestsellers on all shelves of the bookstore, she realized that her versatility had a huge upside. She could explain, from personal experience, the differences in making each kind of book, as well as ways to find the right genre for every project and how to craft a winning proposal or great cover letter to get a top agent and book editor to say yes.
This valuable guide will teach both new and experienced scribes how to attain their dream of becoming a successful author.
Hundreds of thousands of books come out every year worldwide. So why not yours? In The Book Bible, New York Times bestseller and wildly popular Manhattan writing professor Susan Shapiro reveals the best and fastest ways to break into a mainstream publishing house. Unlike most writing manuals that stick to only one genre, Shapiro maps out the rules of all the sought-after, sellable novels, memoirs, biography, how-to, essay collections, anthologies, humor, mystery, crime, poetry, picture books, young adult and middle grade, fiction and nonfiction. Shapiro once worried that selling 16 books in varied sub-sections made her a literary dabbler. Yet after helping her students publish many award-winning bestsellers on all shelves of the bookstore, she realized that her versatility had a huge upside. She could explain, from personal experience, the differences in making each kind of book, as well as ways to find the right genre for every project and how to craft a winning proposal or great cover letter to get a top agent and book editor to say yes.
This valuable guide will teach both new and experienced scribes how to attain their dream of becoming a successful author.
240 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2022
45 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 16, 2022
3.5. I don't understand why this book has such a high rating. It's the same advice you will find in other books and online but in a Buzzfeed style listing. It was up tempo and an easy read, but otherwise just average.
January 8, 2022
THE BOOK BIBLE is the perfect title for this book because it comprehensively lays out what you should do if you want to write and publish a book in any genre. It's witty and fun to read while also being very practical. I'd use this book in my classes if I were still teaching. Even as a seasoned writer, I still got quite a bit out of it. Very readable and inspiring. (I was fortunate to get an ARC of this book for an honest review.)
November 9, 2022
Specific Useful Guidance
I chose this title because I follow Susan on social media and she seems smart, practical and snarky. I had nonfiction books published by major houses much earlier in my life but recently have written fiction. I’m clueless and agent-less ( She retired) but still confident that my work has marketable potential.
This book was perfect. Great advice presented with humor and warmth.
Highly recommend for anyone on the “I think I can/should/deserve to sell a book” spectrum.
I chose this title because I follow Susan on social media and she seems smart, practical and snarky. I had nonfiction books published by major houses much earlier in my life but recently have written fiction. I’m clueless and agent-less ( She retired) but still confident that my work has marketable potential.
This book was perfect. Great advice presented with humor and warmth.
Highly recommend for anyone on the “I think I can/should/deserve to sell a book” spectrum.
Read
April 4, 2022super helpful for writers trying to decide what to write or how to adjust a project to fit a genre. Susan will be a guest on my podcast in the future but don't worry GoodReads I will not put a link or any info about that interview.
September 17, 2022
A bare bones book on writing books.
October 30, 2021
Great read for aspiring authors and those wanting to get published! Lots of insider info, written in a funny and engaging style. My full review will be in Booklist.
July 9, 2022
Need to stop reading books like this, it's all the same advice.
February 1, 2022
I wish it was clearly indicated who this book was targeted to in the marketing. If I had any idea this was meant for people who were completely new to the world of "writing to be published" I would not have purchased this book. Reading advice like "take writing classes," "make sure to revise," and "read current works in your genre" told me this book was not for experienced writers.
I was also bothered by the fact that portions of the book contradicted other portions. She wrote, "If you're not familiar with fiction currently being published, chances are you won't write it well." This is sound but basic advice. Then in the genre section she recommends specific titles. Under science fiction the novels she list were puzzling. With one exception all the books she lists were anywhere from 30 to 70 years old! Knowing the classics of a genre is important but to mention only one current author does not help a writer become "familiar with fiction currently being published."
She included a glossary in this book. I was surprised by many of the terms she felt needed defining.
"Humor Book: A funny book that can be fiction, nonfiction or graphic"
"Historical Novel: Fiction based on stories from a past period of history" (The wording of the definition made me cringe.)
and my favorite,
"Author: The writer of a book.
Even the if this book was intended for middle grade students wanting to be writers, I cannot understand the reason for definitions like these. These feel like definitions for elementary school students.
I think it would've been better titled something like "Welcome to the World of Writing to be Published."
One star review because really poor marketing decisions and questionable choices within the book.
I was also bothered by the fact that portions of the book contradicted other portions. She wrote, "If you're not familiar with fiction currently being published, chances are you won't write it well." This is sound but basic advice. Then in the genre section she recommends specific titles. Under science fiction the novels she list were puzzling. With one exception all the books she lists were anywhere from 30 to 70 years old! Knowing the classics of a genre is important but to mention only one current author does not help a writer become "familiar with fiction currently being published."
She included a glossary in this book. I was surprised by many of the terms she felt needed defining.
"Humor Book: A funny book that can be fiction, nonfiction or graphic"
"Historical Novel: Fiction based on stories from a past period of history" (The wording of the definition made me cringe.)
and my favorite,
"Author: The writer of a book.
Even the if this book was intended for middle grade students wanting to be writers, I cannot understand the reason for definitions like these. These feel like definitions for elementary school students.
I think it would've been better titled something like "Welcome to the World of Writing to be Published."
One star review because really poor marketing decisions and questionable choices within the book.
September 12, 2023
I guess this book actually does what it sets out to do and that is give a lot of sound advice to budding authors who want to get their work published. But it's a bit of a bore and certainly very repetitious. Susan is apparently a well published author and has a formula which presumably works ...in terns of getting a book published and selling some copies. But ...that's the root of the boredom....it's formulaic. Basically, my take-aways are 1. Get yourself a good agent, 2. Do what the agent tells you to do 3. Write short pieces in well known magazines so that you have some sort of track record and some evidence that there is a market for your subject. 4. Read widely across the genre that you are writing in. She runs through a whole set of different genres: non fiction autobiography, non fiction biography, comedy writing, poetry, graphic art books, kids books, Sci Fi and horror and the variations on these themes, Fiction....for kids, young adults, Adults. But it's always the same formula: "How not to approach an agent....first. I found this got a bit repetitive and predictable . But maybe people DO write to an agent when they have finished writing a book and have no idea that this agent doesn't handle that kind of book, etc. etc.
I think if I was writing a book that I would actually go back and read the relevant chapter very closely. But, on the other hand, I have written a book which was translated into three languages.....and got paid for it..... but nothing that Susan Shapiro wrote was relevant to the rather technical manual that I wrote. Nor, I suspect, was her book relevant to most of the stuff that I read.....which is non-fiction technical or scientific in nature. Frankly, I'm not interested in her efforts to get off drugs or her negative experiences with five different guys. Though, to be fair, I guess these are the sort of books that become best sellers. And, when Amazon sends me a great special on "best sellers" I usually just delete it because I'm hardly ever interested in "best sellers".
There is a lot in this book that is going to be relevant to authors ...especially authors in the USA (the really big market). In fact, with all the name dropping of authors she had worked with and people in the industry I was a bit overwhelmed. Clearly, there is a LOT of competition out there and writing is not for the faint hearted.
Here's a few gems that I noted whilst reading:
"You need an agent to find you a top publisher, negotiate the contract to get you a higher fee than you’d get yourself, pay you what you’re owed after their 15 percent commission, and intervene if there are problems with your publisher. "
"Chapter Breakdowns: To let a publisher know your book’s content, you should pen detailed lines on what each section will cover. Again, this shouldn’t read like a rough outline of post-it notes to yourself. Use anecdotes, quotes and specifics that flesh out the prose. Make sure every chapter has a clear purpose that builds on the last section and leads to the next"
"Read many short bios on the last book page to see what they usually include and how concise they need to be.
"Sample Pages: This is the most important part. In my experience, brilliant sample material could sell a book without some of the other elements. It’s customary to use the first two chapters, on average about 25 pages." .......Suggest who will buy your book.... for example the target group is a father facing a midlife crisis........ write a list of who might buy this: Male Readers. Parents. People Who Are Divorced. Baby Boomers. And don’t be general, add details such as how there are 76 + million Baby Boomers, and it’s the largest sector of the population and an unusually self-reflective group. .........In each case, say what your book has in common with the comparable title you list, and how it is different. Do not trash any other book, even if you didn’t like it or feel yours is way better. Be positive or at least neutral,
Even if you’re proposing a political treatise, show flashes of lively writing, dazzling dialogue and riveting scenes, peppering in the kind of idiosyncratic details that stay with readers.
The quickest route to rejection is sending someone a manuscript in a genre they don’t work in. If you Google well, you will learn that Oliver is not interested in science fiction or historical novels, romance, erotica, young adult, middle-grade, fantasy or screenplays.
"You probably won’t sell a novel with a proposal, treatment, summary or a few chapters, or even half the book, the way nonfiction can often be sold. You’ll have to finish the whole shebang.......Publishing three novels and reviewing thousands over the years, I’ve found the average fictional project from mainstream publishers is 230 pages double-spaced (how technophobes like me calculate length) or about 60,000 words (how the rest of the world counts). My own first (comic, non-award-winning) novel took thirteen years from start to publication....... (Google: “Bestselling award-winning novels” with your subgenre.) Consider this your homework and prerequisite research, to see what’s already out there, what’s possible and what you might be able to add to the field. ........I never met anyone who sat alone at home, finished a book of fiction they submitted and received a call saying, “We love it and will send you a lot of money."
"I was disappointed having a small publisher. “Focus on the end game,” a colleague advised. “Write for love. This book will do good in the world.” .....And then, a magazine editor who read the book offered me a monthly column paying $ 1,000 each, which I did for five years, ultimately making more money than my larger advance would have. I was so glad I’d kept an open mind, took my editor’s advice and compromised".
"There is no one surefire way to sell your manuscript. If you ask twelve debut authors how their projects saw print, they’ll probably share thirteen different paths. .....Often an agent will contact writers after reading a piece they admire in a big newspaper or magazine.
And a few nice thoughts: “Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution.”—Albert Einstein. “The highest form of wisdom is kindness.”—The Talmud
OK...a little bit boring and I'd recommend any potential author to just focus on the genre section that they are writing for. But very practical and helpful. I give it three stars.
I think if I was writing a book that I would actually go back and read the relevant chapter very closely. But, on the other hand, I have written a book which was translated into three languages.....and got paid for it..... but nothing that Susan Shapiro wrote was relevant to the rather technical manual that I wrote. Nor, I suspect, was her book relevant to most of the stuff that I read.....which is non-fiction technical or scientific in nature. Frankly, I'm not interested in her efforts to get off drugs or her negative experiences with five different guys. Though, to be fair, I guess these are the sort of books that become best sellers. And, when Amazon sends me a great special on "best sellers" I usually just delete it because I'm hardly ever interested in "best sellers".
There is a lot in this book that is going to be relevant to authors ...especially authors in the USA (the really big market). In fact, with all the name dropping of authors she had worked with and people in the industry I was a bit overwhelmed. Clearly, there is a LOT of competition out there and writing is not for the faint hearted.
Here's a few gems that I noted whilst reading:
"You need an agent to find you a top publisher, negotiate the contract to get you a higher fee than you’d get yourself, pay you what you’re owed after their 15 percent commission, and intervene if there are problems with your publisher. "
"Chapter Breakdowns: To let a publisher know your book’s content, you should pen detailed lines on what each section will cover. Again, this shouldn’t read like a rough outline of post-it notes to yourself. Use anecdotes, quotes and specifics that flesh out the prose. Make sure every chapter has a clear purpose that builds on the last section and leads to the next"
"Read many short bios on the last book page to see what they usually include and how concise they need to be.
"Sample Pages: This is the most important part. In my experience, brilliant sample material could sell a book without some of the other elements. It’s customary to use the first two chapters, on average about 25 pages." .......Suggest who will buy your book.... for example the target group is a father facing a midlife crisis........ write a list of who might buy this: Male Readers. Parents. People Who Are Divorced. Baby Boomers. And don’t be general, add details such as how there are 76 + million Baby Boomers, and it’s the largest sector of the population and an unusually self-reflective group. .........In each case, say what your book has in common with the comparable title you list, and how it is different. Do not trash any other book, even if you didn’t like it or feel yours is way better. Be positive or at least neutral,
Even if you’re proposing a political treatise, show flashes of lively writing, dazzling dialogue and riveting scenes, peppering in the kind of idiosyncratic details that stay with readers.
The quickest route to rejection is sending someone a manuscript in a genre they don’t work in. If you Google well, you will learn that Oliver is not interested in science fiction or historical novels, romance, erotica, young adult, middle-grade, fantasy or screenplays.
"You probably won’t sell a novel with a proposal, treatment, summary or a few chapters, or even half the book, the way nonfiction can often be sold. You’ll have to finish the whole shebang.......Publishing three novels and reviewing thousands over the years, I’ve found the average fictional project from mainstream publishers is 230 pages double-spaced (how technophobes like me calculate length) or about 60,000 words (how the rest of the world counts). My own first (comic, non-award-winning) novel took thirteen years from start to publication....... (Google: “Bestselling award-winning novels” with your subgenre.) Consider this your homework and prerequisite research, to see what’s already out there, what’s possible and what you might be able to add to the field. ........I never met anyone who sat alone at home, finished a book of fiction they submitted and received a call saying, “We love it and will send you a lot of money."
"I was disappointed having a small publisher. “Focus on the end game,” a colleague advised. “Write for love. This book will do good in the world.” .....And then, a magazine editor who read the book offered me a monthly column paying $ 1,000 each, which I did for five years, ultimately making more money than my larger advance would have. I was so glad I’d kept an open mind, took my editor’s advice and compromised".
"There is no one surefire way to sell your manuscript. If you ask twelve debut authors how their projects saw print, they’ll probably share thirteen different paths. .....Often an agent will contact writers after reading a piece they admire in a big newspaper or magazine.
And a few nice thoughts: “Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution.”—Albert Einstein. “The highest form of wisdom is kindness.”—The Talmud
OK...a little bit boring and I'd recommend any potential author to just focus on the genre section that they are writing for. But very practical and helpful. I give it three stars.
February 2, 2022
I adore this brilliant book and am so glad to own it! I’m a connoisseur of writing how-to books and this is by far the best of its class – so good in fact that it breaks the mold. The Book Bible breaks down the complicated and mysterious world of publishing for every author, whether aspiring or pro. Shapiro provides up-to-date tips for breaking into fiction, nonfiction, and every subgenre in between such as cookbooks, humor and picture books.
Sue's conversational and witty tone makes you feel as if you’re chatting with a personal mentor who wants to see you succeed; in fact, each chapter begins with a pithy list of what NOT to do to help you avoid the most common pitfalls. Sue also interviews numerous experts and gives advice from her own mentors who helped her in an impressive 17-book career. If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book one day, you need to own this book.
Sue's conversational and witty tone makes you feel as if you’re chatting with a personal mentor who wants to see you succeed; in fact, each chapter begins with a pithy list of what NOT to do to help you avoid the most common pitfalls. Sue also interviews numerous experts and gives advice from her own mentors who helped her in an impressive 17-book career. If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book one day, you need to own this book.
February 26, 2022
Oh, the number of sections I highlighted, underlined, and bedazzled with glitter in this book! Shapiro is straightforward and clear. Her understanding of the business of publishing is broad and her advice indeed reads like gospel. To back all of it up, she has a long list of her own publications and success stories from her students. This is a practical and essential guide, one I will be flipping through again as I work on my current manuscript and while writing others in the years to come.
March 29, 2022
Coupled with “The Byline Bible,” this book is an incredible guide for aspiring authors. Susan offers insight into every genre and demystifies querying and the proposal process in an enjoyable read. Her what-not-to-do sections made me laugh out loud. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to get published. - Sara Neufeld
May 7, 2022
Susan Shapiro has done it again: put together a precisely perfect guide book for aspiring writers. The Book Bible answered all my questions in the most accessible, brief, and entertaining way. I couldn't have asked for anything better. Thank you!
March 3, 2022
Covered what I needed it to cover for me. Brought knowledge to me head about craft and what is involved. Clear and humorous and real.
March 1, 2024
Susan Shapiro covers a wide range of publishing topics in this book, drilling down into every genre. It's a little repetitive in places but I think that's probably because I could imagine readers jumping around to sections that are more relevant to them. Even though I primarily write memoir and literary fiction, I read the whole book and actually learned some interesting things about children's books and other areas I had not considered. In fact, I found one of her main points to be quite helpful and it changed my mindset: You don't have to limit yourself to one genre as a writer. I've been caught up in that. I'm a Fiction Writer. Do I want my brand to be muddled if I write a nonfiction book or a kid's book? She points out plenty of writers who have done so successfully and states that it's an honor to be published, so even if you have to bend a little to get it done it's worth it. Good advice.
January 1, 2023
This is the publishing reference guide you've been wishing for. If you are interested in being published in any way this book will guide you through all genres, and sub-genres. She tells you what you need to do to reach success. Each chapter touches on a different area of publishing and often starts with a sarcastic how NOT to do it list.
I attended a workshop led by Susan Shapiro at a Writer's Digest novel writing conference many years ago and loved her straightforward way of presenting and the hefty dose of humor she adds. Her sensibility is similar to Jen Sincero's (Your Are a Badass), thoroughly enjoyable (if you are also a bit of a smart ass).
I attended a workshop led by Susan Shapiro at a Writer's Digest novel writing conference many years ago and loved her straightforward way of presenting and the hefty dose of humor she adds. Her sensibility is similar to Jen Sincero's (Your Are a Badass), thoroughly enjoyable (if you are also a bit of a smart ass).
February 14, 2023
The Book Bible: How to Sell Your Manuscript - No Matter What Genre - Without Going Broke or Insane by Susan Shapiro (Skyhorse Publishing 2022) (070.52) (3725).
I thought I’d sample something new here. I have now done so.
Has author Susan Shapiro given good advice in this volume? I wouldn’t know. Sorry, Susan, but I’m not going to help sell this book. In fact, I didn’t even buy a copy. I checked this out from my local public library, so I got my money’s worth.
My rating: 7/10, finished 2/13/23 (3725).
December 23, 2024
As the author of 17 books, both fiction and nonfiction, Susan Shapiro gives expert advice in The Book Bible: How to Sell Your Manuscript—No Matter What Genre—Without Going Broke or Insane.
Shapiro covers multiple categories and genres (memoir, how-to, children’s lit., adult, etc.) and advises on how to sell your book by discerning its genre and querying literary agents.
In an upbeat, humorous style, Shapiro offers comprehensive, practical advice that any serious writer would be wise to take. I look forward to doing so and seeing where her wisdom leads me.
Shapiro covers multiple categories and genres (memoir, how-to, children’s lit., adult, etc.) and advises on how to sell your book by discerning its genre and querying literary agents.
In an upbeat, humorous style, Shapiro offers comprehensive, practical advice that any serious writer would be wise to take. I look forward to doing so and seeing where her wisdom leads me.
September 1, 2022
A lot of good info if you're just starting out at the writing business or are doing, as she recommends endlessly, swapping genres from fiction to non-fiction or memoir to YA and know nothing about this other genre. Doesn't actually address the second half of that subtitle if you ask me.
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July 25, 2023This was a nice toe dip into publishing… I picked it up at the library and it was cathartic to read (it was more of a skim for me) and see the wider scope of the publishing industry since I would love to publish a book someday… made the concept a little more real 💖
December 19, 2022
After reading the first few chapters (library loan) I decided this was a must have and purchased it outright. It is filled with hundreds of examples on how to write, market, and sell your book, manuscript or essay. Susan "cracked the code" to get published after many years of trying and she shares all of that information and more with her readers!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews