Writing and Publishing News from

You’ve spent months and months writing a book. In fact, maybe it has been nagging you to be written for years. Finally, you sit down and put it on paper (or up on your computer screen). You finish it, show it to your spouse, best friend and oldest child&#8212they all love it and encourage you to have it published. You begin the search for a publisher and start making plans to retire on your royalties.

If only it was that easy. Well, it looks easy. You know published authors. There’s one in your writers’ group. And you met several of them at a local book festival. You hear authors being interviewed on the radio and see people talking about their books on TV talk shows. So you know that ordinary people can become published authors.

Some of them talk about these fabulous publishing companies that will produce your book quickly for a few hundred dollars. Yes, that sounds like a dream come true. There’s no hassle of dealing with crabby publishers who want everything done their way. You just plunk down the money and the company will “self-publish” your book for you. You’re in control. You’ll make more money that way, too. Right?

Wait. Hold your horses. Let’s back up this truck. Before you follow the perceived yellow brick road to publishing success, you really do need to make sure, before making any publishing decisions, that you understand a few things about publishing and about the market for a book like yours.

I harp a lot about studying the publishing industry. I still want you to do that, but today I want to urge you to take a closer look at your book while it is still in manuscript form.

What is your book about? Can you describe it in one or two brief sentences? If you can’t, the scope of your book might be too broad. And books that cannot be easily described&#8212pigeon-holed, if you will (whether fiction or nonfiction), are difficult to market and sell.

Ask yourself, who will want to read this book? Now be realistic and honest. Is this a book for history buffs, individuals who are suffering a particular malady, people who want help in a certain area, folks who like a good laugh, men, women, children, young adults? If you say, “It’s for everyone who likes a good book,” or “It’s for Maryland and California residents, those suffering from alcoholism, history buffs, teens and adults who love boating and parents with unruly kids,” you’re on the wrong track already.

What is the purpose of your book? What do you want to accomplish with your book? What do you want to give to the reader? Or have you even thought about the reader at all? You might say, “Oh, it’s a humorous book, but college grads will want to read it because it tells the story of a graduate and his struggle finding a job. Women who like a good romance will like it because there’s a great love scene in it. And it will help people who have shyness issues to come out of their shell. Oh yes and I’ve included a genealogy sketch of one of our early presidents for anyone who is interested.”

No, no, no. There is no such thing as an all about book for every reader. Here’s what you need to know before you etch your book in stone:

• Focus, focus, focus. If you can’t describe your book in one or two sentences, you don’t have a handle on your book’s purpose and this should be a big red flag for you. Eliminate or minimize the numerous elements in your book and focus. Or learn to pick out the most important aspect of your book. Is it a how-to book, a genealogy/biography, or just an entertaining story? You must be able to describe it succinctly and accurately in order to promote it to the right audience and, by the way, the right publisher.

• Become intimate with your audience. Know who they are, where they are and why they will want to read your book. Keep them in your mind while you are writing this book. Write this book for them&#8212not for yourself, not for everyone, but for your target audience. What do they want to know, what concerns them, frightens them, thrills them, interests them, tickles their fancy, makes them laugh, will help them?

Concentrate on just these two things as you write your book or, if it’s already written, when you do your final edit (before sending it off to a professional editor) and you will likely write the right book for the right audience and maybe even be able to retire on the royalties.

For additional help in all areas of writing and publishing, order your copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book NOW. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

It’s a common scenario: a writer emerges from his/her writing room and announces, “I’ve just written a book! Now, I’m going to get it published.”

He goes online in search of a publisher and winds up with a list of several fee-based POD self-publishing services. He pays the fee and quickly and happily becomes a published author. By the end of the year, however, this author like the hundreds of others who follow this easy route, hasn’t come anywhere near breaking even. He has a book that isn’t selling and he doesn’t know what to do next. This author is one of the 76 percent who fail every year.

As I said, this is a common scenario. But it is certainly not the best one, nor is it one that you should expect or accept.

Yesterday, I met several hopeful authors at the West Coast Author Premiere at the Crowne Plaza in Ventura, California. I had the privilege of speaking to them about publishing. And I’m sure that they heard some truths, facts and statistics that they haven’t heard before and didn’t expect to hear.

Here are some beliefs held by most new authors and the truth of the matter:

Common Belief: Traditional royalty publishers do not publish the works of new authors.
Truth: There are hundreds of medium and small traditional publishers seeking good publishing projects.

Common Belief: I have a great story, there’s no reason why a traditional royalty publisher would reject it.
Truth: There are about 6.5 million books in print and 411,422 books produced last year. Competition is extremely tough, and even some excellent books are not making the cut. I read recently that traditional royalty publishers accept only 3 percent of the manuscripts they receive. Another source said 1 percent.

Belief: My job is over once I find a publisher.
Truth: It is the author’s responsibility to promote his or her own book.

Common Belief: If only I can get my book produced, it will sell itself.
Truth: Even an exceptional book requires a lot of the author’s initiative, energy and time in order to sell enough books to make a profit.

Common Belief: I only have one publishing option—to pay a fee-based POD self-publishing service to produce my book.
Truth: There are 3 basic publishing options: Traditional royalty publisher (hundreds of them to choose from), self-publishing (you establish your own publishing company) or you pay a POD publishing service to produce your book.

Common Belief: I’ll get my book into bookstores and I’ll sell plenty of copies.
Truth: Even the largest bookstore can carry only about 3 percent of all books in print. If your publisher can get your book placed in bookstores, it will have a shelf life of only a few months if it isn’t selling well.

Common Belief: If I self-publish or go with a POD self-publishing company, I will not be able to get my book reviewed.
Truth: There are hundreds of review opportunities for books in practically every genre and topic.

Common Belief: I know I must have my book edited, so I’ll ask a teacher at my son’s school (or a retired professor in our neighborhood or a really smart friend from work) to edit my book. So it should be in really good shape when I approach a publisher with it.
Truth: Few people outside of the publishing realm can do the kind of editing job a book manuscript requires.

For the more truths, facts, tips, techniques, guidelines, information and resources regarding the publishing industry and how you can effectively navigate within it, order my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book today. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

It’s Friday. Fridays in the Patricia Fry/Matilija Press offices generally means catching up on any work that wasn’t completed during the week and preparing for a weekend of more work. Email correspondence slows on Fridays as my clients, colleagues and others prepare for their weekend activities.

This week, despite a lot of distractions, I’ve already completed client work and pretty much cleared my desk, except for a basket of filing that has been accumulating for a good two months. I am free to put the final touches on my speech for tomorrow at the Crowne Plaza in Ventura. I’ll be speaking on the two steps to publishing success. I’ll also be available all day, along with several other authors, to sign copies of my books at the West Coast Author Premiere at the Crowne Plaza.

And so, today, I’ll spend time packing for the event&#8212table cloth (in case they aren’t provided), books, small bills for making change, something to give away, credit card slips, brochures, cards… umbrella? Yes, they are predicting possible rain tomorrow&#8212in July in Southern California!! I guess it’s a good thing the event is inside instead of along the promenade overlooking the ocean, which I would have preferred (on a sunny day).

I keep hearing from clients and friends that people are talking about my presentation&#8212some people who only know me by name. I hope they show up and I hope I can give them what they want. That can be tricky when you don’t know what your audience wants. Often, I will ask the audience where they are in the publishing process or what they came to glean from the presentation. In this case, however, I have only a scant 30 minutes to speak (20 minute talk and 10 minutes of questions). It’s not easy to share an abundance of information, make a point and teach in such a short time span. I just hope that those who still have questions after the presentation will ask or will take me up on my standing offer to email me anytime with their questions.

Sometimes someone from the audience will ask me a question or for a reference that I can’t answer or recall at the moment. I always invite them to email me for a succinct response. Most do not take advantage of this sincere offer.

I also refer authors and hopeful authors to my books when I can see that they require information that I can’t offer up in a short time span. Do you know that I’ve been criticized for this? This offends some people because they say that I’m only interested in promoting my books. Oh my gosh!! Do these people have any idea what goes into a book like mine? Do they know the value enveloped in books by experts and professionals? Don’t they understand that you’ve written these books and are recommending them not so much for the sale&#8212(What’s another $20?), but to share, to teach, to inform, to help make their path to publishing success smoother.

When someone indicates that they need help figuring out how to self-publish a book, they can’t decide which publishing option to choose, they are confused about distribution or the whole marketing thing, of course, I’m going to suggest they read my book. This is the best advice I can give, unless they want to pay for my time ($50/hour) while I spend hours explaining it all to them.

I’m not looking at the sale when I push or promote my books as much as I am attempting to help someone with a concept and/or the information they truly need. I poured my heart and soul into my books with the author in mind. When I recommend one of my books, I consider it a gift. Sure, I expect payment&#8212how else could I stay in business and continue helping authors? But hopeful authors who will study The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, for example, and follow the sage advice, utilize the resources, etc., will get back hundreds of times the monetary value of the book.

Do other authors feel the way I do about their books&#8212especially their nonfiction books? Do you view your book as something of such value that you can’t really understand it when someone who you know could benefit from it doesn’t buy it?

I guess this is an author ego thing. We all believe that our books are worth reading, otherwise, why would we write them and go to the expense and trouble of publishing them?

If you live in the Ventura area, do come by and see me tomorrow at the Crowne Plaza. I’ll be there from 10 to 3 and I’ll be speaking at 1:30. And be sure to visit my showcase of books for authors and freelance writers at http://www.matilijapress.com

More Publicity for Patricia Fry
My name is mentioned four times in Moira Allen’s latest edition of Writing World. Dawn Copeman (editor) quoted my blog in her commentary on the difficulties of getting publishing as well as in an article she wrote on getting noticed by an agent or publisher. (July 3, 2008, Issue 8:07.) http://www.writing-world.com

Question From a Reader
I’m glad to know that my blog is being read. Obviously, I spend time each day composing well-thought-out entries that will inform and teach in the area of writing for publication and navigating the competitive publishing industry. And I’m always glad to know that they’re being read. I received a question about something I wrote in yesterday’s blog entry. This author of children’s fiction said that she was having trouble placing her manuscripts and wondered how to favorably compare her stories with those of others as I recommend.

You might recall that I suggest explaining to a publisher what makes your book different, what makes it as desirable as similar books, what makes it better than what’s out there. Well, this is, indeed, difficult to do with fiction. Here, in part, is what I wrote to this author:

“The questions I posed relate more to nonfiction. You can easily rate a nonfiction book against others on a particular topic. For example, ‘My book has an index, it includes case histories/anecdotes, it is less (or more) spiritual in nature, I has a how-to component…'”

I told her this, “You may be able to come up with features that make your children’s fiction book different from and more appealing than others in your category/topic. Maybe you have a dot-to-dot game in the back of your book. Perhaps your characters all represent different ethnic groups. Maybe your book is an interesting/convenient size/shape or it has a foreign language element.”

I suggested that she, “Use everything you have to entice the publisher to consider your book over the others. Maybe your children’s fiction book relates to a topic that is really hot right now; for example, Mommy and Daddy Fighting Over Money. Is yours the only book featuring a story on this topic? If not (if there are others) what makes yours more useful, valuable to this age group?

For a book of fiction, your selling point might not be ‘differences,’ but your platform and your marketing plan. Perhaps you have set aside some money to go toward promoting your book or you have found an investor. SOME publishers love it when authors come in with money. They also love it when the author has a ‘following’&#8212a way of attracting readers (a platform). Maybe you have been submitting and selling stories to children’s magazines for years and you are well-known as a storyteller for your book’s age bracket. You say that you have a background in education. If the authors of the other books that this publisher is considering do not have this sort of background and all else is the same, who do you think will get the publishing contract? You, of course.”

I go on to suggest that she tell the publisher how she will utilize her background in education to promote her book to local school districts and beyond.

I also suggest this, “Before you start your next children’s book, consider what is current or hot. What do kids today&#8212this year/month/week&#8212fear or worry about? Where are we heading in the world situation? What will kids be concerned about&#8212their mom/dad going away to war? Losing their home/neighborhood/friends due to foreclosure? (Those who hear Mom and Dad talking about it and crying about it a lot will worry about this.) Maybe kids are worried about whether they will lose their toys and not be able to have new toys. Boy, is this an opportunity for a lesson story.”

I really hate watching authors try to play catch-up&#8212trying to pitch (or promote) a manuscript (or book) that does not have the elements needed to bring it to the top of the slush pile heap or entice readers to buy it.

This why I continually teach, preach and nag you over and over again to think about your audience and their needs and desires BEFORE you start writing a book. Also, develop a platform BEFORE you start showing your book around to agents/publishers. And this advice holds for fiction as well as nonfiction authors.

Are you starting to understand why this is so important?

Whether you fully understand this truth or not and no matter where you are in the writing/publishing process, you will make better decisions and experience greater success if you will study my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and adhere to the suggestions that make sense for your project. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

If you need assistance with determining the direction of your project, choosing and approaching an appropriate publisher, preparing your manuscript for publication, contact me for an evaluation and consultation today: PLFry620@yahoo.com.

Are you currently working at a regular job? Are you counting the days until you can retire and start writing the book of your dreams? Think of it, you’ll have the time and space in which to pen the great American novel or write your fascinating memoirs. For some of you, your writing goal is what keeps you going.

Maybe it isn’t such a good idea to wait to write your book. In fact, I would encourage some of you to write your first book now&#8212while you still have access to the things you need in order to succeed in the publishing field.

What do you need? Think about it&#8212what do you have now that you will, most likely, lose once you retire?

• Professional and personal contacts through your company or in your field.
• The support of one or more companies.
• Access to publicity channels.
• Association with appropriate experts (computer wizards, marketing people, etc.)

“But,” you say, “I don’t have the time to write now.”

Hog wash. Thousands of very busy working people pen books everyday. They simply re-prioritize and make a few sacrifices. (Fewer hours watching TV, for example, less socializing, a cut in overtime work, temporary absence from club duties, getting up earlier in the morning, etc.).

Anyway, I am not suggesting that you write a novel, your memoirs or a book of poetry&#8212not just yet. Now is a good time to write a nonfiction book or a series of booklets or pamphlets related to your line of work or expertise. In fact, you might be able to arrange for company support if it is a project that would benefit their production or sales.

Do some serious research to discover what sort of information or material is lacking within your organization. Convince the CEO of the public relations firm you work for (or real estate company, software design business, factory, healthcare organization, etc) that they need a booklet or series of booklets addressing potential clients’ initial questions and concerns. Outline the booklets and get cost estimates. Be sure to crunch some figures to show the powers-that-be how this project would benefit the company. And then demonstrate why you should be the one to write the booklets or even a full book. Of course, factor in the time you will need in order to develop the project and come up with your fee.

Your name will be on the book or booklets as the author. You get a foot in the publishing door and just look at the experience you’ll gain&#8212experience that you can use on your personal writing projects once you do retire.

Perhaps you want to write a business-related book on your own. You see a lack of material on certain aspects of your field or specialty. Consider writing a book that fills the gap. Better yet, write a book for the consumer related to your area of expertise. Maybe you design shoes and handbags. Come out with a book on how to coordinate your travel wardrobe so you only need one pair of shoes and one handbag. Or write about shoes for different types, shapes of feet—be sure to include problem feet (those with bunions, crooked toes, planter warts, etc.)

Maybe you are an executive in a large finance company or bank. Write a book on how to teach children money-awareness or family budgeting in difficult economic times.

What are the benefits of writing these books while you’re still connected with a company or institution?

• You know your topic and it won’t take you nearly as long to write a nonfiction book on your expertise as it will a novel. So you don’t need to set aside so much uninterrupted time.
• You have many more connections when you are still involved with a large company&#8212all the better to establish yourself as an author. You’ll lose all of this fairly quickly once you retire.
• This is a way of establishing yourself as an author and building a readership.
• The experience you get will greatly assist you in eventually producing the book of your dreams.

If your retirement goals include authorship, consider giving your career a jumpstart. Write a book now in order to better prepare yourself for your future as a novelist or a memoirist, for example. Besides, nonfiction books are easier to sell than fiction or memoirs, so it’s a good way to break in and even to build a bank account to use in producing or promoting your novel.

And be sure to order your copy of my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. It will help lead the way to successful authorship. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

FREE this week:
Contact me before July 7, 2008 and receive the article-writing or book proposal class of your choice FREE. The article-writing course expands over 6 sessions. Go to my website, read about each session and choose which one you would like to receive. http://www.matilijapress.com/course_magarticles.htm.
OR
If you prefer one of the Book Proposal classes, choose 1 class from the 6 that are listed at: http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

Email me with your choice: PLFry620@yahoo.com