How to Submit Nonfiction to Publishers

Marc McCutcheon really lends beginning writers a helping hand in his book DAMN! Why didn't I write that? How Ordinary People are Raking it In. This book is a great help to anyone interested in learning how to submit nonfiction to publishers.

McCutcheon explains how writing nonfiction books can be very lucrative and gives tips on how to get started in the publishing industry. He begins the book with a "Don't Skip Introduction" which explains why writing nonfiction is more lucrative than writing fiction and how royalties add up. He then goes on to list many successful non-fiction books along with the number of copies sold of each to give readers an idea of just how many topics succeed and that just about anyone has something they can write about that might interest others

After a chapter that lists examples of titles to inspire the reader and get them thinking about possibilities of what kind of nonfiction to submit to publishers, there is a chapter that shares nonfiction book success stories. He states that a typical author need to make only 10,000 hardcover sales annually to produce a living income, and that Publisher Weekly says that roughly 125 new hardcover nonfiction books exceed 100,000 sales each year.

McCutcheon's book for writers breaks down the most successful nonfiction topics, which are dieting/weight loss, relationships, parenting, health, low-fat cooking, sex, spiritual, money/finances, cats, career and leadership, and computer/Internet. He explains each topic and how to sell books in each category.

This writer's book is full of tips and tricks from more than one veteran author. Veteran authors such as Nancy Baggett offer useful suggestions about knowing your market, deciding if your idea will fly, and how to gain credibility.

The book gives detailed samples of query letters and proposals, coaching the reader through the process of how to submit to publishers. In easy to follow directions, helpful lists of dos and don'ts are included.

A whole chapter of the book is about the pros and cons of having an agent and how to decide if an agent is right for you. It also warns of scams, poor agents, and offers questions you should ask any potential agents. An agent may not be necessary to submit to publishers. The chapter that gives suggestions on work habits that lead to success is every bit as useful.

McCutcheon ends the book with even more helpful goodies making this book a must have for aspiring writers. The last chapter is "A grab bag of tips" followed by an explanation of the proper format to use when submitting manuscripts and a long list of resources and useful books,magazines, and websites for writers.

At just under 250 pages, this is an easy to read, clearly written book that will help any budding writer get started and learn how to submit nonfiction to publishers. McCutcheon has a clear, strong and authoritative voice that still sounds like tips from a friend over coffee. If you're interested in making a decent or even fantastic living with writing nonfiction books, I definitely recommend picking up this book. In addition to being full of usefull information, it makes for a great boost any time you find yourself uninspired to write. I know I've read it more than once to get me going.