There are varying degrees of authors. While some are writers, first and foremost, others simply have something to say and writing seems to be the best way to be heard. But there are a few authors who are also businessmen\/women. <\/p>\n
I teach and preach the importance of incorporating business savvy into your book even before you write it\u00e2\u20ac\u201despecially before you publish it. And here are some reasons why:<\/p>\n
Just this morning, a client told me that Oprah is no longer reviewing memoirs. My client\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s book could be considered a memoir, but it has so many other elements to it AND she is just in the beginning stages of writing it, so she can make this book fit the genre of her choice. If this hopeful author had been holing up in her writing closet pouring all of her energies and concentration into the manuscript, this tidbit of information would have gone unnoticed and she may have made decisions that would prevent her from the Oprah option.<\/p>\n
There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a lot going on outside of your writing room\u00e2\u20ac\u201dthere are decisions being made within the publishing industry, rules being adopted and strict policies being set in motion. There are changes taking place, old-school procedures being adhered to and history in the making. And, as hopeful authors, you need to come up for air, look around and pay attention to what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s happening in the publishing industry. Here are some of the questions I get from hopeful authors each year:<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tHow do I get my book published?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tHow do I approach a publisher?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tDo I need an agent?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tWhat\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a book proposal\u00e2\u20ac\u201ddo I need one for my book?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tHow do I figure out what genre my book is?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tHow do I get my book into bookstores?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tCan I get my book reviewed after it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s published?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tHow can I find out about book reviewers for my book?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tDo publishers accept manuscripts via email?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tDo I have to adhere to those simultaneous submission policies?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tHow much does a publisher charge to publish a book?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tWhat\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the first thing I should do now that my book is published?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tWhat is included in a press release?<\/p>\n
And here are some of the complaints I hear from authors who didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t study the publishing industry before producing their books<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tThe major reviewers have turned down my book.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tBookstores won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t carry my book.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tI don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know how to sell this book. Can you help me?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m told that there isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t a market for a book like this.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tHow do I get people to come to my website?
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tLibraries won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t buy my book because of the binding.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tMy market is so limited.<\/p>\n