As a literary agent, Joy Eggerichs Reed sees book proposals that, unfortunately, she writes off after about sixty seconds of skimming.
While that may sound harsh, there are specific things she looks for that show her immediately how seriously a writer takes their goals of getting published.
Even though the first steps of writing and figuring out how to publish a book can feel daunting, this book will not only give you everything you need for an incredible proposal, but demystify the publishing process, tell you how to market yourself authentically (and enjoyably), and cheer you on with practical next steps as you decide which publishing route is best for you.
And, Joy wants to make this whole process FUN.
This is an upbeat 30-day guide with easy to follow examples, stories, and funny illustrations (that you're more than welcome to color in because your brain will need a break), as well as insider knowledge about how to catch an agent's eye, how to land your dream endorsement and how to wildly increase your chances of getting a book deal.
Non-fiction, memoir, or novel—this book will help authors (especially first-timers) who have questions and feel alone in the writing process. Let Joy be your (slightly aggressive) friend who will encourage you, tell you what to do, and leave you feeling oh-so-confident because of all the progress you've made by day 30. If you let this book guide you, you will close the last page, and involuntarily shout, "WOW, I did that!"
You’ll also get to know way more about Joy’s personal life than you probably wanted.
Take a look at some of the topics to see if you want to get aggressive and join the fun:
- Writing Schedule and Accountability
- Author Vision, Tone, Genre, and Audience
- Table of Contents, Chapter Summaries, and Chapter Samples
- Network, Marketing, Endorsements, and Book Launch
- Author Bio, Platform, Writing, and Speaking
- Structure, Design, and Auxiliary Products
- Elevator Pitch and One Sentence Summary
- Edits, Typesetting, and Proposal Layout
- Headshots, Videos, and Website
- Timelines for Hitting Goals
- Self Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing
For every copy of
Get to the Publishing Punchline that is purchased,
Punchline Publishers will donate a children's version of this book,
Writing with Bernard the Baguette: A Kids (Fun and Silly) Guide to Discover the Joys of Writing, to children entering the foster care system. The book is available for purchase on Amazon now, and gives readers prompts for creative writing, journalism, and memoir to unlock an enthusiasm for writing and give them a sense of ownership after they put their name on the cover as a co-author with Bernard!
If you are interested in going through the content of this book with a group of other hopeful authors, Joy hosts month-long cohorts! These cohorts are like the book—fun AND slightly aggressive, but guarantee you a finished and beautiful proposal by the end of it, helpful insight from Joy and other experienced authors, and the support and guidance of peers in the cohort. For more information on our book proposal cohorts, visit www.punchlineagency.com/cohort.
Joy Eggerichs Reed is the founder of Punchline Agency: A literary and speaking agency for people good on the page and stage. Aside from managing and negotiating on behalf of authors and speakers, Joy consults with aspiring writers, speakers, and those seeking to clarify a message or idea. Prior to being an agent, Joy got her start as a blogger and speaker, creating over 500 written and video posts and speaking to audiences of up to 12k people on the topic of singleness and relationships. In 2017, Joy launched Punchline Agency to represent and develop communicators and voices she believed needed to be heard. She currently resides as an expat in Paris, France with her husband Matt and two petite bébés, Millie and Emerson. Collectively, their family consumes thirty-four percent of the country's croissant production.
Kristin McNess Moran has always been a maker and artist, naturally and intuitively communicating through illustration and type, mainly in watercolor and mixed media. Whether fashioning animal artwork out of duct tape for those closest to her or reimagining vintage ball gowns into floor-length costumery, she is able to naturally renew and reinvent her art for whatever the occasion. She's a great friend to have at Halloween. Having studied fashion design and illustration at Washington University in St. Louis, her career took her all the way to senior apparel designer at Adidas where she worked on everything from kidswear to NBA apparel for both universal wear (you and me) all the way to the elite players like Damien Lillard. (Go Blazers!) Kristin is a voracious reader especially of Young Adult fantasy fiction, her favorites being: Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series, The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima, and of course, Harry Potter. She resides in Portland, Oregon in a modern commune with great friends, an aspiring gardener husband, and two little girls.
