Writing and Publishing News from

July 25, 2008

Hire a Publishing-Savvy Editor for Your Book Project

Filed under: Book Promotion,Publishing — Patricia @ 6:39 am

This week, I’ve been responding to a lot of client questions related to publishing and book promotion; details involving the all-important book proposal, the query letter and publishing in general. It occurred to me that not every editor from every editorial service could fill the needs of my clients or those of most hopeful authors.

Oh my gosh, is there ever a difference in editors! First, if you have a book manuscript that needs editing, you must understand that an editor who works exclusively with business materials such as reports, in-house manuals, ad copy or who edits dissertations or web pages probably knows nothing about book editing. You might be surprised to discover how the inexperienced, non-book editor can mess up a manuscript.

Sure, a good editor is a good editor and any good editor can certainly catch grammatical, punctuation and syntax errors, for example. But, if he or she has no or little personal experience in the publishing field, there’s a great deal that this editor can’t do for you. She may not understand the concept of “reader-friendly” copy. He probably isn’t aware of current punctuation rules and how to handle dialog, for example. And he or she definitely cannot help you navigate the murky, competitive, shark infested publishing waters.

Just imagine how much more valuable an editor can be to your project if he/she is a published author who understands the publishing industry, who knows how to write a book proposal and a query letter, who is accustomed to approaching publishers and who has experienced self-publishing and book promotion over a period of years.

My clients come to me for help editing their manuscripts and organizing them or reworking them so that they are more reader-friendly. I can also help them write a more engaging query letter because I’ve been writing query letters for umpteen (well, 35) years. They can rely on me to help them formulate an effective book proposal. And they have to go no farther than my email address in order to get answers to their burning publishing and book promotion questions.

My suggestion to those of you seeking an editor for your manuscript (and that should be all of you who want to publish a book), make sure you get the most for your editing dollar. Choose an editor who is not only editorially sound, but who can guide you successfully throughout the entire publishing process.

Notes From Patricia Fry’s Office
I’ve been knee deep in query letters and book proposals for clients, lately. Sometimes I wonder how I can keep the details of each story straight. I’m not sure that I always do. And I’m working under a handicap this week. I tripped myself with a rolling stick while speed-walking down a hill Sunday and skidded palms first on the pavement. Ouch! I sprained my right wrist badly enough that I can’t wash the iron skillet or take out the trash, but I can still type. YES!!! I’m also impaired when it comes to styling my hair, so I have an excuse for looking a bit rough around the edges (and for spending more time writing). Vacuuming, sweeping and raking are definitely out this week.

I have a booth at the Ventura Book Festival Saturday and I’ve figured out that I can put my books in canvas bags. I’ll be able to lift them with my left hand out of the car and into an empty box placed on my wheelie dealie. I may have to make several trips, but I know I can manage on my own.

Come visit me at the SPAWN booth Saturday, July 26, 2008 at the Ventura Book Festival at the Crowne Plaza in Ventura (near the pier) from 10 until 4. I’ll be promoting SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) and my own books and editorial/consulting services. Learn more about SPAWN at http://www.spawn.org

Visit my website: http://www.matilijapress.com For a great chapter on “Self Editing” order my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com

July 23, 2008

Writing and Promotion Go Hand in Hand

Filed under: Book Promotion,Writing — Patricia @ 6:05 am

In order to become a successful writer or author, marketing and promotion are essential. Yet, countless new writers and hopeful authors try to reach their publishing goals without paying their dues. And then they wonder why they aren’t getting any work, why they can’t find a publisher or why their self-published book isn’t selling.

Folks, if you don’t want the hassle of promoting your articles and stories to magazine and online editors day in and day out, then you’re not going to have much luck establishing a freelance writing business. If you can’t stand the thought of marketing your book manuscript to agents and publishers, you won’t get very far in this industry. And if you don’t want to become an aggressive (or at least, assertive) marketer once you’re a published author, you might as well give up on the idea of publishing altogether.

Marketing and promotion are integral aspects of publishing. You are not the only one out there who wants to write and be read. You aren’t alone in your desire to share your literary works or to make a difference through your writing. As you’ve read often in this blog, in the magazines and newsletters you are (hopefully) reading and the lectures you attend, there’s a lot of competition in all branches of publishing. And, once you are published, it’s an enormous task to find and interest readers.

There are more writers and authors emerging every day and statistics show that readership is down. So what’s the answer for those of you who want to break in as a freelance writer or published author? What must you do in order to make it? What do you need above all? Writing skill, creative and/or useful ideas, the ability to organize your thoughts effectively, certainly. But you must also be prepared and willing to promote yourself and your work.

A weak, after-thought of a query letter addressed to Oprah’s magazine or Reader’s Digest featuring your article idea won’t cut it. Research the idea to make sure it hasn’t been done and that this is, indeed, a viable article. Pitch that idea with gusto and confidence, briefly explain why you believe your article will fly and back it up with facts. Reveal why you are the person to write this piece. In other words, sell it.

A casual, error-riddled, boring, incomplete query letter or book proposal will not hold a publisher’s or agent’s interest. You must convince him or her that this book is a great idea and how you could help them make some money. That’s what a publisher is interested in&#8212money&#8212not so much your writing accomplishments, not particularly your large vocabulary, not your empty promises, but his bottom line.

As a writer seeking publication, you must also become a salesperson. Many of you really dislike that term and the concept, don’t you? All you want to do is write. Publication is a way of validating your writing abilities and justifying the time you spend writing. For some, it is also a potential means of support. And all of this is okay. But, as with most other things in life, there are trade offs&#8212one must be willing to get out there and sell, market, promote him/herself and his/her work.

If you don’t have the stomach for selling and self-promotion, then publishing may not be the right career direction for you. Publishing can no longer be considered a hobby. It’s a huge and serious business and you must be well-informed, well-prepared and well aware of what to expect before entering into it.

Are you serious about your writing work? Do you want to start selling (or sell more of) your articles/stories? Do you have a book manuscript ready to publish? Are you a published author with a book to promote? If you want more information about selling your work, pitching your ideas and promoting your book, study The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

If you have an article or book project and you’re not sure if it will fly&#8212you would like an editorial evaulation&#8212contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com. For an article/story evaluation, send me the entire manuscript along with your choice of magazines. I’ll do a quick evaluation for FREE.

For a book manuscript, I will evaluate the first 25 pages and your Table of Contents FREE.
PLFry620@yahoo.com

July 20, 2008

Will This Title Get Me On Oprah?

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 6:05 am

Are you hoping to attract Oprah’s attention with your pending book? Can you just envision yourself sitting on the sofa alongside the Talk Show Queen discussing your wonderful book?

Well, don’t make important decisions about your book with Oprah in mind. Your first and continuing concern should be your audience&#8212your readers.

So you know that Oprah likes how-to books. This is no reason to, in fact, it’s a lousy reason to change your title. Create a title that will appeal to your audience. It is your promo material that will either captivate or turn off Oprah and other media hosts. Choose a title for your target audience and then rely on your promo techniques to sell your book to this audience and various others who might be interested.

For example, let’s say that your book features a weight-lose program that encourages adding foods instead of deleting them. Your target audience comprises women from all walks of life who are fed up with their diet plans. So you choose this title: “Add Food and Lose Weight; A Healthy Guide to a Slimmer Body.”

(Author’s note, if this seems far fetched to you, just think about it for a moment. This is actually how I eat. I add fruits and vegetables. In fact, I strive to eat 8 – 10 servings per day. Every day, I treat myself to my favorite squash, Ranier cherries, fresh peaches, cooked carrots, big salads, etc. which keeps me from eating a calorie-laden sandwich or taking two helpings of lasagna.)

Now, when you want to get a gig on a local radio show or even a stint with the likes of Oprah, you have the power to promote your book using any focus and highlighting any features you want. You can present your book as a guide to nutritious eating, you can focus on the recipes, you might point up the how-to aspect or this new concept in dieting. Your focus for one show might be fitness. For another show, you may simply offer to list some of the foods one could add to their meals to actually encourage weight loss. Promote the book from a personal standpoint&#8212this is how I eat and I wear a size 10.

Oh yes, and what about the psychological aspect? There’s nothing in the title to indicate any psychological implications involved with this weight loss plan, but you can certainly play this concept up in your promo material for a program director. And don’t forget the personal approach. One angle might be sharing anecdotes reflecting weight loss using this concept.

Your nonfiction book can be many things to many people, but you’re going to have to choose a title that communicates its purpose succinctly to your target audience. You want these people to recognize your message&#8212the message they need or want. And you do this through the title and subtitle. In order to attract other readers and the interest of newspaper reporters, radio/TV show hosts, etc., you must develop some incredible promo material.

Many of you have ordered by book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Thank you! Several orders have come in just in the last few weeks. For those of you who haven’t yet purchased this book, you can do so now. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

July 19, 2008

What is This Book of Mine?

Filed under: Publishing — Patricia @ 6:42 am

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

July 18, 2008

First, You Must Sell the Publisher on Your Book AND Yourself

Filed under: Book Promotion,Publishing — Patricia @ 6:04 am

You’ve heard me and other professionals urge you to write a book proposal. I suggest that you write one before you start writing the book. But no matter where you are in the writing process, it’s never too late.

I’m working with 4 hopeful authors on writing their book proposals now in a workshop format. Each of the authors has a book fleshed out&#8212most have done quite a bit of writing, already. But each of their projects has definitely been at least slightly reshaped since we started working on their proposals. It’s important to define your book’s purpose and to determine your target audience early on so you are writing the right book for the right audience. Right now, the authors are trying to hold the reader in their minds as they write. They are attempting to write their stories for their readers more than simply as their own ego trip.

Basically, a book proposal helps you to discover your book’s purpose; determine who your target audience is, where they are and how you will reach them; evaluate your competition and develop your marketing plan. Last night, we discussed that marketing plan. One author said, “So I want to tell the author where all of the bookstores are in the Los Angeles area&#8212airports, malls, and so forth.” She asked, “Is that what my marketing section will contain; information about the bookstores where the publisher can place my books?”

“No,” I responded. “He knows where the bookstores are and how to get your book into them. He wants to know how you plan to bring people into those bookstores to buy your book.”

Your marketing plan should reflect your skills, talents, abilities, connections and ideas with regard to actual promotional activities you can and will pursue on behalf of your book. Do you know someone or do you have an affiliation with an agency within your field (the topic or focus of your book)? Do you have a following? Are readers familiar with your name as a magazine contributor or in this field of interest, for example? Have you been presenting seminars in this area of interest for many years? Are you a friend of Oprah’s producer? Do you have a massive mailing list? Are you planning to retire soon and spend a year traveling with your book?

The publisher will handle the traditional booksellers. He can get your book into bookstores. He wants an author who can entice the reader to buy it. He is looking for a savvy, energetic and creative marketer.

Learn more about writing a book proposal, locating and working with publishers and agents, promoting your book and much more in my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

July 17, 2008

How Can I Get My Books Into Bookstores?

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 5:56 am

It’s every author’s dream to have his or her book boldly standing face out on the center aisle in all major bookstores throughout the U.S. and beyond. Even to see one’s books clustered on an inside shelf, spine out, is a thrill for most authors. But few of us, today, ever get the pleasure. Why? In a word, competition.

In case you haven’t heard, you aren’t the only one who has produced a book, lately. There were 411,422 books published in 2007. That’s over a thousand per day. There are reportedly over 6 million books in print. Even a mega bookstore can hold only around 150,000 titles at any one time. That’s less than 3 percent of all titles. Now that some bookstores are placing more of their books face out on the shelves, there’s room for even fewer new titles.

What, then, is the secret to selling books? Without the opportunities bookstores offer, how is an author to make a profit or, alas, even break even?

First, don’t give up completely on bookstores. While the largest bookstores have their hands (shelves) full of books from major publishers and those by popular authors, the smaller, independent booksellers are often open to carrying your book. Hand deliver a few copies to the bookseller and offer a consignment agreement. (You get paid when the books sell.) Then go out and sell those books:

• Send out press releases announcing your new book or an event you’ve planned around the theme of your book.
• Contact local radio/TV talk show program directors about appearing on their shows.
• Arrange for presentations to local community groups, civic organizations, trade clubs, corporate programs and so forth.
• Write a few articles for regional (and national) publications.

And always mention which bookstores in town are carrying your book.

If you have the opportunity to get a radio gig or travel and speak out of town, contact the local booksellers there and let them know that you have some promo scheduled. They’ll surely want to carry copies of your book. And if your book starts selling regularly and with some gusto, the larger bookstores will want to stock your book.

Even if you get into chain and independent bookstores on your own or your publisher arranges this, it is up to you to keep customers coming in and purchasing your book. When this activity ceases&#8212when sales slow or stop&#8212booksellers will pull your books from their shelves and return them to you or your publisher for a refund. This can greatly damage your year-end financial statement.

What’s the alternative to selling books through bookstores? The possibilities are as vast as your imagination and as limitless as your supply of energy. Read my book, Over 75 Good Ways to Promote Your Book for oodles of ideas. http://www.matilijapress.com/over75page.html

Study pages 213-283 of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

July 16, 2008

Does an Author Need a Website?

Filed under: Book Promotion,Publishing — Patricia @ 6:00 am

“Does a cabbie need a car?” “Does a carpenter need a hammer?” A better analogy might be, “Does a butcher, baker or candlestick maker need a storefront?” The answer to all of the above is YES.

Your website is an extension of your business card. It’s a showcase for your book(s). This is where your potential customers can learn more about you and your book. But don’t limit the usefulness of your website. Also make it a place where customers can read a sample chapter, purchase your book, enter contests, read related articles, peruse your newsletter/blog, comment on your blog entries, locate related resources, play games, view photos of your recent book signings, sign up for courses, learn of your upcoming appearances and more. In fact, the more you have going on at your site and the more often you add to it, the more attention it will get from the popular search engines and the more traffic you will have.

If you’re thinking about creating a website, spend some time visiting those of other authors. Note what you like about them and what you don’t like. For additional considerations, you might be interested in reading my article, “Websites for Writers.” Contact me at plfry620@yahoo.com and request a free copy.

In the meantime, book sales for The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book are UP. Thank you for your business. I’m well into my second printing now and feeling awfully good about being able to help so many otherwise floundering, uninformed authors. It’s interesting; people look at this book from different angles. Those who read it before getting too involved in the publishing process are thrilled to have discovered it. Those who read it after they’ve already made a bunch of disastrous mistakes, however, have a love/hate relationship with this book. On the one hand, they wish they had found this book before they began making uninformed decisions. On the other, they hate learning that they have messed up. It’s depressing.

It’s never too late to start going down the right path toward publishing success. Which means it is never too late to order your copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Don’t forget that I produced The Author’s Workbook this year as a companion to The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. And it is helping a number of hopeful authors to work through the process toward successful publishing. One aspect of that process is an appropriate mindset.

I’m currently working with a group of authors on writing a book proposal and each student is using the Author’s Workbook religiously. They are amazed and quite pleased with the results. Order The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and The Author’s Workbook together at the discounted price of $28.00. http://www.matilijapress.com/display.php?sku=combo_rightwaywkbk

July 15, 2008

When Your Editor Fails You

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 5:43 am

It’s a sad day when you realize that the editor you hired&#8212the one to whom you’ve paid hundreds of dollars&#8212is botching up your book instead of making it sing. Now what? You have to go back to the drawing board and your wallet and start all over with a new editor.

It’s darn difficult to find an editor who will do your work justice, treat you right, work on your schedule and who is knowledgeable in the area of book publishing and your genre. And then there are issues of personality…

There are degreed editors who repeatedly miss mistakes and overlook common problems in manuscripts. There are editors who are great with short piece&#8212ad copy, for example&#8212 but who do a lousy job with an entire book manuscript.

Many editors believe that if they can edit students’ English papers, they can edit book manuscripts. Sometimes this just isn’t true.

Are you working with an editor? Are you planning to hire one? Again, I urge you not to take the cheap route. Don’t rely on your daughter’s friend, the English major, to give your manuscript a once-over. Avoid hiring a writer who has never edited a book, but has been writing for the church bulletin for three years. Stay away from someone who “used to do a lot of editing back in the 60s, 70s or even 90s.” Things have definitely changed since we produced our works using typewriters. Be wary of the “editor” who has numerous common grammatical and punctuation mistakes at his or her website. And please don’t expect the editors at your fee-based POD self-publishing services to do a good job of editing your manuscript. So how do you choose a good editor? How do you know that an editor is good until you start working with him or her?

In my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, I list common mistakes that writers make. In fact, this section is called, “Introduction to Self-Editing.” See pages 179-187. Here, you will learn about the new punctuation. If your editor still types two spaces after a period, leaves the em dash dangling between two words, underlines instead of using Italics, doesn’t know how to properly use the apostrophe and puts punctuation outside the quotation marks, these are red flags. It’s also a red flag if he or she allows you to write incomplete sentences, write sentences that are too long, use unnecessary words, repeat words in sentences, use clichés, write muddy sentences, use the passive voice too often and change tense and person too much and without reason.

You’ll be doing yourself and your pocketbook a huge favor if you will learn the basics of proper grammar, punctuation and sentence structure before hiring an editor. Make your manuscript the best that it can be. Of course, you can’t be objective&#8212you still need to have it reviewed by a good editor.

When you go in search of an editor, check their websites and brochures for common errors. Ask for references and check them. Ask the editor to evaluate your manuscript and provide an example of the work he or she will do. You might even pay the editor to edit a few paragraphs to see if you like his or her style and skill-base.

Not every good editor is a match for every author and his or her project. There are a lot of editors out there and there is one for you. Do your homework. Be proactive. And choose carefully.

If you want to know more about self-editing and choosing an editor, order my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

July 14, 2008

Focus Your Article: What’s the Point?

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 5:09 am

Today’s blog is an excerpt from lesson #3 of my online, on-demand Article-Writing Course.

Most editors don’t want “all about” articles. They may publish articles on a wide array of subjects, but the individual article must have a specific purpose. Aspen Magazine, for example, publishes essays, articles on new products, historical pieces, articles on environmental issues and most any topic that relates to Aspen, Colorado. But you’re going to have a better chance of being published in Aspen if you submit an article that is narrowly focused. For example, they would probably sooner accept your piece featuring a local artist who has made it big than a piece about the variety of art pursued in Aspen or one all about your appreciation for Colorado art.

Woman’s World frequently publishes articles on how one woman made a difference. But they wouldn’t be interested in your piece on why some women are altruistic and some aren’t and what happens in people’s lives to make them want to reach out to others. On the other hand, a psychology or religious magazine might be willing to publish this piece.

Below are examples of 4 broad subjects each followed by possible pointed or more narrowly focused article ideas:

Showing horses as a hobby.
Tips for winning in the show ring
How to choose the right riding master for your child
Grooming techniques for a show horse

Flying kites for fun
How to make a box kite
Tips for flying stunt kites
The best kite-flying exhibitions in Southern California

Wedding planning
Go Hawaiian: How to present an authentic luau wedding reception for 200 guests
Great gifts for your wedding party
How to overcome pre-wedding jitters

Gardening
Container herb gardening for apartment dwellers
How to integrate art into your garden
Easy to install water features for your garden

It may help you to narrow your focus by studying regular columns in the magazines (or newspapers) you want to write for. The general topic might be foods, beauty, home and garden, parenting, seniors or spirituality, for example. Read several columns and observe how the writers narrow down his or her focus. Most magazine websites list the table of contents for several issues. Read the story titles. Study technique and you’ll soon get the idea.

For additional information, guidelines and commentary about magazine article-writing, order my little Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles for only $6.50. http://www.matilijapress.com/writingpage.html Or sign up for my online, on-demand Article-Writing Course at http://www.matilijapress.com/course_magarticles.htm

July 13, 2008

I Wrote a Book. Now What?

Filed under: Publishing — Patricia @ 12:26 pm

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

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