In my last two entries, I taught you how to locate experts and celebrities to write your foreword or testimonial quote and then how to ask for it. If only that’s all you had to do to get that expert endorsement.
Unfortunately, more often than not the person you are trying to reach doesn’t get back to you. Maybe your message got caught in the spam folder. Maybe it was just deleted.
Forward Your Original Message
In any case, if you don’t hear back in two weeks, don’t take it personally and slink away in defeat. When you fall, get up. If you fall again, get up again.
Forward your original message (which hopefully you saved) along with some variation of the following new message:
Dear [Person Whose Quote You Want]:
Just a quick note to make sure you received the below message. I would be most grateful to hear from you.
Thanks in advance for your serious consideration.
Gratefully,
[Your Name]
And Your Next
The amount of time before you send your next reminder, if you still haven’t heard back, has to be determined by your urgency to put your book to bed with that person’s endorsement included. You don’t want to be pushy but you don’t want to give up. They have lives. Be patient. Begin the process as soon as you can, even before your manuscript is complete, so you don’t have to be pushy.
But don’t ever assume that because they don’t get back to you they are rejecting your request. Assume your unanswered email requests merely got caught in the spam folder and try again. As much as your experts deserve patience, you deserve a response to a respectful request. You can handle rejection. You’re a writer. But you need closure so you can plan your next step.
Whenever you decide to give them your next reminder, forward the same package that you sent two weeks before. Be sure to
- Delete the lines above “From:” in the message so it looks like a new message.
- Delete “FW:” on the Subject: line, for the same reason.
Or write a new letter and blame the spam folder for stealing your invitation.
When to Give Up on Your Expert Endorsement
Not everyone will get back. You will not always get your ideal expert endorsement for your foreword. But you always act as if you will. Write to them until you hear back or until you’re satisfied that you gave it your best shot and it’s a dead end.
When you shoot for the stars, you may not always reach the stars. But you’ll reach a lot higher than if you settle for your next-door neighbor.
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This piece was adapted from Ken Wachsberger’s You’ve Got the Time: How to Write and Publish That Book in You. Ken’s other books may be found here and here. For book coaching and editing help, or to invite Ken to speak at your meeting, email Ken at [email protected].
Schedule your complimentary 30-minute coaching and editing session now.
