Have you discovered that the road to publishing success is rather bumpy? It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not easy to locate the freeway, is it? <\/p>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve spent much of the last several weeks trying to steer authors and would-be authors toward the onramp. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m working with clients, of course, but I also get a lot of random questions via email. This week, I received emails from 2 hopeful authors asking, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How can I get my book of poetry published?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Three others asked how to promote their books\u00e2\u20ac\u201dthese included a self-help book, and two novels. Another budding author emailed me asking how to write a book proposal. <\/p>\n
When people ask broad questions like these, their lack of knowledge about the publishing industry becomes obvious. There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s nothing wrong with being uninformed. We all started out that way. Nor is it a sin to ask questions. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s how we learn. The problem is that most hopeful authors who ask major questions that typically need complex responses, are going to close their eyes, put their fingers in their ears and chant \u00e2\u20ac\u0153LA LA LA,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d when they hear the answers. Most of them don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to do what is necessary to succeed or even survive in the competitive field of publishing. <\/p>\n
So how do I respond to these questions? Because I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t stand by and watch authors self-destruct, I always provide them with some specific information and resources they can use. But I also strongly urge them to: <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tStudy the publishing industry.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tWrite a complete book proposal.<\/p>\n
Simplistic, you say? Some authors will even tell me, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Been there, done that.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d But when they turn around and ask me, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How do I find a publisher for my book?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or “What’s the best way to promote a book?” I know they haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t truly finished their homework.<\/p>\n
So what do I mean about studying the publishing industry? How does one go about this?<\/p>\n
1: Read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em>. Also read some of the books I suggest as recommended reading\u00e2\u20ac\u201dif you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re interested in self-publishing, Dan Poynter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Self Publishing Manual<\/em>, if you are considering a POD fee-based publishing service, Mark Levine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s The Fine Print<\/em>, for a wider understanding of book promotion, Brian Jud\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Beyond the Bookstore<\/em>, for example.<\/p>\n 2: Join publishers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 organizations, SPAWN, PMA and SPAN, for example. Participate in their discussion groups, read the articles and check out the resources at their sites and read every newsletter. <\/p>\n 3: Subscribe to magazines and newsletters related to publishing. (Read the SPAWN Market Update <\/em>in the member area of the SPAWN Web site. Read the PMA Independent <\/em>and SPAN Connection<\/em> from cover to cover, as well.) <\/p>\n 4: Search the Net. Spend time each week checking out the resources you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve already discovered and searching for additional resources, articles, discussion groups and books. Use these materials and sites to gather additional information you need about the industry (your publishing options, how to choose and approach publishers\/agents, what are your responsibilities as a published author, etc.).<\/p>\n The second thing you MUST do is write a book proposal. Forget about writing it for a publisher. (Although, of course, a publisher will, most likely, want to see it at some point.) The most important reason for writing a book proposal for a nonfiction, fiction and even a children\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s book or book of poetry, is YOU. Here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what you really must know before launching out into this highly competitive field with your manuscript. And this is true whether you plan to land a major publisher; go with one of the many smaller publishers; sign with a fee-based, POD self-publishing service or self-publish (establish your own publishing company). Through the process of writing a book proposal, you will learn: <\/p>\n 1: Is the proposed book a viable product\/is there a market for it? A well-developed book proposal can tell you whether you have a book at all and, if not, how to tweak it so it is a viable product.<\/p>\n Of course, all of this should be done before even considering writing a book. Unfortunately, many hopeful and new authors operate on emotions rather than business sense. They haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t learned yet that publishing is not an extension of their writing.<\/p>\n Wake up folks! Why do you think that over three-quarters (3\/4) of all books fail? It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s because most authors bypass the onramp to publishing success. <\/p>\n 1: They produce a book that is not well-written on a subject of interest to only a small segment of people or a slant that actually repels the very audience they want to attract. What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the answer? What is the key to publishing success? It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s nothing new\u00e2\u20ac\u201dit\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not a big secret. Just think back on the other successes you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve experienced in your lifetime. What were they based on? If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re candid, your list will probably include: <\/p>\n *Knowledge Think about it, your business (sports, parenting, relationship, artistic and other) successes were based on these attributes and activities. It only makes sense that you would consider them when seeking success as an author.<\/p>\n If you are in any stage of authorship, stop the forward motion now and 0rder your copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em>. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Watch for the pre-publication discount offer for the revised edition of this book. Visit this blog often for more information. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Have you discovered that the road to publishing success is rather bumpy? It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not easy to locate the freeway, is it? I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve spent much of the last several weeks trying to steer authors and would-be authors toward the onramp. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m working with clients, of course, but I also get a lot of random questions via […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,3],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n2: Who is my target audience and how large is it?
\n3: How will I reach this audience?
\n4: How will I promote the book?
\n5: What is my competition?
\n6: What is my platform? (Credentials, expertise, following, way of attracting an audience.) If you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have a platform, start now establishing one.<\/p>\n
\n2: Even though they have never written anything before, they trust that they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve done it well and don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t bother to hire an editor.
\n3: They start seeking publication immediately after placing the last period. When their book isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t welcomed with open arms by the majors, they pay a publishing service to produce it. This is okay, if the author is industry-savvy and understands the contract before signing it.
\n4: They never consider, until it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s too late, that they will have to promote the book. Or they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think this truth applies to them. One hopeful author told me several months ago that his book would sell itself. IF he ever got published and if he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t change his attitude, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m pretty sure his is one of the over 948,000 titles that sold fewer than 100 copies last year.<\/p>\n
\n *Information
\n *Research\/study
\n *Experience
\n *Work\/effort\/energy
\n *Persistence
\n *Practice
\n *Patience
\n *Skills\/talent<\/p>\n