Writing and Publishing News from

Some hopeful authors want a detailed blueprint showing them how to publish their books. They want a guide to follow from start to finish—from approaching a publisher to distributing boxes and boxes of books. There are actually many guides for new authors, but not the kind most authors desire.

Authors want to know:

• What publisher should I contact?
• Do I need an agent?
• How do you write a query letter?
• What goes into a book proposal?
• How much does it cost to self-publish?
• How much money can I make on this book?

And they want specific, etched-in-stone answers.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone give you exact templates for your query letter and book proposal, precise figures for producing your particular book, the name of an agent and/or publisher who will delight in working with you and definitive earnings?

Even a book shepherd can’t give you that blueprint you want. If you publish a dozen or 10 dozen books, you still won’t have a precise guide to publishing set in stone.

Publishing is a rather ambiguous, unformulated activity. While, of course, there are parameters, rules, policies, recommended strategies, guidelines and such, each publishing project requires thought, heads-up research, attention to detail and tons of creativity.

That’s why I stress the importance of education for the author who contemplates publishing. In order to make the best decisions for you and your project, you must understand something about today’s publishing industry, know your options, realize the possible consequences of your choices and be aware of your responsibilities as a published author.

I wrote The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book for the new and struggling author. It is designed to be read BEFORE you make that final decision to pursue publication. I’d prefer that you read it before you write your book. It could make the difference between you writing a salable book and one that only your closest friends will purchase.
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Patricia Fry’s Online Book Proposal Course
It’s too late to join in on my Article-Writing Course. We’re moving along faster than usual and we’re coming up on lesson number 3.

But I’m presenting my Book Proposal Course when this one is finished—probably around the first of September. If you are thinking about writing a book, you are in the middle of writing one or even if you have finished your manuscript, you will probably need a book proposal. Who needs a book proposal, anyway? You need to write a professional book proposal if:

• You are thinking about writing a nonfiction book.
• You are writing or have written a nonfiction book for publication.
• You are seeking an agent or publisher for your nonfiction book.
• You’ve written a novel or children’s book and your publisher asks for one.

For an in-depth article on writing a book proposal PLUS sample book proposals for two books that sold, go to http://www.matilijapress.com/articles/write_bookproposal.htm

To learn more about the Book Proposal Course, go to http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

I get the question every once in a while asking how do you put your book in PDF form. If this is also your question, this might be the answer: Easy PDFTemplates at http://www.easyPDFTemplates.com. Let me know if you check into this and how you would rate this recommendation.

What other questions do you have? Here are some that I get practically every year:

• Which publishing option is best?

Best Answer: It depends on you and it depends on your book project. Publishing is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. In my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, I thoroughly explain your publishing options and the pros and cons of each so that you can make the best choice for your project.

In fact, this is the theme of my workshop scheduled at the CLAS Ventura Book Festival and Writers’ Conference next Saturday (July 25, 2009) at the Crowne Plaza in Ventura, California—10:00 to 4:00. Admission to the book festival and the workshops are FREE. (Contact me for more information. PLFry620@yahoo.com.)

• How do I approach a publisher?

Armed with exactly what he or she wants. Read each publisher’s Submission Guidelines—they are not all the same. Finding these guidelines can sometimes be tricky. Why some publishers bury them deep within their websites, I don’t know. But it often takes some digging—not always, but often. On page 24 in my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, you’ll find my suggestions for locating these sometimes elusive guidelines.

Once located, follow them. Most publishers of nonfiction want to see a book proposal, including a synopsis (what is this book about?), a market analysis (what else is out there like your book and what makes your book different, better?), your marketing plan (what is your platform, what connections do you have and what is your marketing strategy for this book?), about the author (who are you and why are you the person to write this book?) chapter outline (summary of each chapter) and sample chapters (generally the first one and then the one containing the most meat).

The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book includes 4 chapters on writing a book proposal. I also present an on-demand, online course on writing a book proposal: http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

• What’s the best way to promote a book?

Again, this depends on you and it depends on your project. What works well for one type of book, may not necessarily fly with another. Your “cooking from the garden,” cookbook might be conducive to demonstrations for church groups, neighborhood home parties, kitchen stores, etc., and it might glean hundreds of reviews in cooking-related newsletters, magazines and websites. But you’d need to pursue completely different tactics for a historical novel. For the novel, for example, you might give readings at coffee houses and bookstores, speak in costume at civic club meetings and maybe create an interactive website., as a start. The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book features 3 chapters on book marketing and promotion. Chapter titles are: “Book Promotion Basics for the Bold and the Bashful,” “Book Promotion—Reach Out Beyond the Bookstore,” and “Book Promotion—Get Creative.”

What other questions do you have? Ask me: PLFry620@yahoo.com. The answers are probably in my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Read the reviews at Amazon.com and the testimonials at my website http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

I turned away work this weekend; and I feel good about it. Why? Because neither of the book manuscripts the clients brought me were ready to be edited.

The author of one nonfiction manuscript was still ambivalent as to the organization of her book. She wondered where she should put the boring data needed to backup the information and anecdotes in her book or whether she should do away with it altogether. I suggested that she think about her audience—college students. Get into their heads and determine how they would best accept and assimilate the concepts in her book. After we discussed the possibilities, I recommended that she complete the organization of her manuscript and then send it to me for editing.

The other client wants me to organize her nonfiction book. But as I began to read through her roughed-out chapters, I realize that she doesn’t have a clue as to her audience. She is addressing four different groups of people and I explained to her that this just won’t work. I told her that she must have a specific audience in mind and write her book for that audience. Sure, others who are in need of this information will benefit from it, as well, and she can include chapters for readers in other specific groups, if she wants. But she has to write for one well-defined audience.

For example, a book on breeding Persian cats might be of interest to someone who wants to start a breeding program as a business, people who just want to raise one litter at home, folks who want to show Persians and people who are already breeding these cats, but who have some questions and concerns about their breeding programs. A peripheral audience might be people wanting to adopt or purchase a Persian cat. You can see how confusing it would be to try to write this book for all of these people at once. In order for this book to make sense, you’d need to choose a primary target audience—beginning Persian cat breeders, for example. Write one chapter for the customer who is seeking to buy a Persian cat or kitten and maybe a chapter on showing Persians. This book, then, would be marketed to those who want to start a breeding program with Persians but, since it would include information about Persian conformation, troubleshooting for breeders, health issues for Persians, etc., a secondary audience might be those who are already breeding these cats, anyone who wants to know more about this breed for show or for pets.

Another thing to consider when identifying your target audience is your marketing plan. Who will you promote this book to? Do you have access to a particular group of people? In the Persian cat breeding scenario, the author might belong to a Persian cat association. She might attend conferences and shows, for example. Maybe she’s the organization webmaster and membership chair. Obviously, she would have access to Persian cat breeders, if this was her audience of choice.

How do you know when your book manuscript is ready for editing? I guess some of you don’t until you get an evaluation from a good editor. But you can consider the following and, perhaps, be more well-prepared to approach an editor:

• Be crystal clear as to your target audience. Narrow this down as precisely as you can.

• Make sure that your target audience is substantial. Instead of writing a book for people who like starfish, consider expanding it to include all (or several) tide pool creatures. It could be a children’s (or parents’) guide to tide pools along the west coast. Rather than a book featuring your elderly loved one’s day care experience, consider a review of local senior day care facilities with a chapter on how to start one.

• Know how to access your target audience. In fact, choose to write your book for the audience you can access as these are the people you will be promoting to.

• Determine whether this book is actually needed. Before writing any book, research other books in this category and ascertain how yours will fit into the scheme of things.

• Is the book well-organized? Some editors will help with this.

• Have you self-edited and proofed your manuscript to the absolute best of your abilities?

If you have concerns or questions about any of these suggestions, read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html.

My next online article-writing course starts July 24, 2009. The class is 20% full. Reserve your space today at
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_magarticles.htm

Questions? PLFry620@yahoo.com

I’ve been working with a client who, like many of you, has just one thing to say and needs help spitting it out. Oh, she knows her topic and she has a thumbnail sketch of her audience, but she is completely overwhelmed and a bit disheartened by the process of producing a book.

She got hoodwinked into giving someone quite a large sum of money up front to organize her material into a book and ended up without a book or the money.

When I first met her to discuss the project, she indicated that she had a following of people eager for this nonfiction book. Now, she says she doesn’t have a clue as to how to market it. Neither does she know how to go about getting it printed.

Yes, she has a copy of my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, and she has read it and continues to refer to it, but she seems to need some personal assistance to guide her at this point.

So this morning, I outlined a plan of action for her. Here’s what I suggested: First, let me say that I will be organizing and editing her book. (Actually, it is a booklet—probably around 50 pages—targeted to a fairly specific audience.)

1: I suggested that she start getting price quotes for printing and binding the book in a variety of ways—saddle-stitching, comb binding, spiral bound, etc. I recommended that she check with a few printers as well as the folks at a local business center. (This book—at least the first incarnation—will not be suitable for libraries and bookstores.)

2: She needs to establish a business—get a fictitious business name, sign up with the State Board of Equalization so she is prepared to collect and pay sales tax.

3: Once she has an idea of costs, she can begin approaching those individuals who have asked for this book as well as the organizations, associations, agencies and institutions who would be interested in it. She needs to develop some marketing material to send as well as hone an elevator speech or a 30-second commercial that she can present by phone and in person. I told her that, if she takes pre-publication orders, she will have a clear idea of how many copies to print up front and she may be able to pay the printing bill. She also needs to give these folks a projected delivery date.

4: I urged her to get organized—keep accurate and complete records reflecting who she contacts and when, their response, when she made a follow-up call, how many books they ordered, her price quote, whether or not they paid up front and so forth. (There are templates in my bookkeeping chapter in The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.)

5: I advised that she concentrate only on local sales for now. She doesn’t have a website and probably won’t anytime soon. It makes sense that she tests her book in familiar territory—within her comfort zone. I further encouraged her to ask each individual she approaches for referrals. Organizations and institutions may have affiliates or branches, for example. She needs to contact each of them.

This is my client’s assignment for now. If you are working on a narrowly targeted book or booklet, this plan might benefit you, as well.

Once the book is a book, I will suggest that my client first make sure that her customers get their orders. Then she can deposit any checks she collected for prepublication orders. I would also advise that she visit appropriate gift shops and stores (in this case, it would be hospital gift shops and pharmacies) with her book. Next, I’d like to see her contact all websites related to the theme of her book and arrange for book reviews, interviews, etc.

Order your copy of my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book here: http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

If you’re like most freelance writers and authors, you write on fairly specific topics. You have your pet subjects and you are always on the look-out for related information, facts, statistics and other resources to enhance your writings. But how do you manage the material you locate online, in publications, from live media, through interviews and so forth? Do you have a good filing system or are you still cluttering the top of your desk with print outs, hand-scribbled notes and tear sheets?

Or worse yet, do you avoid conducting research and collecting data that might augment your articles or book manuscripts because you can’t stand the clutter?

Then maybe it’s time to get organized. How?

There’s the old-fashioned method of filing stuff—the sturdy metal (or lovely polished wood) filing cabinet. Some of my colleagues use cardboard boxes that are designed to store material in hanging file folders. My office grew rather quickly from a two-drawer filing cabinet to two four-drawers and three two-drawers and now I have one filing cabinet. It measures 5 feet tall, 3.5 feet wide and I had it painted bright burnt orange. The 5 large drawers are full.

Some people use computers for storing their research material. If you go this route, be sure to implement a reliable backup system. I actually saw a paperless office once. Unbelievable! Wish I could achieve this, but I’m afraid that I’m a bit of a hoarder. And, despite what the original Heloise used to say, I often do need something even years after I’ve thrown it away. (For those of you who don’t remember, I believe it was Heloise who said, “If you haven’t used it in a year, you don’t need it.”)

When I was heavy into freelance article writing, I was always in research mode. I scoured magazines and newspapers for interesting new topics, material on subjects I was already writing about and experts in these fields. I am constantly researching now on subjects related to writing and publishing so I will have the most updated information and resources for you and for SPAWN members reading my incredible SPAWN Market Update. (Visit SPAWN at http://www.spawn.org). And I maintain systems that seem to serve me well.

I have a “SPAWN Market Update” file folder, which I add to throughout each month. I discard the printouts, notes, etc. once I’ve used them. Or I might transfer the information to my “Writing and Publishing” file folder, which I tap into when I need help coming up with a new article or blog topic.

When I’m working on a book, I will use one of those cardboard boxes designed for hanging file folders to store data chapter by chapter. And I can tell you that it pays to somehow document where each fact, figure and quote came from—especially when you’re dealing with nonfiction. Some publishers want access to taped interviews, for example. They may want their staff to do some fact-checking. Or you might want to double check a figure or get more information from a certain source.

The more organized and thorough you are with your research material, the easier your life will become.

For assistance with research techniques and bookkeeping tips for authors as well as information about distributors, wholesalers, publishers, agents, booksellers, writing a book proposal, self-publishing and practically everything else related to publishing and marketing a book, be sure to order your copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book today. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

I get wonderful comments about this book regularly. You’ll read some of them at Amazon.com and at my website. I received one last week from a woman who claims my book is much better than that of another well-known author. I won’t mention the name because I’m actually not in competition with anyone. I attempted to write a book that is different enough from anyone else’s books so that you would have access to all of the information you need on writing and publishing topics. So I like to think that books by the major players in publishing complement each other, not compete against each other.

Buying good and useful books by authors you trust is another excellent way of accumulating the research material you will need in order to write, publish and sell your book. Books, especially those with indexes, can be incredible resources and they are easy to store. Just build more book shelves. That’s what I do.

How far outside your comfort zone have you stepped with your book project? Do you thrive on the tasks involved with publishing a book or is each new aspect torture? Do you love or hate the learning curve that you face as an author?

If you’re like most new authors, you’ve faced numerous opportunities to stretch as you walk the publishing path, and it isn’t all fun and games. Some authors actually attempt to bypass important steps and responsibilities related to the publishing process. They say, “What do I need an editor for; I know how to write,” or “I don’t want to do any research, so I’ll just go with the cheapest publisher,” or “I’m not going to promote this book—that’s what bookstores are for.”

Authors with these points of view end up being one of the 76 percent of authors who fail each year.

Publishing, for an experienced businessman or woman or someone with a strong marketing background is daunting enough. For anyone without this advantage, it can be extremely intimidating and overwhelming. That’s why so many hopeful authors omit the most distasteful tasks from the process of publishing their books. And that’s also why they fail.

They avoid writing a book proposal. They decide not to spend money for an editor or a cover designer. They may stubbornly reject the idea of participating in book promotion. And several months down the road, when their book is dead in the water, they wonder why.

If you dream of seeing your novel in print, you’ve decided to publish your memoirs or you have a how-to or self-help book in the works, and you want a successful outcome, you need to take the process of publishing seriously. Publishing is a business, after all.

Authors who can shift from the craft of writing and become totally committed to the process of publishing will have the best chance of succeeding in this highly competitive business.

An excellent first step in successful publishing is to read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. I wrote it specifically for those who are new to publishing as well as published authors who are struggling. Do what others who have been reading my blog and following me on Twitter have done lately—order my book and find the publishing path that is right for you. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

• How does publishing work? What are the steps?
• How do you prepare a manuscript for publication?
• What are your publishing options?
• What are the pros and cons of each option?
• How does one locate the right publisher?
• What are your responsibilities as a published author?
• What are the costs of disregarding basic publishing procedures?
• How does an ordinary person successfully promote a book?

These are just some of the things you’ll begin to understand after reading The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Contact me with your questions: PLFry620@yahoo.com