Archive for July, 2008

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How Long Does it Take to Write an Article?

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Yesterday, I received two article requests. One editor wanted a short piece on article-writing and the other requested a 1,200-word article on book promotion.

How quickly can you respond to an editor with a completed article on your book’s topic? Does it take you days or weeks of contemplation and indecision and another few weeks to write and fine-tune the piece? What about coming up with article ideas on your own and following through with them? How long does it take you to do this?

If you want to promote your book through articles (which is an excellent way to get exposure and build credibility, by the way), you really must learn to come up with ideas lickity split, on the spur of the moment. And then you should become accustomed to writing an article within an hour or so.

If you know your topic and you are a skilled writer, this should not be difficult at all. If it isn’t natural for you, yet, it will be with practice.

Start with the idea. Practice coming up with ideas related to your book topic/story.
• Study your book pages for ideas imbedded in the story/text.
• Brainstorm with others.
• Start a running list of story/article ideas.
• Search the web and other articles for ideas for new articles.
• Find article ideas within the articles you’ve already written.
• Study magazines for article and story ideas.
• Listen for ideas when discussing your book with others.
• Watch for new ideas when writing promo material for your book.

Challenge yourself to spend less time writing an article. Much of the time spent writing an article is wasted on second-guessing yourself. You wonder, “Is it good enough?” “Is this what the editor wants?” “Will the editor like this paragraph?” “Does that last sentence make sense?”

Absolutely, you should be concerned with all of the above. But don’t allow these things to sap your confidence or take too much of your time.

There are two kinds of self-destructive self-editors: Those who don’t spend enough time in the editing process and those who over-think every sentence and every paragraph.

Here are my recommendations:
• Come up with the idea.
• Check to see if the idea is too broad. If so, hone it down a bit.
• Outline your article so you can see the scope and focus of it.
• Flesh out each section of your article with the info and quotes you plan to use.
• Fine-tune your article&#8212make sure it flows, that the transitions work and that your message is clear and concise.
• End it and send it.
• Start a blog and add to it regularly. This is great practice for article-writing.

So how long did it take me to write those two requested articles? Approximately an hour and 45 minutes.

For assistance in honing your article-writing skills, sign up today for my on-demand online article-writing course at http://www.matilijapress.com/course_magarticles.htm

Order my book, A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles ($6.50). http://www.matilijapress.com/writingpage.html

Posted in Book Promotion, Writing | No Comments »

What’s Going on in Your Writers’ Group

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

There are many ways that you can get help as a writer/author. You can read books about creative writing, article-writing and book publishing. You can enroll in on-line or real-time classes and attend conferences. You can hire a writing coach, editorial assistant or publishing/manuscript consultant. You can subscribe to appropriate publications and scour the vast Internet for information. Hopefully, you are pursuing all of the above in order to strengthen your writing skills and/or have a more successful publishing experience. And don’t forget to consider joining your local writers’ group.

SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) was initially established as a face-to-face networking organization. We had three chapters in three counties of Southern/Central California. For about three or four years, we had good attendance. And then attendance fell. We learned that we were competing with the Internet. Folks began staying home and surfing the net for their social outlet and for information. We decided to join them and we moved SPAWN to http://www.spawn.org

Well, guess what? Now our members are asking, “Where do you meet?” “Do you have meetings near my home?”

Writers and authors are evidently ready, now, to get away from their computers for a while and meet face to face again. Writers’ groups are cropping up all over the place. They are growing to such proportions that it’s necessary to create sub-groups&#8212members of like genre are breaking off and meeting separate from the main group. This is a good thing. In fact, it’s pretty great for many writers. Being with other writers inspires an undisciplined writer to write. The encouragement from peers spurs even the most reluctant writer on. Mingling with other writers stimulates the mind and gives one an energy that seems to dwindle when left to his/her own devices for too long.

Do you belong to a writers’ group? I’d like to hear about it and maybe write about it. What makes your group different, special, valuable, inspirational? My readers would like to know.

The Writers Under the Arch (WUTA) in St. Louis have been meeting for a while and they’ve just come up with an idea for a sub group. For now they’re calling it Big Books. It is for those members who are working on book projects. One member will hand out copies of his/her book manuscript at each meeting and the other members will spend the month reading it. The next time they meet, the focus is on this one author. Everyone present will critique this manuscript during that meeting. It could be quite a valuable process. You might try it with your group.

In the meantime, tell us what works in your writers group. Either comment at this blog or email me at PLFry620@yahoo.com.

I’ve had only a few people respond to my offer for a free manuscript evaluation. Is there anyone else out there who would like to take advantage of this offer?

Before you get too far into your project, you’ll have a far greater chance for success if you will read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Posted in Publishing, Writing | 2 Comments »

Book Promotion Facts and Fiction

Sunday, July 27th, 2008

You must visit Terry Whalin’s July 26, 2008 blog. It features the 5-star review for my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. And Terry has posted my article on the post-publication book proposal, as well. See it all here: http://terrywhalin.blogspot.com/2008/07/write-publish-and-sell-your-book.html

Some of my clients are suffering something that others only dream of. They’re experiencing overwhelm. Some of them have crashed. They feel exhausted. They don’t know what to do next? Why? And why would anyone want to suffer this way?

These clients have completed their books. Their books have been published and they’re holding copies in their hands. Some of these authors have boxes of books stored in their spare rooms, garages or storage sheds. They feel a sense of completion and accomplishment after months or even years of solid work. Others don’t have stored books, but they can order as many books as they want/need from their POD publishing service for a price.

Both groups of authors are stuck. They don’t know what to do next. The initial, “I’m an author,” realization is waning and book orders are not coming in by the thousands. What next? What now? Some wonder, is this what Patricia Fry meant when she kept telling me, “Enjoy the process because, as hard as it was writing the book and as difficult and foreign as the process of publishing might be, it will only get harder. Book promotion is not for sissies.”

And it’s not only my clients who are suffering. Others contact me through SPAWN, my articles and my blog or come up to my booth at book festivals. They ask for answers and hope for miracles. “Please, do you have an easy quick fix for me? Tell me how to sell my books. I only need to sell a few hundred to get my money back.”

What happened to, “Sure, I’ll promote this book. I should be able to sell thousands. The market is huge and I’m willing to get out there and promote, promote, promote.”

Struggling authors want me to chart a course for them or at least give them some ideas for promoting their books. When I do, some of them begin reciting all of the reasons why they can’t spend the time promoting. A typical response is, “Oh, I tried that. Yes, I went out and spoke to my daughter’s preschool PTO (or my husband’s poker club, or my neighbor’s tai chi class) and sold only a few copies of my poetry book. That didn’t work.”

Authors, before you decide to write a book for publication, please think it through. Read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book from cover to cover. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html. Study, study, study until you understand what book promotion is all about. Here’s what it is not:

• It is not a one-time shot proposition.
• It is not a one-week, one-month or even one-year commitment.
• It is not usually a one-activity process&#8212send press releases and call it good.
• It is not a task you can push off on someone else. No one else cares as much about your book as you do. Even if you decide to invest in a publicist, you will be expected to participate a LOT!
• It is not for the short-sighted, timid, reserved individual.

Book promotion, for those who want to sell more than a few copies of their books to friends and family, is a time-consuming, long-term commitment which requires plenty of energy, creativity and dedication. It’s darn hard work!!!

I had a conversation yesterday with an author who said he is sure eager to get his book manuscript completed and published so he can&#8212get this&#8212write his next book. I attempted to reason with him&#8212advising him that after publication comes promotion: lots and lots of it for many, many months/years. At that point, his eyes glazed over, I could read the writing on his pupils. It said, “I’m in complete denial and I can’t HEAR you!”

You used care in writing your book. You worked hard to find the right publishing option and to see it through. Now you must work ten times harder to make your book a success in the marketplace. Let me help: Sign up today for my online, on-demand Book Promotion course. http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookpromotion.htm Read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Posted in Book Promotion, Publishing | No Comments »

How to Turn Your Book Idea Into a Viable Product

Saturday, July 26th, 2008

I’m off to another book festival today at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ventura, CA. I hope to earn a bit above expenses and make some interesting contacts. I am always seeking out hopeful authors who can succeed and, in fact, excel if only they had a little knowledge.

I did a lot of “helping” this month. And the remuneration for my outreach efforts will pay the months bills with some left over for a rainy day. As we all know, those rainy days do occur. I am blessed. I have some amazing, talented clients with good stories to tell and who are eager to learn.

Are you getting a lot of writing done this summer? Where are you with your writing project? I have 5 clients who are moving forward swiftly with their book projects despite the lure of summer weather and activities. I have 8 students who are working hard to complete book proposals or establish freelance article-writing careers. Five other clients completed their books this year and are spending their summer promoting. And there are some who are feverishly seeking publication.

I sometimes wonder where my clients and students would be if they hadn’t come to me for assistance. I don’t mean to sound pompous in this statement. It’s just that most of them were either floundering or were headed down the wrong road with an inferior project. Oh what a difference a little education and guidance can make—not to mention editorial support.

Folks, just because you have a good idea for a book doesn’t mean that it is a viable product or that you can successfully navigate the competitive world of publishing. Just because you can write doesn’t mean that you can produce a worthwhile manuscript. Just because you know how to market, doesn’t mean you can successfully promote a book. Just because you have an assertive nature doesn’t mean that you can easily locate and land a publisher.

There’s much more to successful authorship than one typically sees on the surface. It isn’t a simple matter of writing, publishing and raking in the royalties. Successful publishing means understanding the publishing industry; knowing your options, the possible consequences of your choices and your responsibility as a published author. A successful book generally starts with a complete and well-researched book proposal.

If you have a book in your mind, developing in a computer file or in manuscript form ready to be published, stop now. Do yourself and your future a favor and write a book proposal. It will reveal volumes about the potential for your project and how to proceed with it. What you learn from the book proposal process could change the focus and scope of your book and, believe me, this could be a good thing.

Learn about writing a book proposal by using my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and the companion Author’s Workbook. Order them together and save: http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

If you like hands-on help and you want to work with a professional, sign up for my Online On-Demand Book Proposal Course. http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm Ask my students&#8212it’s well worth the reasonable price.

I also work one-on-one with clients on their book proposals. Check out my credentials, client testimonials and my fees at http://www.matilijapress.com/consulting.html

SPAN members, be sure to read my article on page 19 of the July 2008 edition of SPAN Connection. It’s all about how to more successfully use your blog to promote your book.

Terry Whalin, literary agent, editor and writer contacted me yesterday to say that he finally finished reading my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and he wrote a 5-star review for Amazon.com. Check it out at my book page at Amazon. This book has 11 five-star reviews posted at Amazon. There is 1 four-star review and, I am sorry to say that there is an erroneous one-star review attributed to this book’s standing.

Here’s what happened: the reviewer gave the book 5-stars in her written review. But, when she clicked on the stars provided, she neglected to set the stars before moving on and some of them disappeared. You’ve probably had that happen. With some programs, if you don’t click the mouse after setting the stars or date or whatever in the space allotted, it will change or disappear when you move the cursor to do something else on the form. I have attempted a couple of times to reach this reviewer and ask her to make the correction (she’s the only one who can). But she has disappeared.

Visit Terry Whalin’s informative blog at http://terrywhalin.blogspot.com

And don’t forget to contact me about working with you on your book proposal. You’ll be awfully glad you did. PLFry620@yahoo.com

By the way, I’m still offering a FREE manuscript evaluation to my blog readers. This is good for a book manuscript or an article. Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com for details.

Posted in Publishing | 1 Comment »

Hire a Publishing-Savvy Editor for Your Book Project

Friday, July 25th, 2008

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

Posted in Book Promotion, Publishing | No Comments »

Writing and Promotion Go Hand in Hand

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

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

Posted in Book Promotion, Writing | No Comments »

Will This Title Get Me On Oprah?

Sunday, July 20th, 2008

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

Posted in Book Promotion | No Comments »

What is This Book of Mine?

Saturday, July 19th, 2008

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

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

Friday, July 18th, 2008

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

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How Can I Get My Books Into Bookstores?

Thursday, July 17th, 2008

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

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