Writing and Publishing News from

For most hopeful authors, writing a book proposal seems like an overwhelming task. They may study articles and books about how to write a book proposal. They might review successful book proposals. But when it comes to writing one, they freeze. They question the format, the order, the scope and the focus. They wonder, “What is the point?” “How long should it be?” “What is meant by platform, synopsis, competitive works?” “And what the heck is a chapter summary?”

A book proposal is a sales pitch for your book. A book proposal with all of the right elements and information will help an agent or publisher determine whether your project is worth representing or publishing. And the Chapter Summaries section of a nonfiction manuscript is an important aspect of any book proposal.

So how is a Chapter Summary constructed? Too often, authors simply pull paragraphs from their chapters in order to create a summary. But what does this really tell the publisher about that chapter? Some authors try to mention practically everything that’s in the chapter in a sort of rapid, staccato style. How is a publisher supposed to follow narrative that is so densely compacted? So what does a Chapter Summary contain? How is it presented?

I suggest that a Chapter Summary is actually a description of the chapter. It should include the purpose of the chapter, an overview of what it encompasses and, perhaps, one or two anecdotes or examples. When you finish writing a summary of a chapter, read it from the point of view of the publisher and determine the following:

• Have you captured the essence of the chapter?
• Is your description clear, uncluttered and concise?
• Does the Chapter Summary reflect how your chapter is organized?
• Do your anecdotes or examples appropriately represent the theme of the chapter?
• Is this a good representation of the way the book is written?

I recommend writing your Chapter Summaries in the same person, tense and general style as your book is written.

The Chapter Summary is just one aspect of the book proposal. To learn more about how to research for, construct and prepare a book proposal, read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. I dedicate almost 100 pages of this book to writing a book proposal for nonfiction and fiction books. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Folks tell me that my chapters on writing a book proposal are easy to follow and understand. One author said that the book proposal was still a giant mystery to her until she sat down with my book. She said that I was able to get through her book proposal block and guide her in finally writing one.

I can tell you that once you write one, you have a template to follow from now on. You also have a measure of confidence that will see you through even the most complicated book proposal in the future.

If you’d like me to take a look at your Chapter Summaries, email me at PLFry620@yahoo.com.

I’m compiling the SPAWN Market Update this week. It’s a large task which I usually enjoy and always learn from. The SPAWN Market Update is a newsletter which is posted in the member area of the SPAWN website each month. (That’s Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network.) This unique newsletter features opportunities for freelance writers, authors, artists, screen writers, photographers and others who are interested in publishing their work. In any one issue, I might provide directories representing thousands of jobs for freelance writers, lists of book review opportunities, paying work for artists, opportunities for poets, calls for screenplays and feature films and a list of several new publishers who are seeking manuscripts.

I also include industry news—which magazines, publishers and writers’ websites are folding; what new policies are being discussed by Amazon; which distributors have gone out of business and how will that affect you and so forth.

I will often feature an area of publishing or promotion. For example, recently, I featured 24 regional organizations that offer face-to-face meetings; I sometimes focus on book festivals and writers’ conferences across the country. And I provide tons and tons of resources for our members. Here are a few of the topics I’ve covered in recent months:

• Publishing law sites
• Hundreds of jobs for artists and photographers
• How to get on the radio
• Speaking tips and opportunities
• A review of writing/publishing newsletters and magazines
• Reports on book and ebook sales
• Agent searches
• Competitions
• Resources to help you self publish or find a publisher
• Online courses for writers and authors
• Tips for promoting your book through magazine articles
• Resources for locating the right writers conferences
• How to devise your marketing plan
• List of speakers’ organizations
• The returns policy explained
• Resources for children’s book authors
• How to locate those elusive submission guidelines

Once, when I told someone that I am a writer and that I write on many different subjects, he said to me, “You must be the smartest woman I have ever met.”

I said, “No, I just know how to conduct research.”

And that’s exactly how I can provide such extreme value in the SPAWN Market Update newsletter—I am pretty much in constant research mode. In the process of responding to clients’, students’ and members’ questions, conducting research for the many articles and blogs I write, studying the myriad of writers/publishers newsletters that come across my desk every week, I collect tidbits of information, news and resources by the bushels and file them away for the next issue of the SPAWN Market Update.

As part of the compilation and writing process, I check out the resources, information bytes and news before including it, so our members always have the most updated and valid material available to help them through the writing, publishing and marketing processes and to assist them in earning a living within their fields.

If you are considering joining SPAWN, and you’d like to see a sample of a SPAWN Market Update, contact me here: PLFry620@yahoo.com. Join SPAWN for $45/year and receive a free book/ebook from a choice of six. You’ll also be eligible for participation in our email discussion group, you’ll be listed in our member directory, you can place announcements (promote yourself) in SPAWNews (2,200 circulation), you’ll be eligible for discounts, you can place your book in the SPAWN Catalog of Members Books and Services for a fee, you can participate with us in events such as the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (also for a fee) AND you will have access to the SPAWN Market Update each month as well as several years of archives.

I can’t tell you how many people have earned double or triple their membership dues from the opportunities and resources in just one issue of the SPAWN Market Update. Others have saved tons of money by heeding the warnings we’ve posted in the SPAWN Market Update. And still others are earning money through freelance opportunities, getting published, selling books, etc. only because of leads they discovered in the SPAWN Market Update.

So—I’d better get back to work on this, my 91st edition of the SPAWN Market Update. Do we have archives—oh yes!!! And we provide a search feature so you can search for the information and resources you want.

Be a part of this exclusive club that has access to this amazing newsletter. Join SPAWN today. I can promise that you will benefit to the degree that you participate, utilize and apply the opportunities and material we provide. http://www.spawn.org

Are you facing the excitement and intrigue of publishing a book? Do you hope to experience some level of success? Most of us do. Yet most books fail in the marketplace. What goes wrong?

Hopeful authors tend to spend too little time preparing for publication and too much money producing their books. In many cases, we also spend our money in the wrong places. Don’t let this happen to you. Here’s what most savvy authors would do differently.

In hindsight, many authors would have followed the path outlined below. If you are writing a book with aspirations to publish it, you’ll want to take this list seriously.

• Study the publishing industry with intensity. Truly understand the world of publishing, your options, the possible consequences of your choices and your responsibilities as a published author.

• Write a book proposal. This well-researched, well-organized, painfully truthful document will tell you whether or not you have a viable book, who your audience is and how to approach them, for example.

• Take your time when it comes to making any decisions. A rushed book will often fail.

• Call in the experts. If you’re not sure whether your book is a viable product, whether the contract you’ve been offered is good, whether your book cover design is going to sell books, etc., get professional advice. And be sure to have your book professionally edited!

• Create a marketing plan. Be prepared to shift from serious writer to dedicated, energetic, committed book promoter.

• Join one or more publishing organizations. I suggest SPAWN, of course. That’s Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network http://www.spawn.org. And check into your local, regional publishing organizations where you can participate in real time, face-to-face with real authors and publishers. Let me know if you need help locating one near you.

You wouldn’t go into any other type of business without first gaining an understanding of the industry, your customers/clients, the venders, the competition and the market. While writing is a craft, publishing is a business. If you hope to succeed as a published author, you must approach publishing as a serious business. And remember, your book will sell only for as long as you are willing to promote it.

For much more about writing, publishing and book promotion, including all of the aspects listed above, read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

I just returned from a two-day Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) affiliate retreat. Around fifteen leaders of publishing organizations throughout the U.S. converged upon Paradise Point Resort in San Diego this week where we discussed the state of publishing today and how we can help our members to more successfully navigate the shark-infested waters.

Of course, the most dangerous “shark” in those waters is our own ignorance, which is why these dedicated leaders give of their time and energy to run these organizations. Their primary purpose is to bring hopeful authors into the fold where they can learn about the publishing industry, their options, the possible consequences of their decisions and their responsibilities as published authors.

As most of you know, I am the president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org. SPAWN is a national—actually an international—organization for anyone who is interested in or involved in publishing. We provide information, resources and opportunities for personal interaction and guidance to help authors, freelance writers and others more successfully navigate the world of publishing.

IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association)—formerly PMA—is also a national organization. http://www.ibpa-online.org

Both SPAWN and IBPA provide countless additional benefits and opportunities for authors.

All of the other affiliate organizations attending the retreat are regional in scope and nature. We had representation from publishing organizations in Northern California, the Midwest, Hawaii, San Diego, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay area, Arizona, St. Louis, New Mexico, Colorado and the New England States. But there are also publishing organizations serving Connecticut, Florida, New York, Canada, Michigan, Minnesota, the Great Lakes area and others. I imagine there are still others which are not IBPA affiliates.

Are you aware of a publishing organization specific to your geographic area? Do yourself a favor and attend a meeting or two or more. Get involved. Join and join in! If you are not aware of a regional publishing organization, do a search locally or through the internet and see what is available for you. As a member of SPAWN or IBPA you will have access to a list of most regional publishing organizations. Last year, after the affiliate retreat in Nashville, I profiled 24 such organizations throughout the U.S. in the May edition of the SPAWN Market Update (in the member area of the SPAWN website.) join SPAWN for $45/year and you’ll have access to this list as well as thousands and thousands of additional information and resources you can definitely use.

If you are interested in information about a regional organization near you, let me know. If you are aware of a regional publishing organization near you, let me know.

How does a regional publishing organization differ from a national organization such as SPAWN? First and foremost, most of them offer the opportunity to meet with other authors and publishers face-to-face. They have (generally) monthly meetings with speakers and networking opportunities. They also set up local events such as book fairs, book awards programs, workshops/conferences, etc. for authors and publishers. SPAWN, on the other hand, is online only.

Each organization offers different opportunities and benefits—while some have informative websites and newsletters, others might only focus on providing excellent meetings and frequent book selling opportunities. And, I might add, a publishing organization is quite different than a writers’ group or club.

If you are writing a book, especially if this is your first one and you are not sure about your skill level or the viability of your book, join a writers’ critique group.

If you are contemplating publishing your book or you have a published book that you are marketing, join SPAWN AND a regional publishing organization where you will receive guidance, information, resources and so much more on a national as well as local level.

The thing is, until you get involved in publishing, you really don’t know what sort of information you need. And this is why most books fail. It’s true; around 75% of published books (in 2007) sold fewer than 100 copies during the year. The authors of these books were not educated about the publishing industry, they did not understand their responsibilities as published authors, they were not informed as to their options and the consequences of their choices. One affiliate participant tells her members, “Do you want to spend $75,000 to produce a mediocre book or $5,000 to produce a viable product?” She says joining her organization (or any organization where you will open your mind and participate) will make the difference.

Here’s your assignment for this week—seek out your local regional publishing organization. Check it out either online or by phone. Show up at the next meeting. And, if you are not a member of SPAWN, fill out your membership application today. http://www.spawn.org Click on “Join SPAWN Now.”

If you are new to publishing (which I can’t stress enough is TOTALLY different from writing), order my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. This is your introduction to the publishing industry. It helps you to understand the publishing industry, write a more viable book, choose the best options for you and your project, create a marketing plan and so much more. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html