Writing and Publishing News

I see quite a few book proposals from new authors . And I have to tell you that some of them are spectacular, some are pretty good—just need a little tweaking—and others… Well, some authors just don’t quite get the purpose and intent of the various aspects of a book proposal. This is a shame, because they are probably not addressing the aspects the publisher requires in order to successfully and honestly assess their book project. Nor, in some cases, are they addressing the desires and/or needs of their readers. Does this really matter? Oh yes! It is crucial to your publishing success.

A weak or off base book proposal often indicates that the author does not have a grip on the scope of his or her book. It means that the author may not understand the make-up of his or her audience. And many book proposals I see show that the author doesn’t grasp the concept of book promotion.

What would I advise to these authors? Go back to the drawing board. If I saw the proposal, I would offer suggestions for making it stronger in the eyes of the publisher they hope to attract, of course. But also so that the author him/herself knows more of the basics of writing a book proposal. For example:

• The author needs to know the importance of (and how to) succinctly describing the book.

• She must understand her audience base—exactly who they are and why they would be attracted to this particular book.

• The author has to be able to show what makes his book better or more useful than others on this topic. And this does not mean criticizing the other books or describing them as if you are giving a review. It means simply explaining how your book is different, what it brings to the table that, perhaps, the other book doesn’t and how this will benefit your readers.

• It is vital that authors know something about the publishing industry and how it operates. This includes the fact that the author is the major marketing agent for his/her book. Through your book proposal, you must convince the publisher (as well as yourself) that you have what it takes physically and intellectually to successfully and skillfully promote a book on a particular topic or in a particular genre. If the author does not understand or accept that promotion is his or her responsibility and truly comprehend the full extent of this task, he or she will likely fail.
Over three-quarters of authors today do fail—they sell fewer than 100 copies of their books. The reason is that they were ill-prepared to enter into the vast and excessive competition as a
published author.

So what can you do to better prepare?
1: Study the publishing industry.

2: Turn your book proposal over to a professional before you start showing it around. If you wrote the proposal just for your own purposes—highly recommended—still solicit the assistance of a professional to make sure you are on the right track.

Remember that a book proposal is only useful when it is written with at least a pretty good understanding of publishing and the world of book distribution.

Tomorrow, we’ll go over steps to studying the publishing industry. How does an eager author go about this very important step?

A good place to start, by the way, is with a book I wrote expressly for new and struggling authors: Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. It’s at Amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores. You’ll also find it and my other books on publishing/book promotion, etc. at
http://www.matilijapress.com

This is excerpted from my latest book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author (Allworth Press, 2012)

These are things to think about while you are developing the marketing section for your book proposal. Ask yourself:
• Who is my target audience?

• What do they need or want from a book like this—information, tools, entertainment, inspiration?

• Do they have a problem? Do they want to make a lot of money? Do they need help understanding digital cameras, rose gardening, death?

• What do they worry about? What do they want to know?

• Why would they care about what I have to say?

Can you see you should consider the answers to these questions before you launch out to write the book of your dreams? If any of the questions stop you, or you aren’t sure how to answer them, perhaps you should reconsider either the topic or slant of your book or reevaluate your author’s platform.

The section on writing a book proposal encompasses over 50 pages and includes samples from real book proposals. You’ll find a nonfiction synopsis sample, a sample of a synopsis for fiction, samples for the “About the Author” section, sample market analyses for a children’s book and a nonfiction book, sample marketing strategies and sample chapter outline for a book proposal. All of these are fresh and are written by contributing authors.

This book is available at the publisher’s website as well as at Amazon.com.
http://www.allworth.com Put the title of the book or my name in the search prompt.

Which comes first, when creating your book proposal? Generally, it is the synopsis. What if the synopsis has you absolutely stumped and you just can’t get off dead center with it?

This happens to some of my online book proposal course students. And I tell them to set aside the synopsis for a while. I suggest that they continue on with the marketing section where they clearly outline their target audience—determine who this book is for. I recommend that they complete their market analysis and even outline their marketing plan. Some of my students don’t quite get a handle on their synopsis (especially for a nonfiction book) until they’ve fleshed out their chapter summaries. And I let them know that is okay.

While most authors are clear as to the proposed focus and flow of their books, others are working with just an idea. And it takes some of them time to really get a handle on their proposed book. The book proposal is a great tool for this purpose. And if you can’t manage the typical first step to writing a book proposal—writing the synopsis—it is okay to work on the other aspects of the proposal in hopes that the purpose and tone of the book will be revealed. You certainly do not want to start writing the book at this point—not until you are clear about the purpose and direction of your book.

Sometimes, while working on their book proposals, authors are sent in a very different direction with their projects than they expected. In fact that is one of the beauties of the book proposal—to help the author determine if this book is a viable product. If not, can they tweak it or make even major changes to the concept in order to create a book that will sell in the marketplace?

If you can’t write a synopsis or your teacher or mentor keeps sending you back to the drawing board with it because it just isn’t a strong enough portrayal of your proposed book, consider devising a one or two sentence description of your nonfiction book. This might give you a clearer view of your project and, believe it or not, this might be the break-through moment that prompts you to outline that synopsis.

If you need more inspiration, move on to the marketing section. Determine who is your audience for this book—what audience do you want to approach? What do they need/want in a book on this subject? Complete a market analysis to find out what else is out there like your book and what is obviously missing.

One of my students had to complete the entire book proposal—even the chapter summaries—before she could write a succinct and descriptive synopsis. In fact, she had to revise the chapter summaries several times before the book’s purpose and a reasonable flow emerged. It took a while, but she now has what could be a viable product to pitch or to publish.

When should you write your book proposal? For nonfiction, definitely before you start writing the book. You will learn volumes through the book proposal process that could drive the direction of your book. Go ahead and write the book and you might end up with something like all the other books on this topic. You might produce a book without much purpose. But if you write that book proposal first, you will more clearly see what is needed, by what segment of readers and you’ll discover how to best target this market.

Announcement
Jumbo Publishing ran a nice piece about me and my latest book—one that, if you are promoting a book, writing one or thinking about writing one, you need to order TODAY.

Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author (Allworth Press, 2011) http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

There are 17 customer reviews at the Amazon book page. Wow! And they’re all 5-star reviews, except for one—someone gave it 4 or 4.5, not quite sure. Still high marks.

You may not think you need a book on book promotion because you have some of your own ideas for promoting your book. But believe me (and many, many others who have been there), book promotion is much bigger than you can imagine. You will need the big guns and this book is one of those big gun books. Buy my book, but don’t stop there. Also purchase Penny Sansevierie’s or Steve Weber’s books on Internet book marketing and John Kremer’s book of 1001 ideas and Brian Jud’s book on promoting books outside the bookstore.

For more about me and my work visit my websites.
http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

Sign up for my online book proposal course here: Be sure to read “How Does an Online Course Work?”
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

Do you have a book manuscript almost ready to go? Do you have a book idea, but you haven’t started the writing, yet? If you haven’t done so already, it is time to write a book proposal.

Why do you need a book proposal? Many publishers—I would venture to say that most publishers—require a book proposal today. But even if you don’t plan to go the traditional publisher route, you really should write a book proposal for yourself.

You may not have come to terms with this concept, yet. But publishing is a business and your book, if you hope to sell more than a few copies, must be considered a product. A book proposal, then, is a business plan for your book.

You need to determine, for example, if there is a need for a book like yours, if it is a valid product, whether or not there is a solid audience for the book, where this audience is and the best way to approach them. You need to know the market—what other books are out there like your book? How does yours compare/differ? You must be aware of your platform—what you can bring to the table to generate sales. And you need a viable marketing plan.

You want to know that your book idea actually is a good idea and not a bulldozer book (one written for an audience who really doesn’t care). You need to make sure that your nonfiction book is not too unique (is there actually a market for it?) and that it offers something other similar books do not (it hasn’t been overdone). For fiction, you need to know that there are readers out there for a book in this genre and style.

The book proposal process will help you to make better decisions on behalf of your book. In this competitive publishing climate, it is crucial that authors understand and can navigate the whole complex world of publishing and book marketing.

I am starting my 8-week, online Book Proposal Course TODAY. Sign up this week and I’ll email class number one immediately. The second class will arrive in your email box on Wednesday, July 13, 2011.

Learn more about this popular and successful course here:
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

It’s $200. At the end of the 8 weeks (or sooner, if you want to take the accelerated route), you could end up with a complete book proposal to start showing around to agents and/or publishers. And you will definitely have a better grasp of your book project, how it will fit into the market (or not), what you have going for you as far as marketing skills and which skills you need to develop and so much more.

Sign up today.

I believe that the Market Analysis (or competition) section of your book proposal is one of the most important for you (the author) and for a potential publisher. Why? It helps determine whether your book is needed. Does it fill a void or will fit into a known popular genre? Is there a market for this book or is the market already saturated with books like yours, for example?

Here are some tips for conducting research for the competition section of your proposal:

1: Start your search by looking for books on the subject of your book.
A. Search your bookshelves at home.
B. Search amazon.com.
C. Visit your local mega-bookstore.
D. Do a Google search to locate obscure books that are out there but not sold in the usual stores, etc.

2: Read those books that seem most similar to your own. At least read the description of these books, look at the table of contents. Discover the scope and focus of these books and determine how yours compares.

Here’s what the publisher wants to know:
• What makes your book different—special?
• What specific value or benefit does your book offer the reader that others don’t?
• Why will a consumer purchase your book instead of the others?
• Why would a consumer purchase yours as well as the others? (which is often the case with fiction, for example.)

It is necessary that you are absolutely clear as to why your book is different and why it should be published. And it is up to you to be convinced (if you will self-publish) or to convince a publisher.

For assistance writing your book proposal, sign up for Patricia Fry’s online book proposal course: http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

I’m starting a new Book Proposal Course today. If you are thinking about writing a book, you should write a book proposal first.

Maybe you have already started writing your book or you’ve completed it. I suggest that you write a book proposal before you put the finishing touches on it and definitely before you publish it. Why?

• A book proposal will tell you whether or not you actually have a book or not.

• Through the process of writing a book proposal you will discover if there is a market for your book.

• You’ll discern what skills and tools you have toward promoting your book and which ones you could hone.

• You’ll get ideas for positioning your book to its best advantage.

Do you know the best way to promote a book like yours? What else is out there like your book? What makes yours different, better, more beneficial to your audience? Is there something you could do to create a larger audience for your book? What is the best way to reach your particular audience?

If this isn’t what you’ve been thinking about these past months while you’ve been writing your book, you don’t understand what’s ahead of you. You aren’t aware of the stiff competition for authors, the very high failure rate, the number of book promotion doors that are closed to authors and the enormous job book promotion is.

I suggest that you stop the forward motion on your project now and write that detailed book proposal. You will be glad that you did.

If you take my course, as a bonus, you will have the opportunity to get real-time, personalized feedback with regard to your book proposal from me—Patricia Fry.

What if you don’t follow this advice? Here are some of the possible consequences:

1: You might write the wrong book for the wrong audience.

2: You will enter into the highly competitive publishing arena without a solid platform.

3: You won’t have a clue as to how to promote your book—you won’t even understand anything about the world of book promotion. (No, your self-published or pay-to-publish book PROBABLY will NOT be accepted by bookstores nationwide.)

4: Your book will falter and fail.

Sign up today—or at least before next Wednesday (May 25th, 2011)—in time for lesson number 2 of my eight-week online Book Proposal Course. Learn more about this course and how online classes work here: http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

Contact me with your questions: PLFry620@yahoo.com

Today’s blog consists of an excerpt from my Book Proposal Course—Class number 3—the Synopsis Part II.

I created these notes based on the questions and material I received from students during week two of my first Book Proposal Course.

1: Most authors find that organizing the book is one of the hardest parts of the writing process. Organization can also be a challenge in writing a Synopsis. Make sure that you have organized your synopsis in the most logical manner.

2: Is your first sentence an attention-grabber? Imagine that you are a very busy publisher and you’re seeing the synopsis for the first time. What is your first impression? Are you intrigued? Are you interested enough to keep reading?

3: If you’re having trouble formulating your synopsis, imagine that you are sitting across the desk with a publisher and he has just asked you, “What is your book about?” or “Tell me about your story.” Start by writing, “This book is about…” or “This book features…” or “In this book, I tell the story of…” You may keep that beginning or you might remove it and come up with a stronger beginning. These phrases just might serve to jumpstart your synopsis.

4: Keep it simple. Avoid long, cumbersome sentences like the plague. This is not the time to get fancy or to flaunt your mastery of the English language. In order to dazzle a publisher, he first must understand what you’re saying. Write as if you’re explaining this to someone from outer space.

5. Use active rather than passive sentences. Examples:

Passive: The game was won by the bluebirds.
Active: The Bluebirds won the game.

Passive: A decision to adjourn was made by the president
Active: The President adjourned the meeting.

6: Write a one-sentence description of your book. This will help you to find your focus for your synopsis. I’d like to see that sentence this week. (Some of you have already sent me yours. And you’ve all done a bang up job.)

7: For those of you who have a story to tell, don’t try to tell the whole story in the Synopsis. Just outline the basic storyline, include something about the prominent players in the story and add an example of two from the story.

8: For those of you with nonfiction books, include statistics in your Synopsis and introduce the experts you’ll be quoting.

9: Don’t try to keep things from the publisher. While I urge you to keep descriptions brief and succinct, avoid playing peek-a-boo games. Don’t keep the publisher in suspense. Be straightforward.

10: Where you have several points to make consider using bullets. For example: “In my book, Doggie Dress-Up I will cover the following:
• Who, in general, dress their dogs?
• Why do people dress their dogs
• Which celebrities parade dogs wearing clothes?
• What dog types are most often subjected to the practice of dressing up?
• What is the most popular doggie dress-up style?
• What are some of the most outlandish outfits worn by dogs?
• Where can one find doggie outfits?”

11: Make a strong statement at the end of your Synopsis indicating your assuredness that the publisher will consider publishing your manuscript. For example, instead of, “I hope you find this manuscript suitable for publication.” Or “I would love it if you decide to publish this,” say, “This book will be a valuable asset to the dog owner who is on the fence about investing in a wardrobe for his dog.” Or “I envision this book being warmly received by children and parents everywhere.”

In other words, put positive thoughts in the publisher’s head.

All of you who are planning a book might want to take this advice and write a one or two sentence description of your project. It can be an easy slam dunk or a very difficult exercise. I’d love to have a report as to your one-sentence description.

PLFry620@yahoo.com
http://www.patriciafry.com