How to Get a Book Deal in 2024 (and Mistakes to Avoid)

There are several aspects to understanding how to get a book deal, and it’s not uncommon for authors to make mistakes during the querying process. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps of gaining representation for your manuscript. It’s important to remember that, as with most things in life, there are no guarantees. Rejection is often part of the process, but you can decrease the odds of that happening when you have the right toolkit.

How to get a book deal

It’s the $1 million question: How do you get a book deal? While there are no answers or tips that can guarantee you’ll receive a traditional publishing deal, the information in this article can help improve your chances. Because, before you can land a deal, a literary agent must like your work well enough to take a chance on you. They don’t get paid unless a traditional publisher picks it up, so agents set a high bar.

Is your book good enough to get a book deal?

It’s sometimes difficult to tell how great your book really is when you’re the one who has written it. That’s why authors use beta readers. Reliable beta readers can help identify problems that might be difficult for you (and your friends and family) to find. The best beta readers are lovers of the genre and are comfortable providing honest feedback, even when it’s not nice to hear. It’s better for beta readers to identify problems than it is for literary agents to find them.

You might also consider hiring an editor to work on your manuscript. While traditional publishing houses do have their own editors, working with one beforehand can elevate your book before an agent ever sees it. Of course, there are no guarantees; even the best stories, that have been edited to perfection, get rejected. But if you’re committed to making a book deal happen, professional editing is probably worth it.

Find literary agents

To get a book deal, you must query literary agents, but this is easier said than done. Finding agents who are accepting submissions from new authors can prove challenging, especially since some agents only accept certain genres. Query tracker is a good website to use for finding available literary agents. Here are some tips to keep you organized:

• Make a list of all the agents accepting submissions for your genre
• Note which literary agencies they work for
• It might be best to organize agents by agency (for example, if more than one agent works for a particular agency)
• Some agencies don’t allow you to query more than one of their literary agents at a time
• Take note of any special requests or interests each agent has
• Read through each agency’s submission guidelines, and jot down the information

How to find comp titles

Most literary agencies will ask for comp titles. These are book titles that are similar to your book (i.e., readers of those books would love yours). For the best chance at getting a book deal, choose book titles from authors the agent (or agency) has represented. However, it’s important to make sure your book is comparable to the comp titles, so that might not always be possible. Here are some more tips for choosing comp titles:

• Make sure you have read the books you’re considering as comp titles
• If it’s been while since you’ve read them, read them again
• Find out what authors the agent has represented, and research books by that author
• Comp titles should be bestselling books
• Consider reading newly published books in your genre

Write a synopsis

Most agents will ask for a synopsis. Although this is often confused with a book blurb, they are very different. A blurb doesn’t give away the ending; that would spoil things for your reader. However, agents want you to spoil the ending. They need to know what happens to know whether they want to give your book a chance. Your synopsis should make the ending clear and give the agent a sense of what leads to it.

Write a query letter

Your query letter will accompany your initial submission. You’ll talk a little about your book and a little about yourself. This is your chance to let agents know why they should take a chance on you. What makes you special or interesting? For non-fiction books, what makes you qualified to write on the subject?

Avoid pitching a book series

It’s not uncommon for authors to want to pitch entire book series, but it’s not suggested. Agents don’t know whether your book will hit the NYT Best Sellers’ List or not. They want to see how book one does before even considering a book two. For this reason, manuscripts that end on a cliffhanger (i.e., there’s no real resolution to the novel because it’s meant to continue) are likely a no-go.

Protect your manuscript

An agent isn’t likely to consider your book if it has been published elsewhere, whether self-published or through a non-traditional press. Even posting a certain portion of your work online could squash your chance to get a book deal. So, always protect your manuscript, and only share it with trusted family, friends, beta readers, and editors.

How to get book deal: FAQs

Getting a book deal can be a long and stressful process, and not all authors have the opportunity to work with a traditional publisher. But the good news is that it’s possible, even for new authors. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions.

Is it hard to get a publishing deal?

Most authors don’t get a book deal, so, yes, the consensus is that it is hard to get a publishing deal.

Can I get a book deal without an agent?

There are some small presses that occasionally have open submissions. These publishing companies might not require that you have a literary agent. However, it’s important to know the difference between small presses and vanity and hybrid publishers. Vanity and hybrid publishers will require you to pay some or all of the publishing costs. Traditional publishers do not.

How much is a book deal worth?

How much a book deal is worth will vary from author to author. The advance payment is an advance on your royalties, and new authors tend to receive lower advances than established authors. Advances could be as little as $1,000 for new authors. After all, publishing houses and agents don’t know how well your book will sell.

If you get a book deal, you won’t receive any royalties on sold books until those royalties have covered the amount of your advance. For example, if your royalties are $2 per book, you’d need to sell 500 copies of your book to cover a $1,000 advance. You’d then receive royalties on book sales of 501 and onward.

How much does it cost to get a literary agent?

Literary agents do not charge you. Instead, they receive a percentage of your advance and royalties. If a literary agent attempts to charge you upfront for representation, it’s safe to assume they are not a traditional book agent.