In most cases, yes. "These days, it's more difficult to get straight to a publisher, because most publishers do not take unsolicited manuscripts," explains Amberly Finarelli, senior literary agent with Andrea Hurst Literary Management, in an interview from the agency's West Coast office. Some smaller presses and independent publishers will take unsolicited proposals from authors. Larger publishers depend on agents to filter submissions to find authors who have "something that an agent feels is marketable. Agents know what would be profitable."
Paul Dinas, senior acquisition editor for the Alpha Books, a division of Penguin Books, agrees. "You have to have an agent. You can't pitch the publisher. The material needs to be current, competitive and succinct when you submit it to an agent."
Finarelli says based on query letters she receives, "or any scouting I would do, I take about 1 percent of the projects that come my way. It can be anywhere from 40 to 50 percent of those that sold."
Whether you make a pitch to an agent or to an independent publisher, the process normally begins with a query letter to see if an agent or editor is interested. Do your homework first. Check to see what kind of works and genres are accepted. Don't pitch a sci-fi story to an agent if she's only interested in historical fiction.
Websites for agencies and publishers provide submission guidelines. Follow them. If you're pitching a fiction novel, have the work completed before you send the letter. If an agent is interested, he'll ask for the manuscript.
For nonfiction, if your query draws interest, you'll be asked for book proposal. It's this proposal that an agent takes to sell a publisher on you.
Look for specific requirements from an agency or publisher before you submit a proposal. Begin with a concise cover letter, one page, that gives the genre, anticipated word count, and proposed title. The Hurst agency says the cover letter needs to answer these questions: "What is the premise of this book and what makes it unique? Why are you the best person to write it?"
The rest of the proposal includes a cover sheet, table of contents and an overview that expands on your cover letter, telling the publisher why you're the perfect writer for this book, backing it up with evidence of your experience or special knowledge of the subject. Include a sample chapter, usually not the first chapter. It should be a chapter, however, that leaves the publisher wanting more.
The proposal will need your take on marketing, so understand who would want to buy your book and how you will reach them. Don't guess. Do your research.
In nonfiction, Finarelli says, that after the downturn of the economy in 2008 and 2009, she began "seeing a lot more back to basics kind of work---helpful 'Hints from Heloise,' how to grow your own vegetables," and other how-to books that stretch the dollar.
"In fiction, I'm seeing a lot of paranormal, mysteries, things along the twilight nature branching into romance."
In both fiction and nonfiction, Finarelli says it's still the writing that counts. "I love to find new emerging voices. I like to find the authors who may not have been published before but may have a great idea. I'm looking for fresh concepts. I recently represented a dog training book that had an online component to it. I'm seeing a lot of focus on the virtual world again, anything that translates into electronic format."
Finarelli says agents and editors are looking for "really, really strong writing, and authors who are willing more than ever to promote themselves and promote their books."