Funny thing happened today. I was going to comment on here, asking how you find agents that want craft books (I can't figure it out based on just Query Tracker). I wrote a comment, then decided not to bother you with it, so I deleted it. THEN, after doing more research, I found a post about you... and all your craft books... see what happens when a writer is WAY too focused on fantasy and sci-fi? Lol.
I've gotten quite healthy six-figure advances for all three of my narrative nonfiction books. Kate is right: Different books in different genres command different advances from New York publishers. Which is another way to say, my advances may not be yours. Judge your advance against that for your genre. Or better yet don't judge it. "Comparison is the thief of joy," Teddy Roosevelt said. You write because first and foremost you love to write. One thing I CAN add here, though, with respect to getting the most money you can for any nonfiction advance: There's a five-part method to it.
Gripping opening scene (1,200-ish words)
Overview of what your book will be about (800 to 1,200-ish words)
Sample chapter (3- to 4,000-ish words)
Chapter by chapter synopsis (4,000-ish words)
Author bio (800 words)
Please note that I say "method" not "template." There is no cookie-cutter way to ensure a great advance.
If you want a great book advance, have a great story to tell. Then write the shit out of it in the proposal.
Funny thing happened today. I was going to comment on here, asking how you find agents that want craft books (I can't figure it out based on just Query Tracker). I wrote a comment, then decided not to bother you with it, so I deleted it. THEN, after doing more research, I found a post about you... and all your craft books... see what happens when a writer is WAY too focused on fantasy and sci-fi? Lol.
I’m confused by the final lines. Are you saying the average book contract is 17k or are you making a joke?
I’m joking. There is no average book advance.
I've gotten quite healthy six-figure advances for all three of my narrative nonfiction books. Kate is right: Different books in different genres command different advances from New York publishers. Which is another way to say, my advances may not be yours. Judge your advance against that for your genre. Or better yet don't judge it. "Comparison is the thief of joy," Teddy Roosevelt said. You write because first and foremost you love to write. One thing I CAN add here, though, with respect to getting the most money you can for any nonfiction advance: There's a five-part method to it.
Gripping opening scene (1,200-ish words)
Overview of what your book will be about (800 to 1,200-ish words)
Sample chapter (3- to 4,000-ish words)
Chapter by chapter synopsis (4,000-ish words)
Author bio (800 words)
Please note that I say "method" not "template." There is no cookie-cutter way to ensure a great advance.
If you want a great book advance, have a great story to tell. Then write the shit out of it in the proposal.