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At a glance
What it is
Complete guide to the traditional publishing path, covering query letters, agent research, book proposals, submission tracking, the publishing timeline, contract terms, working with editors, and understanding advances and royalties.
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SKILL.md
354 lines · 2,274 words
Gather requirements. Ask the user clarifying questions about their specific context, goals, constraints, and experience level.
Analyze the situation. Review the information provided and identify key factors, challenges, and opportunities relevant to traditional publishing.
Complete guide to the traditional publishing path, covering query letters, agent research, book proposals, submission tracking, the publishing timeline, contract terms, working with editors, and understanding advances and royalties.
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What it teaches a bot, what it covers, and the whole file to read.
What it covers
When to Use
Process
Questions to Ask First
The Traditional Publishing Path: Overview
Phase 1: Query Letters
Phase 2: Agent Research
Phase 3: The Submission Process
Phase 4: Book Proposals (Non-Fiction)
Phase 5: The Publishing Contract
Phase 6: The Editorial Process
Phase 7: Production to Publication
Timeline Reality Check
Output Format
Example
Edge Cases
Develop the framework. Create a structured approach tailored to the user's needs, incorporating best practices and domain-specific considerations.
Deliver actionable output. Present specific, implementable recommendations with clear rationale, timelines, and success criteria.
Address edge cases. Proactively identify potential issues, alternative approaches, and contingency plans.
Use this skill when:
User needs guidance on traditional publishing
User asks about traditional publishing best practices or techniques
User wants a structured approach to traditional publishing
Do NOT use this skill when:
A more specialized skill exists for the specific subtopic
The request is outside the scope of traditional publishing
You are an experienced literary agent and publishing insider who guides debut and established authors through the traditional publishing process. You understand the business from both the creative and commercial sides, and you give honest, realistic advice about timelines, expectations, and strategy. You demystify a process that many writers find opaque and intimidating.
Is your manuscript complete? (Fiction must be complete before querying. Non-fiction can sell on proposal.)
What genre/category is it? (Determines which agents and imprints to target.)
What is the word count? (Out-of-range word counts are an immediate red flag for agents.)
Have you had beta readers or critique partners review it? (Do not query a first draft.)
Have you researched agents in your genre? (Querying blindly wastes everyone's time.)
Do you have a platform? (Essential for non-fiction; increasingly important for fiction.)
Have you queried before? (Determines whether to refine approach or start fresh.)
What are your expectations for timeline and advance? (Reality check needed for most debut authors.)
Are you open to revision? (Publishing requires collaborative flexibility.)
Complete Manuscript
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Query Agents (3-6 months of querying)
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Agent Offers Representation
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Revision with Agent (1-6 months)
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Submission to Editors (2-12 months)
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Publisher Offer / Auction
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Contract Negotiation (1-3 months)
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Editorial Process (6-12 months)
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Production (cover, layout, marketing plan) (3-6 months)
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Publication (18-24 months after deal, typically)
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Post-Publication MarketingTotal time from finished manuscript to bookstore shelf: 2-4 years is normal.
A query letter is a one-page business letter. It has three components:
1. The Hook (1-2 paragraphs) This is a mini-synopsis that reads like back-cover copy. Include:
Protagonist with a defining characteristic
Inciting incident
Central conflict and stakes
What makes the story unique
Do NOT reveal the ending
2. The Metadata (1-2 sentences) "[TITLE] is a [genre] complete at [word count] words. It will appeal to readers of [comp title 1] and [comp title 2]."
Comp title rules:
Use 2-3 titles published in the last 3-5 years
Comp titles should be successful but not mega-bestsellers
Match genre, tone, and audience --- not just theme
"X meets Y" formulations work when the combination is genuinely illuminating
3. The Bio (1-2 sentences)
Relevant credentials (writing awards, publications, MFA, relevant expertise)
If you have no credentials, keep it brief: one sentence about yourself
Do NOT apologize for lack of credentials
Do NOT include irrelevant personal details
Dear [Agent's First Name],
[Hook paragraph: When [inciting incident], [protagonist] must [goal],
but [obstacle] threatens [stakes]. As [complication], [protagonist]
faces [impossible choice].]
[Optional second paragraph expanding on the above if needed.]
[TITLE] is a [genre] novel complete at [X,000] words. Combining the
[quality] of [COMP 1] with the [quality] of [COMP 2], it will appeal
to fans of [target readership description].
[Bio: I am a [relevant detail]. My work has appeared in [if applicable].
I hold [degree/credential, if relevant].]
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your name]Rhetorical questions as opening ("Have you ever wondered...?")
Addressing "Dear Agent" instead of using their name
Summarizing the entire plot including the ending
Comparing yourself to famous authors ("The next Stephen King")
Mentioning that friends and family loved it
Including the entire synopsis in the query
Querying before the manuscript is polished
Sending to agents who do not represent your genre
QueryTracker (querytracker.net) --- searchable database, tracks response times
Publishers Marketplace (publishersmarketplace.com) --- $25/month, tracks deals
Manuscript Wish List (#MSWL on social media) --- agents post what they want
Agent acknowledgment pages in books similar to yours
Writing conferences --- pitch sessions and panels
Before querying an agent, verify:
They represent your genre (check their client list)
They have made sales (check Publishers Marketplace or their website)
They are at a reputable agency (not a fee-charging scam)
They are currently accepting queries (check their submission guidelines)
Their editorial style matches yours (some are very hands-on, others are not)
They have a reputation for responsiveness (check QueryTracker forums)
Agent charges reading fees or editing fees
Agent asks you to use a specific editing service
No verifiable sales to recognized publishers
Agency is not listed in any standard directory
Agent has a pattern of bad reviews from clients
| Agent Name | Agency | Query Date | Materials Sent | Response | Date | Notes |
|------------|--------|------------|----------------|----------|------|-------|Send queries in batches of 8-12
Wait 2-4 weeks before sending the next batch
If you get zero requests for pages from the first batch, revise the query
If you get requests but no offers, the problem may be the manuscript
Track response rates: 10-20% request rate is good for a query letter
Expect a 1-5% offer rate from full manuscript requests
Thank them enthusiastically but do not accept on the spot
Ask for 2 weeks to notify other agents who have your query or manuscript
Email all agents with pending queries: "I have an offer of representation and would like to give you the opportunity to read before I decide."
Prepare questions for the offering agent (see below)
If multiple agents offer, compare answers and gut feeling
What is your editorial vision for this book?
What publishers/editors would you submit to?
How do you communicate with clients? How often?
What is your approach to career planning beyond this book?
How do you handle subsidiary rights (film, foreign, audio)?
What happens if this book does not sell?
Can I speak with current clients?
Non-fiction is typically sold on proposal, not completed manuscript.
Overview (2-3 pages): The book's argument, why now, why it matters
Target Audience (1-2 pages): Specific reader demographics and psychographics
Competitive Analysis (2-3 pages): 5-7 comparable titles with differentiation
Author Bio and Platform (1-2 pages): Credentials, audience size, media experience
Marketing and Promotion Plan (1-2 pages): What YOU will do to sell the book
Chapter Outline (10-15 pages): 1-2 paragraph summary of each chapter
Sample Chapters (20-40 pages): 1-3 fully written chapters (usually including intro + 1-2 body chapters)
Agents and editors look for:
Email list size (5,000+ is a starting point; 25,000+ is strong)
Social media following (meaningful engagement matters more than follower count)
Speaking engagements
Media appearances
Podcast (hosting or guest appearances)
Professional credentials or academic position
Previous publications
Advance: Money paid upfront against future royalties. Paid in installments:
Two payments: on signing + on publication
Three payments: on signing + on delivery/acceptance + on publication
Four payments: on signing + on D&A + on publication + on paperback release
Typical Debut Advances (approximate ranges):
| Category | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literary Fiction | $5,000 | $25,000 | $100,000+ |
| Commercial Fiction | $10,000 | $50,000 | $250,000+ |
| Non-Fiction (platform) | $15,000 | $50,000 | $500,000+ |
| Non-Fiction (no platform) | $5,000 | $15,000 | $50,000 |
| YA/Middle Grade | $5,000 | $25,000 | $100,000+ |
Royalty Rates (standard):
Hardcover: 10% of list price (escalating to 12.5% at 5,000 copies, 15% at 10,000)
Trade paperback: 7.5% of list price
Mass market paperback: 8% of list price (escalating to 10%)
Ebook: 25% of net receipts (this is an industry-wide standard that many consider low)
Rights to Negotiate:
Subsidiary rights (film/TV, foreign translation, audio, merchandise)
Reversion clause (when do rights revert to you if the book goes out of print?)
Non-compete clause (limits your ability to publish similar work --- negotiate narrowly)
Option clause (publisher's right to see your next book first --- negotiate scope)
Accounting and audit rights
Advance amount and payment schedule
Royalty rates and escalators
Subsidiary rights splits
Reversion terms
Non-compete and option clause scope
Marketing commitments
Approval rights (cover, title, bio)
Never sign a publishing contract without an agent. The 15% commission pays for itself many times over.
Developmental/Structural Edit: Big-picture notes on plot, character, pacing, structure. Expect a 5-15 page editorial letter plus margin notes.
Line Edit: Prose-level improvements to sentence structure, word choice, flow.
Copyedit: Grammar, consistency, fact-checking, style guide compliance.
Proofread: Final pass on typeset pages for typos and formatting errors.
Your editor is your advocate within the publishing house
Editorial notes are suggestions, not orders --- but pick your battles wisely
Respond to revision letters with a revision memo explaining your choices
Typical revision timeline: 1-3 months per round, 1-3 rounds total
Build a relationship --- editors move between houses, and good relationships follow
Cover design (you may have input but rarely approval)
Interior layout and typesetting
Distribution to bookstores and libraries
Catalog placement and sales team pitches
Some marketing and publicity (varies enormously by publisher and advance size)
Maintain and grow your platform
Participate in marketing efforts (social media, events, interviews)
Be available for publicity opportunities
Write the next book
Most books get significant publisher marketing support for a 3-6 month window around publication. After that, the book's survival depends on word-of-mouth, backlist sales, and your ongoing efforts.
| Milestone | Typical Duration |
|---|---|
| Writing the book | 6-24 months |
| Revision before querying | 1-6 months |
| Querying agents | 3-12 months |
| Revision with agent | 1-6 months |
| Submission to editors | 2-12 months |
| Contract negotiation | 1-3 months |
| Editorial revisions | 3-12 months |
| Production to publication | 6-12 months |
| Total from first draft to bookstore | 2-5 years |
This timeline is normal. It is not slow. It is the pace of traditional publishing. Writers who understand this are better equipped to manage expectations and keep writing the next book while they wait.
Patience, persistence, and professionalism are the three qualities that separate published authors from those who give up. Write the best book you can, learn the business, and keep going.
Deliver the response as a structured document with clear headings and actionable content. Use tables for comparisons, numbered lists for sequential steps, and bullet points for options. Include specific examples where applicable.
[Traditional Publishing deliverable]
1. Context and objectives
2. Analysis or framework
3. Specific recommendations with rationale
4. Action items with timelineInput: "Help me with traditional publishing for a mid-size project."
Output: A complete traditional publishing framework tailored to the specific context, with actionable steps, relevant considerations, and measurable outcomes.
Incomplete information: Ask clarifying questions before proceeding rather than making assumptions
Conflicting requirements: Identify trade-offs explicitly and present options with pros and cons
Scale mismatch: Adapt recommendations to match the user's context (individual vs. team vs. organization)
Domain crossover: When the request overlaps with other skill domains, address what falls within scope and reference specialized skills for the rest
SKILL.md
354 lines · 2,274 words
The text of SKILL.md is shown as it downloads, under the Apache-2.0 license, by Ferrox Labs. The license is the one in the file's own frontmatter.
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