You don't need 50,000 Instagram followers to get a book deal. Publishers want to know one thing: can this author reach the people who will buy this book? Here's how to build a credible platform around your expertise instead of algorithms.

If you want to write a book, you'll hear about literary agents, book coaches, and ghostwriters. These are three completely different services that solve three completely different problems. A literary agent gets your finished book published. A book coach teaches you how to write your book. A ghostwriter writes your book for you. Here's what each one actually does, who needs them, and how to know which one you need right now.

Most business book queries get rejected in under 60 seconds. Not because the book idea is bad, but because the query letter didn't do its job. If you're a business professional with expertise to share, you probably know how to write a compelling pitch. Querying literary agents isn't that different—you need to be clear about what you're offering, who it's for, and why you're the right person to deliver it.