Strategy Library
Tactics
Concrete strategies for improving every part of your book deal readiness. Take the assessment first and we'll prioritize them for you.
How it works
Concrete tactics for every part of your book deal readiness
This library covers the four variables agents and editors evaluate on every nonfiction submission. Browse everything below — or take the free assessment first and we’ll sort these by what matters most for your specific book.
5 minutes · 20 questions · we’ll highlight the tactics that matter most for your book
Or browse the full library below. All 16 tactics are available without taking the assessment.
Choose One Platform and Go Deep
Pick the single social platform most aligned with your genre's reader community and post consistently for 90 days before expanding.
Launch a Newsletter on Substack or ConvertKit
An email list is the most valuable platform asset you can own. Start building it now, even before your manuscript is done.
Land Your First Podcast Guest Spots
Podcast appearances build credibility and drive email subscribers more effectively than most social posts.
Build a BookTok Presence
TikTok's book community drives more book sales per platform than any other social network. Even a modest BookTok presence signals market engagement to publishers.
Write Your 'Only I Could Write This' Document
Publishers buy books from the intersection of great concept AND the right author. Document why you are the uniquely credentialed person to write this book.
Conduct a Thorough Market Gap Analysis
Articulating what's missing from your genre's current shelf is one of the most compelling things you can put in a pitch.
Sharpen Your One-Sentence Differentiator
Your book's differentiation should be expressible in a single, memorable sentence that makes people immediately want to read it.
Identify and Amplify Your Structural Innovation
Books that offer a fresh structural approach stand out to editors who read thousands of conventional manuscripts.
Hire a Developmental Editor
A developmental editor addresses structural issues before you refine prose, the single highest-ROI investment in your manuscript.
Build and Use a Critique Partner Relationship
A dedicated critique partner who reads your genre provides the most targeted ongoing feedback you can get.
Take a Targeted Craft Workshop
Focused workshops on your manuscript's specific weakness (structure, dialogue, pacing) accelerate craft faster than general writing courses.
Research and Lock In Your Comparable Titles
Precise, current comps are one of the most practical signals of market readiness and help you pitch with confidence.
Quantify and Define Your Target Audience
Publishers want to know exactly who will buy your book and how many of them exist. The more specific and large your answer, the stronger your pitch.
Develop a Series or Expansion Plan
Even if your book is standalone, publishers appreciate knowing there's a potential for continuation. A series bible signals commercial ambition.
Craft an Irresistible Commercial Hook
A strong commercial hook is the difference between a pass and a request. Every pitch needs a sentence that makes any reader say 'wait, tell me more.'
Research Adaptation and Cross-Media Potential
Books with obvious adaptation potential attract publishers who think beyond the book itself. Understanding your book's cross-media angle adds commercial weight.
Want help acting on your results?
See how Tim and Emily can help you act on your results.