So you’ve written that proposal, and it’s killer.  Remember, there’s still a long way to go.  And unfortunately, we’re at one of the hard parts of the journey.  You can’t approach a publisher directly.  This is one of those times in life when you need expert help.  If you go to a publisher directly, it will think “Amateur!” and will have no compunction in fleecing you of all sorts of rights you never knew existed. 

It’s like selling a house.  You can do it yourself, but it’s usually better to go with an agent, because you don’t do it very often, and you don’t know all the angles.  A good agent does. 

So find yourself a literary agent.  The web is a great place to start.  Most of them are based in New York, followed by Boston and San Francisco, but there are good ones everywhere.  Look for an agent – this is really important – that covers the kind of book you are proposing.  Agents specialize in genres – business books, children’s books, fiction, religious books – you name it.  Some are broader-based than others, but don’t ever send a proposal to an agent that doesn’t have at least several authors and books published in the area you care about. 

Under no circumstances deal with agents who charge to read proposals (or manuscripts – but you know not to write one yet).  They are the bottom feeders.  They will take your money and write you back a very polite form note saying that they don’t think your proposal is marketable. 

Look for agents who represent a mix of insanely successful people – Malcolm Gladwell, say – and some that look more middle-market.  How do you find out who Malcolm Gladwell’s agent is?  Buy one of his books and check the acknowledgments – he’s thanked in there.  Find several agents – maybe even a half-dozen or more – and be prepared to be turned down by some and hailed as a genius by others.  They are individuals. 

Don’t go to agents hat in hand.  Go with confidence; if you’ve written a great proposal, you’re exactly the kind of author they’re looking for.  In exchange for 12-15 % of your advance (and your royalties) they will be your friend for life and help you navigate the difficult terrain of the contract – and most importantly, help you get taken seriously by publishers. 

Of course, the best way to get close attention from an agent is to come recommended by someone they already know, so use the six degrees of separation to find the friend of a friend who knows someone in NYC who is someone’s doorman who knows the agent in question.

Once you’ve got your agent, be aware that they will want to get you to revise your proposal, change your title, and generally become your collaborator.  This is a good thing; it’s how they believe they add value.  Welcome the advice.  They know what is selling right now, what is a drag on the market, and what publisher will react best.  They won’t want to re-write your book, just the proposal, so don’t do the prima donna thing and refuse to work with them.  Be professional, appreciative, and prompt. 

And be warned:  depending on the agent and how much re-writing you end up doing, the process of getting the proposal ready to be marketed can take a year, or even more.  The good news is that writing the book will be relatively easy after that.  So don’t lose heart, but, again, realize that you may be in for a long journey indeed.  The longest I’ve ever seen or heard of the proposal process taking is 2 years; the shortest 3 weeks. 

Next time:  the publishing contract!