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Insider tip
Enthusiasm is infectious... It is essential to convey enthusiasm for your work and for the job of meeting people and selling to them. Art is a luxury, so people need to enjoy buying it. The Artist's Guide to Selling Work by Annabelle Ruston-
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Free downloads
The free downloads on this page are designed to help you in your career. The first will guide you when writing to those in the publishing world, while the second gives you an idea of the sort of documentation you may need to sign when you’re awarded a book contract.
Letter to a publisher
Preliminary letters must be composed with care and tailored to the publisher you are approaching. Do your research and find out their submission procedures and the name of the relevant commissioning editor. The letter should be short and confident, stating what your book is about and its proposed length. Include that you know (and admire!) what they already publish and state your case about where your submission will fit in their list. Let the publisher know you have researched the marketplace and say why you believe you have something unique to offer. Finally, enquire about submitting a synopsis and specimen chapters.
Download an example letter to a publisher (PDF 36KB)
A publisher’s contract
Following a publishing company’s interest in a manuscript, a contract is drawn up between the author and the publisher. It’s a legally binding contract which should be read carefully, ensuring every clause is understood. This is an example of such a contract, but be aware that contracts vary greatly, depending on the author, the book and the publishing house.
Download a sample publisher’s contract (PDF 17KB)
Buy the 2011 Yearbook
The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook is available at a discount from our online bookshop. Get all the information, contacts and advice you could need.-
Win, Win, Win! We are giving away 5 copies of Qatari Voices, a collection of essays which will inspire new writers. For details of how to enter this giveaway go to 'The Accidental Writer' >
On camera: Jon McGregor
"Being longlisted for the Booker Prize changed everything - it was the launchpad for my writing career." Click to view our video with novelist Jon McGregor »
On camera: Justin Cartwright
"Just write... If you're any good you may not know it, but certainly someone else will." Click to view our video with novelist Justin Cartwright »
On camera: Julie Myerson
The novelist and journalist Julie Myerson on how she got that all-important first publishing deal. Click here to view our video exclusive »