How to Pitch a Fiction Book Idea
by Mary Kole | Former literary agent, now a freelance editor, writing teacher, and IP/story developer for major publishers and creators.
After years as a literary agent, I have a few things to say about how to pitch a fiction book idea. Let’s start with something called a “prequery” or “reassurance query,” which writers sometimes send when they want to pressure test a story idea.
For most novels and memoirs, you have to write the whole manuscript before you can submit it to publishers and literary agents—and not all writers are happy to take this risk before they can learn whether their idea will go anywhere. So they take a little detour in the usual flow of how to pitch a fiction idea, and try to stir up some interest before they’re done writing. The prequery can go like this:
Greetings! I've created a captivating project and I think it'd be perfect for your list. In a nutshell, it's about... (brief description) and it’s almost ready. Is this something you might be interested in? Are you currently accepting manuscripts? Etc. etc. etc.
To be perfectly clear, this is not how to pitch a fiction book idea. Agents and publishers aren’t likely to respond to this kind of fishing for compliments. It’s impossible for them to make any judgments about the project until they take a look at the writing, so until then, they can't tell whether the book is promising. Besides, if they respond enthusiastically and send a full manuscript request, you’ve messed up the process of how to pitch a fiction book idea, because then you’ll have to tell them that the project isn’t ready yet.
This is a big faux pas in how to pitch a fiction book idea.
How to Pitch a Fiction Book Idea the Right Way
Once you’re done with your project—and yes, this is a hard and fast requirement—all you need to do is copy and paste your manuscript query letter and the first 10 pages of prose (or the full picture book manuscript, or whatever they ask for in their submission guidelines if it’s different) into the body of an email. Don't forget to include the word “Query” in the subject line, and don’t use attachments. (There are obviously more particulars for how to pitch a fiction book idea, but this is the gist.)
Some agents will use submission trackers and forms, so fill them out when you see them, even if you’ve managed to find an agent or publisher’s email address elsewhere. Need to know how to pitch a fiction book idea? It's simple: put together an eye-catching manuscript and follow the guidelines!
If you're unsure whether to submit a book, spend some time refining it. Put it away for a few weeks or even months to gain some new perspective on it. So many writers rush right into learning how to pitch a fiction book idea that they treat the manuscript as almost secondary. This is not the right approach. The manuscript is everything. Your pitch is nothing without it.
When To Know If You’re Ready and How to Pitch a Fiction Book Idea
The most impactful learning usually comes through hands-on experience, so it’s unlikely that writers will believe me about waiting to query. We have long tried to steer writers away from submitting too early, but it’s something people have to experience firsthand on their journey of how to pitch a fiction book idea. (A lot of people feel they’re the exception to the rule.)
That’s why the reassurance query happens, because writers work in a vacuum and want to know whether their writing premise or sample is any good before committing all the way. It would be delightful to know that an agent is interested.
But consider the literary agent or publisher’s point of view here. No one wants to hear about the incredible Christmas present they'll be receiving … in the middle of July. An agent’s role isn’t to flatter you, not until they’ve formed a client/agent relationship with you. It's not feasible for a literary agent to provide feedback on every concept that hits their inbox, especially for writers who are merely toying around with how to pitch a fiction book idea. Don't fill up their inboxes with incomplete ideas or brainstorms, expecting encouragement.
If you're looking for a bit of affirmation, why not join a critique group? To get feedback from someone in the industry who can accurately gauge the marketability of your work, attend a writers' conference and pay for a critique. The benefit of a conference is that you've paid for an expert's opinion, and they are usually more than happy to provide it and give you their time. You could even look into hiring a freelance editor.
Revise First, Then Learn How to Pitch a Fiction Book Idea
The majority of possibilities for writing feedback come at a price—but that's just the way of the world. Without a literary agent or a completed manuscript, you can’t really approach industry professionals. So maybe put your eagerness about how to pitch a fiction book idea on the back burner, and spend some time reading like a writer, writing, revising, and hanging out with other writers—giving and receiving writing feedback.
Nobody can accurately gauge the quality of your project without seeing the complete piece. Writing an entire novel is a tough task that takes a lot of skill, and a literary agent needs to see what you can do and whether you can sustain 300 or so pages. A concept and the initial 15 pages are one thing, and they’re a big achievement, but in the grand scheme of an entire manuscript, they’re only a small thing.
Elevate Your Storytelling
Wherever you are in your writing journey—from an initial outline to a draft to pitching your project—the experienced team at Good Story Editing can take your work to the next level.