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Many hopeful authors start their search for a publisher after they have finished writing their novel, nonfiction book or children’s book. What’s wrong with this approach? A couple of things:

• Too many authors lack knowledge about how to locate publishers and appropriately approach them. So they are rejected by a series of publishers who are wrong for their projects and get quickly discouraged.

• Unaware authors tend to put all of their hopes and dreams into one of the major publishers even though their book isn’t exactly bestseller material.

• Too many authors are in such a hurry to get their book published after spending so many months/years working on it that they may miss out on some good opportunities. When they don’t land a publishing contract after the first few tries, they decide to go with a pay-to-publish company.

• When an author does find a publisher or an agent who is interested in his or her project, they often require some major changes to the manuscript before they will represent or publish the book.

I suggest that authors study the publishing industry and their options before they start writing the book or at least when they are in the beginning stages of planning or writing it. Truly recognize what each publisher produces and develop a realistic understanding of how your particular book will fit into the scheme of things. A publisher of several blockbuster mysteries by name authors is probably not going to be interested in your first children’s counting book. Your recovery memoir will probably not spark the interest of a major publisher if you are virtually unknown. And this is a difficult concept for most authors to grasp.

There are hundreds of small and medium-size traditional royalty publishers hungry for a good book. And I think it is important for new authors to seriously consider some of them for their projects.

Sure, if you really believe that your book could make the big time, go ahead and send your crisp, clean, highly professional query letter to appropriate literary agents in hopes of landing your choice of major publishers. If your manuscript is not accepted, do not give up. It may take months or years to work your way through the process with your agent. And this is often where the author makes his biggest mistake—he gets impatient and signs up with the first company who promises to publish the book.

Here’s what I recommend.

• Study the publishing industry even before writing the book—or at least early in the writing process.

• Choose a couple of publishers that seem exactly right for your project. This might be a university publisher, a regional publisher, a specialty publisher or simply a new publisher seeking good works. Be realistic! Don’t make the leap to the major publishers if your book is not actually bestseller material.

• Write with this publisher in mind. This could be very important. If the publisher produces books suitable to elementary school curriculum, make sure that your book follows suit. If they publish recovery books with a how-to element, write yours in that vein. If the publisher’s catalog focuses mostly on mystery novels, you’d better have a strong mystery focus in your novel.

Authorship is more than just writing the book that you want and carrying high hopes of getting an agent who will get you a contract with a major. Authorship means being well-educated and well-informed as to the workings of the publishing industry, truly understanding your options and realistically making your choices. And the earlier you start this process, the better.

If it turns out that you get that lusted after contract, SUPER! But I want you to have a backup plan and, along with it, a huge helping of patience. This can’t come about if you refuse to educate yourself about the publishing industry, your options, the possible consequences of your choices and your responsibilities as a published author.

For those of you new to the world of publishing, here’s something you should know. Writing a book is a huge undertaking, but it is nothing compared to the task of finding and working with an appropriate publisher. If you make it far enough to get published, you’ll soon discover that your work is just beginning. What comes next is hugely time-consuming, energy-draining and on-going for as long as you want your book to sell. What comes next? Book promotion and this is up to you—the author—whether you self-publish, go with a pay-to-publish company or sign with a traditional publisher.

You will be doing yourself a favor by purchasing my latest book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. (Allworth Press). Order your copy at Amazon. Read all of the five-star reviews posted already at the book page. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

If you are completely new to the world of writing to be published, the book for you is, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. It’s discounted at my website now. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

This book provides the education you need in order to successfully navigate the hugely competitive publishing industry.

We’re back from the Kern Festival of Writers. It was quite a nice day in the high desert and I ran into several authors I know from other author events. It was fun to catch up with them. Attendance was low, but there were enough hopeful and new authors there with questions to keep me busy, and some of them bought books.

I’d like to share a typical scenario that occurs at these events and yesterday was no exception.

A hopeful author will ask how they should go about getting published. What they want to hear is something like this, “Send your manuscript to Such and Such a publisher on Thursday of next week and he will promptly issue you a publishing contract.”

What I have to tell them is, “First you must study the publishing industry so you know something about this business you are about to enter into. Before getting involved, it is important that you know what your options are, the possible consequences of your choices and your responsibilities as a published author.”

And what they hear is, “There is no way you are going to get your manuscript published. You don’t have a chance in h— of landing a publisher.”

Some of them hear, “Go ahead with your original idea to pay a company to produce your book. If it’s a really good book, you’ll have no problem selling truckloads of copies.”

While some authors are absolutely eager to learn the right way to approach publishing and they are all ears when it comes to the concept of book promotion, others are in seriously deep denial. They see other authors succeed. It looks easy. Obviously (to them) it is just a matter of somehow getting your book published and then you’re on your way toward financial success and personal satisfaction.

So what is the “right way” to approach publishing?

Before deciding to write your book:

1: Begin studying the publishing industry. Read my book, “The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.” This is the best book I know of for gaining insight into and understanding the world of publishing today. At this point, you don’t need to know how to get your book at Amazon or how to spend your royalties. Right now, you need to learn how to navigate the fiercely competitive publishing arena, what your options are and which one is actually best for your book and for you. This book will save you more money and heartache than you can even imagine. This book is discounted at my website now:
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

2: Start building on your platform. Your platform is your following, your way of attracting your audience, your connections. (More about your platform in Monday’s blog.)

3: Accept the reality of your level of responsibility as a published author. The author is responsible for promoting his or her book no matter which publishing option he or she chooses.

If you are planning a book or you have one to sell, order my new book today: “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.”
http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

Check out all of the 5-star reviews at Amazon.

http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

I’m often asked if I can recommend an illustrator. Children’s authors, in particular, need to connect with a good illustrator, especially if they plan to self-publish (establish their own publishing company) or go with a pay-to-publish company.

While some traditional publishers will purchase the entire illustrated children’s book package, many prefer to hire their own illustrators. In these cases, hiring an illustrator might be a waste of your money. This is something that should be considered early on.

I want to talk to you today about choosing the appropriate illustrator. Of course, you want to work with an artist who can do the type of illustrations you want. There are practically as many types of artwork as there are artists and not every style is suitable for every project. So when you are exploring artists, you’ll want to study their websites, which should be a showcase of their work, to discover if they can handle the simplistic or intricate, fanciful or realistic type of illustrations you desire, for example.

But you also want to work with someone who has a good work ethic. It’s not easy to find a good artist who is also reliable—someone who can meet deadlines, for example. That’s why I recommend choosing an artist who has already established a business around his or her art. What are the signs that an artist may to be dependable?

• He or she comes highly recommended by another author. Ask the author if the artist followed through in the manner and within the time that was agreed upon.

• They respond to your forum or discussion group post for an illustrator. This indicates that the artist is proactive and possibly has a business head as well as an artistic heart.

• The illustrator has samples they can show you.

• The illustrator has created a business around his or her art and can offer references.

I know many good illustrators. But I would recommend only a handful of them to authors.

Some of our SPAWN members are artists. SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) was started by Mary Embree in 1996 as a face-to-face networking organization for anyone involved in publishing. She envisioned authors coming together with artists and meeting printers, editors, publicists, agents, publishers, screenwriters and others for the purpose of collaboration. SPAWN meetings also provided opportunities for authors to connect and learn from one another. Not much has changed over the years, except that we no longer meet in person. SPAWN is international and we connect online in many ways.

We continue to learn from one another, support one another and there is still collaboration going on. If you are an author seeking an illustrator, publisher, moral support, answers to questions about the industry…or if you are an artist looking for work, check out what we offer at SPAWN. http://www.spawn.org

Learn more about me and my work here:
http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

Remember, the first 25 people who order my new book from me get a free copy of “Over 75 Good Ideas for Promoting Your Book.” Order the new book, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author” today: http://www.matilijapress.com/promoteyourbook.html

Do you sometimes become frustrated by the whole process of writing and publishing a book? Sure you do. It’s frustrating when you get stumped or stopped while trying to flesh out your characters, write a particular scene or locate the information you want to include in your book. It’s frustrating when you can’t decide which publishing option to choose. You feel nothing but frustration when you put your heart and soul into promoting your book and sales continue to slip.

I feel your pain. And so do hundreds of other new and seasoned authors. You believe you are giving your all, yet the return on your efforts is so stinking minimal. You’ve done everything right—so where’s the reward?

I received an email from an author today who is frustrated because she can’t get her foot in the door of an agent, let alone a publisher. I’m sure that many of you can relate to this dilemma. As writers, we take great pride in our work. We produce the best darn story we can, the most amazing children’s book or the most important informational book and no one seems to care.

Ever feel this way? I’m sure that the fashion designer, hair stylist, artist (definitely the artist), landscaper, builder and jeweler all experience the same pain when their work is ignored or even rejected. When you put so much of yourself into a project, having it overlooked, disregarded or rejected hurts. It cuts deeply—replacing that sense of joy you experienced during creation with raw wounds.

Yet, as writers, we continually put ourselves out there in hopes of receiving something positive. And it is those positive comments and reactions that keep us going.

Are you frustrated with your writing/publishing project? If you are ready to work with a publisher or an agent, but you can’t get a foot in the door. I suggest backing off for a little while. Maybe your project isn’t quite ready to meet a publisher. Does it need professional editing? Contact me for a free evaluation and estimate. PLFry620@yahoo.com. Learn more about me and my work: http://www.patriciafry.com

Perhaps you haven’t spent enough time studying the publishing industry. You really don’t understand your options, the possible consequences of your choices and your responsibility as a published author. Study my book, “The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.” http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html (It’s currently discounted.)

Way too many hopeful authors are so focused on publishing with the major publishers that they can’t see the vast opportunities before them. I have to tell you, not all books are major publisher material. But there are hundreds of publishers out there seeking good projects that will make them some money and they would rather work without agent representation. You really need to check them out.

Maybe you are trying to promote your book and things aren’t going well. Book promotion is very hard work. Not only is the competition fierce, but marketing is a whole other business that some people train hard to enter into. The average Joe and Molly are usually prepared for what it takes to successfully promote a book. To learn more about book promotion, how to devise a marketing plan and so much more, read my latest book, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.”
http://www.matilijapress.com/promoteyourbook.html

If you want to connect with other authors—both beginner and seasoned—join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org

The one thing you should NOT do is keep doing what isn’t working for you. What should you do?

• Educate yourself.
• If you believe in your project, invest in it.
• View your book from a practical not emotional place.

http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

A few days ago, I promised that I would continue with my “lecture” on how to succeed as a published author. If you missed the July 15th post, be sure to backtrack and read it. Here is what I suggest to serious authors who want to succeed in the competitive publishing field.

Continue reading this and other publishing blogs, pertinent books such as The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, and newsletters for authors. Attend writers’ group meetings and writers’ conferences. Sign up for appropriate online courses. And follow up with the speakers/authors whose messages resonate with you.

I often say that successful publishing depends on knowledge and understanding. I’d also like to add “strategy.” Here’s my formula—it’s simple—but not always easy. Study the publishing industry and write a book proposal.

As part of your learning path, let me say that publishing is not FREE. It requires that you produce your very best piece of work. I recommend saving up (or setting aside) money early on to pay a good book editor to put the polish on your amazing manuscript. You’ll need anywhere from $500 to $3,000 (or more), depending on the size, scope and shape of your manuscript.

I have charged as little as $700 for editing and as much as $3,500. I issued a quote of $12,000 recently. The author was nowhere near prepared to pay that much, but it was a HUGE manuscript (actually the size of three typical novels) and there were many, many problems with sentence structure, grammar, punctuation and such. The author, for whom English was her second language, also had a deadline. She wanted me to complete the work in a mere few weeks. That just wasn’t going to happen. I did my best to negotiate a lower fee, but the author chose to do her own editing (argh) and then call it good.

Okay, so put money aside for a good book manuscript editor. You may decide to self-publish (establish your own publishing company) or go with a pay-to-publish service. Set aside another $1,000 to $5,000 for a cover designer and page layout person. Depending on which company you choose and how many copies you want, it may cost you an additional $1,000 to $10,000 to produce your book.

And then there is the task of book promotion. This will require your time, commitment, creativity, imagination and, most likely, some money. It costs to travel, to reserve booths at book festivals, to set up a website, to hire a press release service, to have brochures and posters made, to have your book included in catalogs, to join important organizations…

These are the kinds of things many authors do not want to hear or to deal with. And that, dear readers, is the reason why so many authors fail each year.

Questions: Contact me here: PLFry620@yahoo. (I apologize for being silent for the last few days. I was traveling and had limited Internet access.)

http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

You finally step outside your comfort zone and attend a writers’ group meeting or writers’ conference. You listen intently while the speaker explains aspects of the publishing industry and how to navigate it. The speaker hands out brochures, business cards—maybe a list of resources or an article or tip sheet. He or she takes time to answer audience questions, and then the speaker invites you to visit her website and even to email her if you have additional questions.

You have been given a great opportunity to connect in a personal way with someone whose presentation you found enlightening and informative—who has material and experience and is willing to share it. You’re excited at the prospect. You’re eager to learn more—to have your burning questions answered—to gain a greater understanding of the publishing industry. But you don’t follow through. Why?

You don’t want to bother the speaker? You don’t think your question is worth asking? Or is it that you would rather not know the answers because you suspect it will mean an uncomfortable walk along the learning curve or it will necessitate stretching on your part?

If you’re one of the many authors who hope to find an easy entrance into the world of publishing—one that does not require you to step outside of your comfort zone—you might as well quit now. If you’re not going to read the recommended books, follow up on the suggested resources or take the opportunity to connect in a meaningful way with someone who might be able to help in your publishing journey, you may become one of the seventy-six percent of authors who fail.

I know what you must do in order to succeed in the fiercely competitive publishing field. And I know that the seventy-six percent of authors who fail either do not know what it takes or they choose not to accept the truth. There are still authors who so believe in their projects that they expect success without the effort. They think that all they need to do is launch their books and the public will do the rest. If they make the book available, people will buy it. These authors go from point A to point Z with nothing but faith.

I have absolutely nothing against faith. I have it, too. But when it comes to a serious and, sometimes, costly business such as publishing, I advise bringing in oodles of knowledge, understanding and proactive measures.

I am probably preaching to the choir here. The author in this scenario would probably not be reading this blog, unless it is to find a way to revive a failing book. And in that case, I have a great resource. Order my ebook, The Author’s Repair Kit. This ebook is designed to help you to heal your publishing mistakes and breathe new life into your book.
http://www.matilijapress.com/author_repairkit.html http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

You may have noticed the many, many author services that have cropped up in the last few years—and continue to launch. Some of them are pay-to-publish companies trying to disguise themselves as something else. But most of them have some new book promotion gimmick.

We get frequent questions about some of these outfits from authors through SPAWN. Random authors contact me for advice, personally, as well. I also receive emails and calls from some of these companies who want to somehow get to our members so they can sell their services to them… “We’ll offer your members a discount”—“create a special package for them,” etc.

What is my response to authors? I think you’ve heard/read me say it before—before signing with any company, become proactive.

• Arm yourself with knowledge by studying the publishing industry. By this, I mean, read books, blogs and articles by industry professionals; subscribe to and read newsletters for authors; join appropriate organizations and participate; attend authors’ conferences, etc.

• Check out the publishing warning sites. I provide them fairly often in this blog. If you have missed them and would like a list, contact me: PLFry620@yahoo.com

• Do a Google search to see if there have been any complaints lodged against them. Use keywords, “name of the company” and “complaint,” “scam” or “warning.”

• If you get to the point of viewing the contract, hire a publishing attorney to look it over before signing.

You may think that your timely, amazing, well-written book is what’s going to launch you into stardom and wealth. I’m here to tell you that this is only part of the story. What you really need is knowledge of the publishing industry and an understanding of your responsibilities as a published author.

Once you understand what it takes to promote a book, for example, you’ll be more able to discern which book promotion services are valid and which ones aren’t. In some cases, it depends on your book. For example, a press release service to public school districts probably isn’t going to bode well for you if your book is a guide to parenting triplets. A service that gets you on talk radio, probably won’t do you any good if you happen to be deaf or you simply refuse to speak in public. Likewise, hiring a publicity company that books speeches all over the US won’t be a good match for you if you don’t have time or inclination to travel.

I sit here and write new blog posts practically every day of the year, continually write and update my books, write numerous articles for appropriate publications, travel around and speak, continue as executive director of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers), work with clients, teach online courses and field questions almost daily in order to help you make the best decisions toward your publishing success. I’m not just blowing in the wind, folks. I’m trying to help you here.

If you haven’t done so already, go to my Patricia Fry website and download my FREE ebooklet, 50 Reasons Why You Should Write That Book. You’ll learn volumes that will help you to make the right decisions for you and your project.

http://www.patriciafry.com

Order books and sign up for my online courses here:
http://www.matilijapress.com

I got up early enough to write my blog today, after all. And I thought I’d share with you one of the premises I’ll, most likely, share in my talk this morning out in Apple Valley, California. Do you know what your publishing options are? Or have you just emerged from your writing room after months or years of working on your amazing book and you don’t know where to turn? I imagine hundreds and hundreds of hopeful authors running around madly in search of a secret entrance into the wide world of publishing.

Most will turn to the Internet. Type in “publishing,” or “book publishing” or “finding a publisher,” and what comes up? Generally, first listed, are the companies that pay for the top slots in a Google, Yahoo, etc. search—AuthorHouse, iUniverse, Trafford, PublishAmerica, and so forth. Does this mean these are your best choices? Is this some sort of omen indicating that you should publish with one of these pay-to-publish (self-publishing) companies? NO!

What you should do is take time to study the publishing industry so that you understand more about it, so that you know what your publishing options are, the possible ramifications of your choices and your responsibilities as a published author.

Have you ever gone into business before? Do you know anyone who has? Most likely you did not jump in with both feet until you knew something about the industry, your customers, the suppliers/distributors and your competition. Well, while writing is a craft, publishing is a serious business and, in order to experience some measure of success, you really need to approach it as such.

Read my book and others like it: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. This book is on sale now as I am making room for the updated version to be released by Allworth Press in February. Is the current version still of value to authors? Oh my gosh, YES! It is exactly what you need in order to learn more about the publishing industry and how to navigate it, understand more about your publishing options and how to make the right choices for you and your particular project and how to plan your marketing strategy, for example. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

If you plan to go the pay-to-publish route, PLEASE read Mark Levine’s book, The Fine Print of Self-Publishing. He rates and ranks the most popular “self-publishing” companies and explains the contracts to you will understand them. Get the ebook version FREE when you join or renew your membership with SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com