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A book proposal reveals many things to a prospective author—whether his or her book is a viable product, the scope of competition, who and how extensive is the audience and what’s the best way to market the book, for example.

One important question we like to answer in our book proposal (for potential publishers and for ourselves) is, “How are other books on this topic and/or in this genre doing?” But getting those sales figures or quantities is not an easy task.

I advise my clients to find out how their perceived competition is doing. I send these hopeful authors in search of facts, figures, numbers—any statistics they can get their hands on—which will demonstrate the potential for their own projects. If XYZ Publisher’s book on uses for toothpicks is selling well, then maybe there’s hope for your book featuring twist tie crafts. If ABC Publisher’s novels featuring all deaf characters are faring well, then your romance thriller about and for the blind ought to sell.

But how do you get sales figures to prove the potential for your book? I’m just one of thousands who would like to know.

So far, this is all I can offer my clients and faithful readers:

• Call Ingram’s database number for their sales figures: 615-213-6803. You’ll need the ISBN. You won’t get the whole picture here, but you’ll get an idea of how the book is moving.

• Talk to your local independent bookseller, or make friends with someone at a mega-bookstore. Ask if they can locate overall sales figures for a few specific books or at least quantity figures reflecting books sold through their chains.

• Research the book title at the publisher’s site. Has it been reprinted? If the book is in its 8th printing, that’s a good indication that it’s selling. This is good information to use in your book proposal.

• Note if the book has made a bestselling list—which one, for how long? Be careful. I’ve had people tell me their book was on a bestseller list and it wasn’t what you would think. The list was for one independent bookstore or it was one regional book reviewer’s personal list of books.

• Read press releases posted at the publisher’s site to see if there have been any comments made public about the volume of sales. Note the date of the press release, where it was published, exact quote and who made the statement.

• Research the book title using a Google search. See if you can find any additional stories wherein this book is mentioned. Remember to use quotation marks around your key words for a more refined search.

• Sign up for Google Alerts ( http://www.google.com/alerts. Type in the book title and/or the genre or topic, for example. You can stop the Google Alerts messages at any time.

If anyone has additional tips for locating sales or quantity figures related to specific books, please let me know. The more explicit we can be in our book proposals, the more ammunition we have in the difficult task of landing a publisher. PLFry620@yahoo.com.

And this crucial information isn’t just for potential publishers. You, the author, need to gather as much information as possible with respect to the viability of your book project. You need to know whether the book you have in mind is a good business decision or not. If not, and you find out early enough, you can change your course and head in a more successful direction.

For more about how to develop a book proposal, read my book: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Just when you think you have the whole publishing thing all figured out, someone comes along and bursts your bubble. It’s not a pretty picture.

This morning, a struggling author came to me using the same words I’ve heard over and over again: “I have a book, but I can’t sell it. What is a poor, out-of-work author to do?”

This author’s first mistake was to think he could support himself through the sale of his wonderful book. Where do these ideas come from? Are “self-publishing” companies giving authors false hope? Unfortunately, it is all too common for new authors to blast their way through the publishing process, spending money to fulfill their publishing dream instead of spending time learning the ropes.

And this is why I am out there trying to head them off at the pass—trying to catch them through this blog, through the SPAWN Market Update (for members of Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org and at writers’ conferences, for example. I want to catch hopeful authors before they become struggling authors and explain to them how to navigate the hugely competitive publishing industry before they start making all of the most common mistakes.

I want to tell them to study the publishing industry enough so that they understand what’s going on and so that they know their options, the ramifications of their choices and their responsibilities as a published author. I want to show them how to write a business plan for their book so it will have a greater chance at success. But I can’t stop them all from making publishing blunders, so I invented the Post-Publication Book Proposal for those I miss.

If you are struggling to sell your book, order my FREE report on the Post-Publication Book Proposal NOW. PLFry620@yahoo.com. Follow the instructions in this report and you WILL experience a greater measure of success with your book project.

A blog-a-day taxes the mind, but it’s fun, at least so far. I checked my blog status report and folks certainly are visiting my blog. Let’s make it a habit. I’ll promise to keep bringing you news you can use and valuable writing/publishing information, if you’ll promise to keep visiting my blog site.

Are you getting Google Alerts, yet? If you want to check on your level of exposure, keep your finger on the pulse of the publishing industry or the industry represented by your book, sign up for Google Alerts. It’s FREE. Sign up and every morning you’ll find a message from Google Alerts in your email box telling you about the most recent posts using your choice of keywords. http://www.google.com/alerts

I’m pleased to report that my blog comes up in one of my Google Alerts practically every day because of my keywords, “Publishing” “Writing” “Book Promotion.” These are the words I use in my blog titles and in the text, so Google easily finds my blog and reports it in all of the Alerts using similar keywords.

Not only do I use Google Alerts to check on the exposure I’m getting, but I often visit other sites and blogs that come up on my Google Alerts and get acquainted with the hosts/bloggers. Last week, this practice resulted in two possible reviews for my book The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Every little mention helps. Not only does it help my sales, but, when people buy and study this book, it helps them to keep from making costly and heart-breaking mistakes.

I’m going to miss a day of blogging this week. I’m taking my mother on a short trip WITHOUT my computer. I’ll write a blog entry early tomorrow before leaving, but I’m going to allow myself a day off on Wednesday. I only hope that someone out there will notice when I don’t post a fresh blog on Wednesday. Otherwise, what’s the point of my diligence?

Good question. We all sometimes feel as though we’re performing in an empty auditorium—that we’re writing books that no one is reading and promoting to the deaf and blind. We do a lot of writing and promotion without much feedback, acknowledgement or even sales. It’s the nature of the game, I’d say. And it’s the nature of people.

When is the last time you said to a fellow author, “Good job. I enjoyed reading your book?” or “Thank you for sharing your knowledge?” Or “I loved your recent blog entry?” Why not take the time to acknowledge someone today? That’s my intention this week.

I just finished reading a novel written by a local author—her first. I plan to contact her and let her know how much I enjoyed it. Over the weekend, I contacted a few clients I haven’t heard from in a while and offered a sincere “atta-boy” and expressed a genuine interest in the path of their current projects. I also visited a couple of blogs and left comments of appreciation for the information and resources they were posting.

If you want your book to be noticed, put yourself out there more. If you want to keep current with your industry (topic/genre) sign up for Google Alerts. If you want to receive accolades, do more, give more, offer more—but don’t expect everyone to say those sweet words of thanks. Most of all, when you feel appreciation for someone, you admire something that someone has accomplished, you’re grateful for something you’ve learned, don’t keep it a secret. Thank the individual personally and tell others about it, too.

Patricia Fry is the author of 27 books, including The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and the companion Author’s Workbook. Purchase this combination of books, use them, refer to them often and you will be MUCH more likely to experience the publishing success you desire.
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

I got the question again at the SDSU Writers’ Conference over the weekend: “What’s the best publishing option?” Authors are never happy to hear what they must be told, “It depends on the book and it depends on you.”

There’s nothing about the task of producing or marketing a book that is easy or straightforward. There are many decisions to make during the writing phase of your book—how to handle dialogue, which research material to include, whether or not to kill off the heroine and when to end the book, for example. These are mechanical, technical and creative decisions. Once you decide to publish your book, your decisions become pure business. You must decide:

• Who are you writing the book for? Is this audience large enough to support another book on this topic/genre?
• How can you make your book more valuable to a segment of readers?
• What can you add to make your book more marketable?

When the book is completed, you will be required to make new decisions. One of your first questions should be, “What is the best publishing option for me and my book?” Use the guide below to help you find your best publishing option.

Perhaps you should seek out a traditional royalty publisher if:
• Your book is well defined and of interest to a large segment of people in the mainstream.
• Your book would do well in bookstores and is appropriate for libraries.
• You thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a traditional royalty publisher.
• You completely understand your responsibilities as a published author.
• You’ve written a complete book proposal (for fiction or nonfiction).
• You’re willing to turn over control of your project to a publisher. (They will most likely change your title, edit out your favorite parts of the book and create a cover way outside your expectations.)
• You don’t mind waiting months for your book to be produced.
• You have established a platform—your way of attracting readers.
• You are ready and willing to spend most of your time promoting your book for months and maybe years after it is published.

You may be a candidate for self-publishing (establishing your own publishing company) if:
• Your book is designed to fill a niche—your audience is clearly defined.
• You are in a hurry to bring your book out.
• It would do better if hand-sold through personal appearances, your website and/or through specialty stores.
• You want to run the show rather than sell out to a publisher.
• You write a complete book proposal—your business plan for your book.
• You understand your responsibilities as a publisher and author.
• You are willing to take on the full responsibility of book promotion.
• You have a platform—a way of attracting readers.

Consider a fee-based POD publisher if:
• You do not have a business head or any desire to run your own company.
• You want only a few copies of your book printed so you can give them to friends and sell them to a few colleagues and acquaintences.
• You want to bring out a book within weeks instead of months.
• You have studied the concept of fee-based POD publishing services: you’ve read and understand the contract. You have no concerns or questions.
• You have a platform—a way of attracting readers.
• You are willing to do whatever promotion is necessary to meet your sales goals.

When it comes to publishing a book, there are no maps to follow. There are no one-size-fits-all charted courses for authors. But there are books to help you make the best decisions you can on behalf of your project. I recommend that you check out books by the experts: Dan Poynter and Marilyn Ross (Self-Publishing), Brian Jud and John Kremer (Book Marketing), Mark Levine and Dehanna Bailee (fee-based POD Publishing), Jeff Herman and Patricia Fry (Book Proposals).

If you only purchase one book this year, make it The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book by Patricia Fry. This book covers all of the above and then some. Use the companion Author’s Workbook to further increase your chances of achieving publishing success. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Contact me at plfry620@yahoo.com