Give 'Em What They Want: The Right Way to Pitch Your Novel to Editors and Agents

by Blythe Camenson, Marshalll J. Cook

Learn how to craft a killer pitch - and get your novel published today. One of a writer's most difficult tasks is crafting a submission package. In order to get published you need to compose queries, synopses, and outlines that will prove irresistible to agents and editors. Give 'Em What They Want uses step-by-step instructions to break down the process, making it easier than you thought possible to put together a query packet, sample chapters, outlines, synopses - everything you need to interest an agent or editor in your novel. Inside you'll

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

244 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2005

Reviews

[David Katzman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I died a little bit inside when I read this book. Yes, I should know better. When I write about self-publishing, the recurrent theme is that “publishing is a business.” And the goal of a business is to make money. (With a few exceptions, those being a selection of small presses that look to break even in order to present artistically valuable, non-commerical work.) The big however is that being an artist is not a business. Being an artist is about creating something new, a form, whether it be on stage, on the written page, or on a canvas. Then, once you’ve poured your heart into a work, you need to decide whether it’s publishable or salable, and if so to whom and how.

The problem with this book is that it never acknowledges the artist. By contrast, I recommend a book that covers the exact same strategies and advice as this one, but presents it in a way that understands the struggles of the writer. Read my review of The Sell Your Novel Tool Kit by Elizabeth Lyon for a more humane and broader examination of the process of finding an agent or publisher.

Even the title “Give ‘Em What They Want” makes me rather ill. How about, no, “Create What You Want and If They Don’t Like It Then Screw ‘Em, Do It Yourself.” I’m not being completely fair because for most writers the goal is to get published. Even so, the question becomes, how can you be true to your artistic aspirations and the commercial needs of a publishing house? What is a matter of integrity and what is a matter of respectable editing? Each writer needs to decide within their own conscience and by their own goals what is important to them. But this book acts like the be-all, end-all goal is to be published at all costs.

Here's a story from this book:

Robert Walker…was nearly crushed when the synopsis for a book to be called Downfall got rejected. So he telephoned the editor and asked why he’d been turned down (something we usually advise against doing).
“Two reasons,” he remembers her replying. “We’re doing long books now, not short. Our novels have to be at least 80,000 words, and that leaves Downfall 20,000 words short....[and:] we’re full up on mysteries right now. What we really need is more horror scripts.”
“All right. Give me a contract, and I’ll add 20,000 words and put in a monster.”
She agreed, and Walker had a sale. That’s flexibility.”

And that made me throw up a little in my mouth.

Some straightforward, decent tips in here for writing query letters, but I much preferred the presentation by Elizabeth Lyon.

[Judith Ann Kohnen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marvelous book for learning how to pitch your book! And a great how-to in writing query letters, synopses and outlines. Provides loads of examples ... even how to rewrite the bad ones. It's an easy read and one I've gone back to more than a few times.

[Davina Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most valuable tool on my bookshelf! Helps you navigate the publishing industry, write queries and walks you through the processes of acceptance and rejection. If you're an aspiring writer, read this!

[Amy Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good advice for first timers about formatting paper submissions and query letters. However, the section on email query versus snail mail query needs help! The same goes for the section with quotes from agents about what they're looking for. I have noticed over the years that generalizations about literary agents and the market are dangerous because we're talking about people and an industry that's all about "the exception." Also, I won't name names here, but the agent who claimed that email queries are effortless compared with paper submissions, so she doesn't take them as seriously really doesn't have a clue. Writing an effective e-query takes just as much time as writing an effective letter. The only steps the writer avoids are the trip to visit all the happy people at the post office and wasting paper and toner printing out a bunch of pages that may or may not ever be returned. As a writer, I have doubts about the idea of working with someone who has a bias against technophiles and who wants to do all their correspondence by snail mail. Yeck! I really don't understand the reasoning the agent used to determine the more effort/higher quality inquiry equation. Does she think manuscripts typed on a typewriter are superior to the ones written with a word processor? Sheesh.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although it seems to be a secret, this is a revised and expanded edition of "Your Novel Proposal: From Creation to Contract." That book was great, but this one is better. It has all of the information in the first book, and more.

Not only is the layout flashier, but there are more industry anecdotes and an extremely helpful new first chapter called "Creating a Salable Product." It is a must read for beginning novelists. I wish I had read it before I wrote my first novel, which showcases most of the items on their list of "First-Novel Problems."

[Bee Kapitan]

This is a clear way of outlining what is truly needed to make sense of your writing in order to publish your story.

The numerous post-it flags are splashes of neon extentions that make my edition look like piece of scared art.

This is a book that addresses what is needed and why.

Not giving this one away any time soon.

[April Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was written in 2005. Mostly seems like helpful advice, though some is outdated (sending queries as professional letters in snail mail, instead of quick blurbs in email).

It would be nice to see an agent's view of this book, or how their view of this book has changed in the last six years.

I underlined plenty in this book, and intend to check out websites I don't already have saved.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book I've read on getting published so far. It's extremely user friendly.

[Paullette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such good information! Some specifics might be a little dated, but overall very current & helpful.