Regardless of how ground breaking your novel may be – there is more to what a publisher considers than just your manuscript. You may be the next J.K. Rowling, but if you’re missing one of these items on the checklist, it’s likely that you won’t get picked up for traditional publishing. While writing is an art, publishing is a business and has to be treated as such. Entering into a contract with an author is no different than signing a deal with a fortune 500 company – it has to be profitable or everyone involved loses.

So what exactly is this checklist that publishers consider before signing a contract with an author?

• The Book – obviously, the book is a large contribution to the publisher’s consideration. While it is not the only decision maker, the publisher will not bother looking at any of the other items on the checklist if…