The Basics: The Essential (and Secret) Strategy to Land a Book Deal

In this episode of Kind of a Big Book Deal, host Meghan Stevenson breaks down one of the most overlooked but essential parts of publishing—understanding your book’s category. If you’re an entrepreneur hoping to land a traditional book deal, knowing where your book fits is key to getting the right publisher, agent, and audience.

Meghan starts by debunking the myth of the "prescriptive memoir"—a book that tries to be both a personal story and a how-to guide. Spoiler: it doesn’t work. She explains the four main categories of nonfiction: lifestyle, reference, narrative, and prescriptive. If you're writing a book to solve a problem, chances are it falls under prescriptive nonfiction, which includes self-help, business, health, and personal development books.

Meghan also highlights why knowing your category helps you build the right publishing team, from editors to agents to marketing experts. She shares insider insights on how bookstores organize books, how publishers think about readers, and why choosing the right category from the start sets you up for success.

If you’re serious about writing a book that sells, this episode is a must-listen!