In this insightful Q&A session following her Typism Summit presentation last year, Huyen Dinh shared her journey of publishing her first book, offering practical advice and transparent insights into the process.
The session covered various aspects, from the proposal and pitching stages to dealing with publishers and agents, so we wanted to share some key highlights from the Q&A session.
The Proposal and Pitching Process
Huyen spent about two months creating her proposal, which took some extra time since it was her first. She divided the process into two main parts: writing the structure and idea of the proposal and sketching out covers and content.
Having an agent sped up the pitching process. With an agent, it took about ten days to hear back from publishers. The total pitching process, including meetings and contract drafting, took around a month.
Working with an Agent
Huyen got her agent through a referral from a friend who had already published a book.
She emphasised the importance of having a cohesive personal brand and engaged audience rather than just many followers.
The agent facilitated the process by leveraging their network of publishers, making the pitching process more efficient.
Creating the Book
For the proposal, Huyen only needed to present four to six pages of the book, which she carefully selected to showcase the most important chapters.
Huyen stressed the importance of clearly identifying the target audience and the problem the book solves. This clarity was a critical factor in the acceptance of her proposal.
While Huyen’s journey seemed smooth, she acknowledged challenges and uncertainties. Huyen shared that publishers often see proposals lacking a specific topic or target audience. She advised being very specific about the audience and the problem the book addresses.
Audience Questions
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Choosing the Title: Huyen explained that the title “How to Be a Rule-Breaking Letterer” came naturally from her experience as a self-taught artist who often broke traditional rules. This title resonated with her and the publishers.
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Engaging the Target Audience: Huyen emphasised the importance of engaging with your audience and showing publishers that your followers are excited about your content.
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Royalty and Contract Details: Huyen clarified that her advance was not a loan but a prepayment against future royalties. The advance is kept regardless of sales, but future royalties are only earned after surpassing the advance amount.
Future Plans
Huyen plans to develop workshops based on the content of her book. She is also pitching new book ideas and exploring other creative projects.
Despite some delays in the book’s production, Huyen maintained a positive outlook, using these delays to engage her audience with different aspects of the book.
Huyen gave us a detailed and transparent look into the book publishing process, from creating a proposal to working with agents and publishers. Her journey is a testament to the importance of clarity, perseverance, and understanding your value and audience. Her insights are invaluable for aspiring authors navigating the complex world of publishing.
With the next Business of Lettering Summit coming up soon, sign up for the waitlist for more great talks like this.
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