Archive for August, 2007

Authors Should Strive to Learn Something New Every Day

Friday, August 31st, 2007

Are you always in learning mode? I like to think that I am. Here, I share some of the information bites I learned this week. Read all the way through the great book promotion idea for military books and the good news that bar code prices are decreasing to some rather shocking publishing statistics. For example, did you know that, while the number of published authors has increased around three-fold during the last decade, an incredibly huge number of books have gone out-of-print? Keep reading:

1. A military reunion is an excellent place to sell military-related books. I talked to an author at the Ventura Book Festival Saturday who said he sells hundreds of his WWII airplane books when he takes them to such reunions.
2. The price of bar codes is coming down. This is probably due to the fact that you can now buy software designed to create your own bar codes. I was sure I paid $30 for a bar code last year and the same company charged me only $11 this time around. Some companies offer a free bar code if you spring for some of their other services. Can anyone recommend a good software for creating bar codes?
3. Not every printing establishment, no matter what they may say up front, has the same level of communication with its customers. Give me a printing company with communicative, responsive employees any day over one with nicey, nicey upfront salespeople who disappear once payment is received. (Some of you would say the same thing about fee-based POD publishing services, wouldn’t you?)
4. How many books do you think have gone out of print? According to the folks at Bookfinder.com, somewhere between 98 and 99 percent of all books ever published are currently out of print.
5. In 1993, it was estimated that 81 percent of all Americans believed they had a book in them. Today, the number of adults actually producing books has tripled.

I’ve been discussing publishing with hopeful authors while wo/manning the SPAWN booth at book festivals for about 10 years. I was aware that the number of people who come to talk about their pending or potential publishing projects had increased and I guestimated that increase to be about threefold. I based this on the condition of my throat after speaking over the din at a busy book festival for 6 or 8 hours. I notice that I arrive home from book events in a more exhausted, but exhilarated state than ever before. Also, I’m selling more books and we’re signing up more SPAWN members at these events.

This week, I conducted research and learned that my figure is probably fairly accurate. I found that there are:
• 3 times more books being published now than in 1993.
• 3 times more children’s books being published now than in 1993.
• 4 times more fiction books being published now than in 1993.

Unfortunately, readership is not increasing at anywhere near the same rate. In fact, statistics show that it may be declining. I’ll explore the issue of readers versus reading material in the October edition of the SPAWN Market Update, posted October 1 in the member area of the SPAWN Web site. Join SPAWN at www.spawn.org.

I need your help:
• If you know where to find additional statistics reflecting the increase in published books and the decrease in readers, let me know.
• Are you aware of any good programs designed to encourage adults to read?
• Have you come up with or read about any solutions to the over-production of books and/or disinterest in the written word.

Plfry620@yahoo.com

By the way, in an attempt to offer a solution—hopefully, not add to the problem—I’ve revised my hallmark book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. It is scheduled to debut toward the end of September, 2007. Order your copy at the prepublication DISCOUNT price through September 20, 2007, only. http:www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html And be sure to order the Author’s Workbook, which is designed to accompany The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.

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Good Things Coming for Authors

Tuesday, August 21st, 2007

My traditional pre-publication discount offer is official. You can now order a copy of the newly revised edition of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book AND the accompanying Author’s Workbook at my Web site http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

As you’ll notice, there are 4 ordering options.

(The discount offers are good through September 20, 2007 only.)

Some of you are going to ask, “Why would I buy the second edition if I already have the first edition in my library?” Good question. Here’s my response:

While the 2007 version of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book is basically the same book as the 2006 edition and, while you can use the original book quite effectively for years to come, the revised second edition includes important updates and concepts that the first edition doesn’t have. Plus, the Author’s Workbook, while it can be successfully used with the first edition, is specifically designed to accompany the second edition. Below I list 20 changes and additions you’ll find in the second edition:

• There’s more information for authors in all categories of fiction.
• There are a total of 25 Index entries for authors of poetry and children’s books.
• We offer more assistance to help you write a book proposal for fiction.
• We’ve expanded the section on promoting fiction.
• You’ll learn how to build promotion into your novel.
• We include tips for novelists and children’s book authors who want to appear on radio and TV.
• We explain how to establish your platform and we provide examples.
• We’ve added information about promoting through book “trailers” or videos.
• We explain how to sell books through your blog.
• We provide information about fulfillment services.
• We’ve updated industry information (fees, contact numbers, etc.).
• We’ve updated and added new industry statistics.
• There are 27 new entries in the Resource Directory, now giving you 212 resources.
• We recommend several new books, including two books on how to make money with your poetry and one that rates fee-based POD “self-publishing” companies.
• We’ve listed more subheadings in the Table of Contents for easier access to the sections you seek.
• We’ve developed a more useful, more complete Index by expanding it from 9 pages to 16.
• We provide some unexpected and highly useful references on key publishing topics and issues.
• We give you the tools to check sales figures on any book in Ingram’s database.
• The book is packaged with a more appealing cover.
AND THE MOST EXCITING ADDITION OF ALL…
• We’ve designed a workbook to accompany the revised second edition.

Here are your current ordering options:
1: Order your revised edition of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book today along with the accompanying Author’s Workbook and enjoy a discount of around 25%.
(Offer good through September 20, 2007 only)

2: Order just The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and get a 20% discount. (Offer good through September 20, 2007.)

3: If you have already purchased the first edition of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, you can order the Author’s Workbook at a discount anytime.

All pre-publication orders for the revised second edition and/or the workbook will be shipped sometime around September 20, 2007.

Place your order at: http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html using your Mastercard or Visa OR send a check to the address below reflecting the correct price and the cost of shipping. (For CA residents only, add 7.25% tax.)

Matilija Press
PMB 123
323 E. Matilija St., Ste. 110
Ojai, CA 93023

Questions? plfry620@yahoo.com

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A Writer’s Pace

Tuesday, August 14th, 2007

My book is with the printer. Yup, the revised edition of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book is out of my hands and into the care of strangers at a new-to-me offset printing company. I’m experiencing a mix of relief and sadness. I’m glad that the project is completed, but I miss the work.

Are you familiar with that lull that comes after the whirlwind of activity in the final preparation of a book? While some people live for the lull, to me a lull can be dull. I’d rather feel at least a little pressure.

Some of you know that I am creating a workbook to accompany the second edition of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. But even this is out of my hands at the moment. It’s with my designer. I feel rather like a mom whose children have gone off to kindergarten for the first time.

While I’m currently working with a few clients and there are several projects I could start, I’m not, at this moment, invested in a project and it feels weird. While putting the finishing touches on The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, this month, I have also completed the 9-page SPAWN Market Update for September, I have written one new article, hopefully, for Angela Hoy’s Writer’s Weekly and I’ve submitted a few reprints. Ron at Publishing Basics will publish my piece, Publishing: The Raw Truth. I’ve submitted articles to Willamette Writer, Write News, Absolute Write and Write Success. And I’ve been practicing a speech I’ll present August 25 at the Ventura Book Festival. I’m speaking on Self-Publishing.

I’m actually going to leave my home office for a long walk this morning before temps hit the triple digits. I’ve been taking short walks while busy with the book details. I’m also going to try out the new window squeegee I bought at the county fair last week. Often, I find that, when I get out of the office and do something mindless such as walking, washing windows or gardening, I return to work overflowing with renewed creativity.

There is no lack of projects in this office. I collect them like some people collect pennies, tools or shoes. I need to write the promo for my usual pre-publication book discount offer. I’ll start planning my major promotional campaign for the book revision soon. I really would like to spend some time with my cat stories book. I may bring it out as an ebook early next year. I have a 3-inch stack of files on my desk filled with article and book ideas. And, thankfully, there seems to be no shortage of clients who need help with their projects.

Writing lulls don’t last very long in this office and, as you can see, this is by design.

Be sure to visit my Web site http://www.matilijapress.com. Sign up for one of my Courses on Demand. Learn how to self-publish a book, how to write a book proposal or how to get involved in writing magazine articles. And the best part is, I teach you on your schedule. http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm

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Don’t Bypass the Onramp to Publishing Success

Sunday, August 5th, 2007

Have you discovered that the road to publishing success is rather bumpy? It’s not easy to locate the freeway, is it?

I’ve spent much of the last several weeks trying to steer authors and would-be authors toward the onramp. I’m working with clients, of course, but I also get a lot of random questions via email. This week, I received emails from 2 hopeful authors asking, “How can I get my book of poetry published?” Three others asked how to promote their books—these included a self-help book, and two novels. Another budding author emailed me asking how to write a book proposal.

When people ask broad questions like these, their lack of knowledge about the publishing industry becomes obvious. There’s nothing wrong with being uninformed. We all started out that way. Nor is it a sin to ask questions. That’s how we learn. The problem is that most hopeful authors who ask major questions that typically need complex responses, are going to close their eyes, put their fingers in their ears and chant “LA LA LA,” when they hear the answers. Most of them don’t want to do what is necessary to succeed or even survive in the competitive field of publishing.

So how do I respond to these questions? Because I can’t stand by and watch authors self-destruct, I always provide them with some specific information and resources they can use. But I also strongly urge them to:

• Study the publishing industry.
• Write a complete book proposal.

Simplistic, you say? Some authors will even tell me, “Been there, done that.” But when they turn around and ask me, “How do I find a publisher for my book?” or “What’s the best way to promote a book?” I know they haven’t truly finished their homework.

So what do I mean about studying the publishing industry? How does one go about this?

1: Read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Also read some of the books I suggest as recommended reading—if you’re interested in self-publishing, Dan Poynter’s Self Publishing Manual, if you are considering a POD fee-based publishing service, Mark Levine’s The Fine Print, for a wider understanding of book promotion, Brian Jud’s Beyond the Bookstore, for example.

2: Join publishers’ organizations, SPAWN, PMA and SPAN, for example. Participate in their discussion groups, read the articles and check out the resources at their sites and read every newsletter.

3: Subscribe to magazines and newsletters related to publishing. (Read the SPAWN Market Update in the member area of the SPAWN Web site. Read the PMA Independent and SPAN Connection from cover to cover, as well.)

4: Search the Net. Spend time each week checking out the resources you’ve already discovered and searching for additional resources, articles, discussion groups and books. Use these materials and sites to gather additional information you need about the industry (your publishing options, how to choose and approach publishers/agents, what are your responsibilities as a published author, etc.).

The second thing you MUST do is write a book proposal. Forget about writing it for a publisher. (Although, of course, a publisher will, most likely, want to see it at some point.) The most important reason for writing a book proposal for a nonfiction, fiction and even a children’s book or book of poetry, is YOU. Here’s what you really must know before launching out into this highly competitive field with your manuscript. And this is true whether you plan to land a major publisher; go with one of the many smaller publishers; sign with a fee-based, POD self-publishing service or self-publish (establish your own publishing company). Through the process of writing a book proposal, you will learn:

1: Is the proposed book a viable product/is there a market for it?
2: Who is my target audience and how large is it?
3: How will I reach this audience?
4: How will I promote the book?
5: What is my competition?
6: What is my platform? (Credentials, expertise, following, way of attracting an audience.) If you don’t have a platform, start now establishing one.

A well-developed book proposal can tell you whether you have a book at all and, if not, how to tweak it so it is a viable product.

Of course, all of this should be done before even considering writing a book. Unfortunately, many hopeful and new authors operate on emotions rather than business sense. They haven’t learned yet that publishing is not an extension of their writing.

Wake up folks! Why do you think that over three-quarters (3/4) of all books fail? It’s because most authors bypass the onramp to publishing success.

1: They produce a book that is not well-written on a subject of interest to only a small segment of people or a slant that actually repels the very audience they want to attract.
2: Even though they have never written anything before, they trust that they’ve done it well and don’t bother to hire an editor.
3: They start seeking publication immediately after placing the last period. When their book isn’t welcomed with open arms by the majors, they pay a publishing service to produce it. This is okay, if the author is industry-savvy and understands the contract before signing it.
4: They never consider, until it’s too late, that they will have to promote the book. Or they don’t think this truth applies to them. One hopeful author told me several months ago that his book would sell itself. IF he ever got published and if he didn’t change his attitude, I’m pretty sure his is one of the over 948,000 titles that sold fewer than 100 copies last year.

What’s the answer? What is the key to publishing success? It’s nothing new—it’s not a big secret. Just think back on the other successes you’ve experienced in your lifetime. What were they based on? If you’re candid, your list will probably include:

*Knowledge
*Information
*Research/study
*Experience
*Work/effort/energy
*Persistence
*Practice
*Patience
*Skills/talent

Think about it, your business (sports, parenting, relationship, artistic and other) successes were based on these attributes and activities. It only makes sense that you would consider them when seeking success as an author.

If you are in any stage of authorship, stop the forward motion now and 0rder your copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com

Watch for the pre-publication discount offer for the revised edition of this book. Visit this blog often for more information.

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Authors Should Heed Those Discouraging Words

Wednesday, August 1st, 2007

Authors Should Heed Those Discouraging Words
By Patricia Fry

A hopeful author said to me yesterday, “I know that your purpose in writing The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book was to help authors succeed, but, as I read through your book, it almost seems as though you’re trying to discourage them.”

I said, “You’re right. I am. My aim is to discourage those people who are not suited to or who do not have the stomach for the fiercely competitive, highly professional world of publishing. Those who are still standing after my discouraging words are likely to succeed.”

Patricia Fry is the author of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. The second (Revised) edition is due out mid-September along with a workbook to use in charting your course through the publishing process. Watch for my pre-publication discount offer.

http://www.matilijapress.com

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