Writing and Publishing News

What does a publisher want to know about the author of a book he’s considering? When you submit your manuscript or proposal to a publisher, he often judges the book by the qualifications of the author. He wants to know that you are somehow qualified to write this book.

For a children’s book, for example, he is interested in your background in writing and working with children. What is your experience in this topic and/or in publishing? Some credibility in the area of childhood development could prove most helpful in swaying a publisher. So be sure to tell him if you are a grammar school teacher, Sunday school teacher, preschool teacher, child psychologist, graduate with a degree in childhood education or if you’ve written and published other popular children’s books or stories.

Maybe you are a scientist interested in the ocean and you’re pitching a picture book featuring whales from around the world. Perhaps you’re a great cook. You volunteer as a teacher of handicapped children who want to learn their way around the kitchen in order to become more independent. Your book on cooking for the younger set would be a good match for your skills and experience. Now the trick is to choose a desirable angle for your book that hasn’t been overdone.

If you lack experience and credentials, but you have a great idea and your proposal shows that you are extremely organized in your approach to the subject matter, you might still get that coveted contract.

Are you getting the picture? Can you see how important it is, in a publisher’s eyes, for the author to have appropriate qualifications?

When you pitch your children’s book, be sure to describe your educational background, achievements, accomplishments and pertinent experience. Try to look at your project from the publisher’s point of view. What can you tell him about yourself that would make a business-savvy publisher want to publish your children’s book? Even though writing for children might seem like child’s play, it’s actually serious business for the publisher.

Visit Patricia Fry’s websites: www.patriciafry.com and www.matilijapress.com.

4: A book proposal will help you to identify your target audience. Yes, even fiction has a target audience. Who is yours? Readers of historical fiction? Mysteries? Thrillers? Science Fiction? Chick Lit? How many such readers are there? Is there another genre that is currently more popular? Perhaps there’s something you can do to make your book appeal to a wider audience such as, young adults, both men and women, seniors or readers of romance, biographies or humor, for example. Can you see how writing a book proposal can help you to write the right book for the right audience?

5: A book proposal will help you to reach your target audience. In order to sell books to your audience, you need to know where they are—where do they buy books, what sites do they frequent, which magazines and newsletters do they read? The answer to these questions will help you to create a marketing plan. And, a marketing plan is necessary in this publishing climate. You’ll need one and your potential publisher will require one.

6: A book proposal gives you the opportunity to build promotion into your book. How do you build promotion into a book? For fiction, you might discuss a popular issue and/or choose a more promotions-friendly setting for your story, for example. Make your novel more salable by giving a character a horse, a motorcycle, diabetes or triplets. Do you see how additions such as these would give your fiction book expanded promotional opportunities?

7: A book proposal will help you to build your platform. You won’t get very far selling books without a platform, nor will you get very far with a publisher. Publishers are interested in their bottom line. They want to know that their authors will take a strong role in the promotion of their books. What do you have going for you or what can you develop as part of your platform.

Platform, by the way, is your following. I will offer tips for how a novelist can build a platform in the next blog post.

I’ve been commissioned to write a new book. It’s on book proposals. This book will include book proposals for novels and children’s books. Now why would the publisher and I decide to include them? Because more and more publishers want to see book proposals for novels and even children’s books. Here, I’d like to cover a few reasons why your novel needs a book proposal.

1: A book proposal can mean the difference between a rejection slip and a publishing contract. Contrary to what you may have heard, most traditional royalty publishers request a book proposal—yes, even for fiction. In fact, sometimes the publisher is more interested in the book proposal than he is the manuscript. Just look at some of the books that have made it into Barnes and Noble and that are on the bestseller lists. Are they all really that good?

The fact is that sometimes mediocre manuscripts are produced when excellent ones go unnoticed. Why? Think about it: A publisher is in the business to make money. Let’s say that the publisher can produce one more book this year. He’s looking for a single book to fill his catalog. If one author comes to him with a good book and no ideas for promoting it and another author shows up with a mediocre manuscript and an amazing promotional plan written into her proposal, which one do you think he’s going to choose?

2: A book proposal will tell you whether you have a book at all. A synopsis is a major part of a fiction book proposal. If you can’t write a succinct synopsis that brings your story to life, your book might not have all of the elements of a good story. Writing a synopsis is an excellent exercise—one that affords you the opportunity to examine your story from outside the traditional boundaries of the manuscript. Doesn’t it make sense to determine whether you have a viable project before you approach a publisher or self-publish your book?

3: A book proposal will help you to learn something about the publishing industry. As part of the book proposal process, presumably, you will spend some time studying aspects of your genre. You’ll define your publishing options and learn the possible consequences of your choices.

Think about it, you wouldn’t enter into any other field of business without learning about the industry, the products, distributors, manufacturers, suppliers and so forth. You would check out your competition and the needs of your customers. Publishing is not an extension of your writing. Publishing is a business and your book, once published, is a product. A book proposal, then, is a business plan for your book

More reasons why your novel needs a book proposal in my next post.

The second thing you MUST do, in order to succeed as a published author, 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’s book or book of poetry, is YOU. Here’s what you need to 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 pay-to-publish service or self-publish (establish your own publishing company). Through the process of writing a book proposal, you will learn:

1: Is the proposed book a viable product/is there a market for it?
2: Who is my target audience and how large is it?
3: How will I reach this audience?
4: How will I promote the book?
5: What is my competition?
6: What is my platform? (Credentials, expertise, following, way of attracting an audience.) If you don’t have a platform, start now establishing one.

A well-developed book proposal can tell you whether you have a book at all and, if not, how to tweak it so that it is a viable product.

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’t learned yet that publishing is not an extension of their writing.

Wake up folks! Why do you think that over three-quarters (3/4) of all books fail? It’s because most authors bypass the onramp to publishing success.

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.

2: Even though they have never written anything before, they trust that they’ve done it well and don’t bother to hire an editor.

3: They start seeking publication immediately after placing the last period. When their book isn’t 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.

4: They never consider, until it’s too late, that they will have to promote the book. Or they don’t think this truth applies to them.

What’s the answer? What is the key to publishing success? It’s nothing new—it’s not a big secret. Just think back on the other successes you’ve experienced in your lifetime. What were they based on? If you’re candid, your list will probably include:

• Knowledge
• Information
• Research/study
• Experience
• Work/effort/energy
• Persistence
• Practice
• Skills/talent

Yes, 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.

If you need help writing a book proposal order my book, “How to Write a Successful Book Proposal in 8 Days or Less” or my “Publish Your Book.” Both available at http://www.matilijapress.com and amazon.com.

I’m in the first week of my online Book Proposal Course. It is not too late to sign up for this course and some personal, hands-on attention.

Today, I thought I’d give you a peek at the course. This is the second lesson and assignment.

“Write a Synopsis or Overview of your project. The Synopsis is the meat of your book proposal. This is where you describe your story or the theme and purpose of your book. I tell would-be authors that if you can’t write a one or two-page synopsis, you’d better rethink your book idea. Some experts suggest that the Synopsis be more like 10 or 15 pages. It actually depends on the complexity of the book. I suggest keeping it simple and brief as long as it clearly and thoroughly represents the story you plan to tell in your fiction book or the scope and focus of the material you want to include in your nonfiction book.

A Book Proposal Synopsis is in essay form. It should be organized and logical. Just as you would a story, write your Synopsis with a beginning, middle and end. You’ll want to include these key points:

• What kind of book is this?
• What is your book about?
• What is the focus and scope of your book?
• What is the point and purpose of your book?
• Who is your audience?
• Why did you decide to write this book?
• What tone will you use throughout the book?
• Why do you think people will be interested in this book?
• What makes your book different than anything else out there?
• What makes your book interesting?

Some of these points will be enhanced in other areas of the book proposal, so you may not need to go into great detail here. Your main purpose in writing the Synopsis is to grab the publisher’s attention and hold it. Your mission is to sell him on the value and marketability of your book and the Synopsis is your second chance to do that. (Your query letter was your first stab at this).

Jeff Herman, author of Write the Perfect Book Proposal says that a Synopsis is your opportunity to have 5 minutes with a publisher. With that in mind, you know what you must do—write the most intriguing piece of work you’ve ever attempted.

Write your Synopsis in a style and tone similar to that of your proposed book. And be generous. Some authors feel they must hold back information. Some are afraid to reveal data and concepts for fear they will be stolen. Others feel it is good practice not to lay all of their cards on the table too soon.

Remember that the book proposal has two important purposes—to attract a publisher and to help you determine whether or not you have a book at all. So the Synopsis is important in that it will help you to gather your thoughts about your book. It will show you (and the publisher) whether you have enough material and enough reason to produce a book of this type. It will help you to determine whether you can tell a complete story—whether you have all of the elements of a good story.

Give facts and data where appropriate and where it will enhance your Synopsis. Provide examples and dialogue that you will use in the book, if you think it will give your project more clarity. I would encourage erring on the side of offering too much information as opposed to too little. Just watch that it is all important/pertinent information and not excessive drivel and redundancies.

In fact, once you’ve written your Synopsis, tighten it up—get rid of excess words and phrases—just as you will your book once it is completed.

To sign up for this course, which will walk you through the book proposal process in 8 lessons, go to: http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

I have been busy, busy since my presentation in Rancho Mirage. I guess my subject made an impression on several members and guests of the Palm Springs Writers Guild as I’ve been fielding questions like crazy. These are questions specific to their projects. Some of these authors and hopeful authors are even planning to write a book proposal because of the material and facts I shared on Saturday. It looks as though some will be signing up for my book proposal course. If you want to join in, this would be a good time to do it.

Sign up here: http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

Before signing up, you can read what each lesson covers and why and how an online course works. It is an 8-week course, but, while I prefer that you do not drag it on longer than that, it is okay if you want to finish ahead of time. I will send the next lesson when you are ready.

This is actually the best way to get my help writing a book proposal. You get my personalized assistance, feedback and suggestions related to your specific project along the way—throughout the entire course—and the fee is still just $200. If you were to work with me developing a book proposal from start to finish over an 8-week period outside of the course, the fee could run as much as $500 or even $800. Most authors come to me with a book proposal already fleshed out, however, and I can help them to fine-tune it for around $150 to $350—depending on circumstances.

If you have a book in the works or are thinking about writing one and you want to attract a traditional publisher, you probably need a book proposal. If you do not have the desire to land a traditional publisher, you still need a book proposal to help you make sure you are writing the right book for the right audience, to determine whether this is a worthwhile project—is it marketable? You’ll learn what you can bring to the table as far as marketing skills and savvy, a platform (your following, your connections…). A book proposal is a business plan for your book.

Sign up today for my book proposal course and get a clear vision for your book and ideas for making it a success. Go ahead with your book project without creating a business plan and you may be one of the over ¾ of authors who fail each year.

http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

Yesterday we talked about the reasons for writing a book proposal. But do you actually know what goes into a book proposal? Here’s a rundown:

Synopsis
Whether you are writing a book proposal for a publisher or you’re creating a business plan for yourself, the synopsis is important if it describes what the book is about, who it is for, how large of a group this is and why this book is needed/wanted. Are you contemplating a book that fits into a popular genre? What is the general storyline? Is it a nonfiction book that will fill a need—a current void, perhaps? Who is the audience, how is the book organized, what makes it worthwhile, different, better than what’s already out there on the topic?

Competition
What other books are out there like this book and how are they doing in the marketplace? Is there room for another book on this topic? How is your book different, better? What can you contribute through your book that is needed/wanted and not currently covered adequately? In order to respond to these important questions, locate books like yours, study them and then compare them honestly with the book you have planned or have written.

Your Platform
Why are you the person to write this particular book? Do you have a following? Are you known in this field/genre? Do you have connections that will help you to get word out about your book, market it? An author I know worked for a popular kitchen store chain when she came out with her book on custard desserts. She landed a publisher because management agreed to carry the book in their stores and arrange for signings. And she sold a lot of books through the store chain.That was a major connection that paid off well for her.

Marketing
How will you promote this book? What do you know about book promotion? The fact is that no matter which publishing option you choose, you will be responsible for promoting your book. And the time to start thinking about it is before you write it. There are things you can do to make your book more salable while writing it! And there are ideas you can act on in order to pave the way to greater sales once it is produced. Here’s one idea—find out how others with books similar to yours are marketing their books. How? Snoop around at their websites. Where are they speaking? What type of media exposure are they getting? Where are they posting guest blogs and articles?

Before you launch out with your great book idea, read my book, “Publish Your Book.” You’ll find a plan for preparing your book proposal as well as an education on publishing options and instructions for how to make the right publishing choice for your book. You’ll gain a greater understanding about the whole publishing and book marketing process. As you will see when reading through the reviews at Amazon.com, this book is well-respected among publishing professionals and successful authors. This book is available in print and Kindle. http://amzn.to/Tze53Z

Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com for a free evaluation of your book proposal in progress.

Yesterday, I mentioned that I help authors write and edit their book proposals. I blog about book proposals fairly often, but that’s because it is important. And, though, you may read this blog often and have seen my posts on this topic, there are people just discovering it.

Here’s the drill—some publishers require a book proposal. If you hope to capture the interest of a publisher, most likely you’ll do so with a killer book proposal. And this is true of most publishers of nonfiction and for many publishers of fiction, as well.

But what if you don’t want to land a publisher? What if you plan to bypass this option and go straight to a “pay-to-publish” company? Or maybe you plan to self-publish—become an independent publisher. Then a book proposal is even more important to you.

You see, a book proposal is like a business plan for your book. It will help you to determine whether the book you have planned is actually a good idea or not. You’ll learn what else is out there like your book, whether there is an audience for your book, who this audience is and how large it is. You’ll discover something about your platform—whether it is solid and what you can do to strengthen it.

Most of all, during the process of writing a book proposal, you will learn volumes about the publishing industry and how you can best fit in it so that you can experience a successful outcome.

Go blindly into publishing with an untested book project without a book proposal and you are likely to become one of the majority. You do not want to be among this majority. They are the nearly 78 percent of authors who sell fewer than 100 copies of their books, total.

Do you need to take the time to write a book proposal? I’d say, if you plan to write a book and you desire even minimal success, you must write a book proposal. Tomorrow’s blog post will reveal what goes into a book proposal and why.

If you are struggling through the process of writing a book proposal or even if you feel you have a pretty good handle on it, contact me to take a look at it. I won’t charge you to look at it, but you may want to use my services to strengthen it. PLFry620@yahoo.com