Writing and Publishing News

I’ve talked some recently about landing a publisher for a previously published book. Today, I’d like to discuss when you should start approaching publishers with your book.

Some of my clients self-publish their books expressly in order to eventually pique a traditional publisher’s interest. They want to spend some time proving the value of their book and then find a publisher to take it over. Others, like me, simply produce a book and promote it for a few (or several) years. Then decide to seek out a traditional publisher for the second-printing or revision. Why? In my case, I thought I had gone just about as far as I could with the book on my own and wanted the credibility, connections, etc. that a traditional publisher could bring to the table.

So when is the right time to start approaching publishers with an already published book? I’d say after you’ve definitely found your niche audience and proven that your book will sell to them. After you have received numerous good reviews. After you’ve developed a wide following at your social network and blog sites. After you’ve sold a reasonably high number of books—and this would be based on the type of book it is.

For example, experts say that a nonfiction book can be considered successful if it sells 7,500 copies and a successful novel might sell as many as 5,000. These sales figures would surely impress most publishers.

However, if your book is a niche book with a smaller target audience, these figures won’t apply. In this case, a small publisher of craft books might be highly interested in your book featuring macramé for autistic children even though you’ve sold only 500 copies on your own. A publisher of Western fiction might want to add your book to their list even after you’ve sold just 1,000 copies in a year, if they see that you are actively promoting it.

One of the biggest mistakes we make as authors is trying to second-guess publishers. And sometimes we do this based on what others tell us about publishers in general. Have you ever heard, for example, “Publishers won’t accept books by first-time authors,” “Once you’ve self-published, forget about ever landing a publisher,” and other such remarks? Don’t let these broad statements, usually by authors with little experience, rule your publishing decisions.

Here are the steps that I recommend to successful publishing:

• Study the publishing industry.
• Come up with an excellent idea.
• Write a book proposal to test the idea.
• Write a good book.
• Hire an experienced book editor.
• Study your publishing options and choose wisely.
• Promote, promote, promote.

Please learn more about me and my work here:
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

Yesterday, I wrote about one of the major prepublication book review journals. I thought that you might like additional information about these important review journals.

The reason you want to have a good review in one of these journals is so that your book will be noticed by librarians and booksellers who will decide to buy it in bulk. But these journals can review only a limited number of books per year, so there is not a whole lot of opportunity unless you have the prestige of a well-known publisher on your team.

If you are an independent publisher or you are having your book produced by a pay-to-publish service, submit your book to the editors weeks prior to publication in case it has some quality or worth they are seeking. But don’t hinge your future on getting a review. The major review journals receive anywhere from 100 to 300 galleys per day and they can only publish a fraction of reviews.

Prepublication book reviewers require that publishers send bound galley copies of their books anywhere from two to three months prior to publication. And they are generally fussy about the type of books they receive. Here are links to the submission guidelines for three of the major prepublication reviewers:

Booklist: http://www.booklistonline.com/generalinfo.aspx?ed=65

ForeWord Reviews : http://www.forewordreviews.com/get-reviewed/submission-guidelines

Kirkus Reviews: http://www.kirkusreviews.com/about (Click on Submission Guidelines)

Kirkus Reviews offers their Kirkus Discoveries program where you can pay to have your book reviewed.

ForeWord Reviews has a program whereby they will review books online for $99. They will let you know if your book is eligible for this. They also offer ad space in their magazine for $275 to $1165.

I’d like to hear from authors who have had their self-published or pay-to-publish books reviewed in any of these prepublication journals. I know of one self-published book in the science category that received a great review which generated quite a few sales. I know of other self-published books that were ultimately picked up by traditional publishers and landed reviews in Publishers Weekly and other prepublication review journals. It can happen. Did it happen to you?

Leave a comment here or email me at PLFry620@yahoo.com.

Visit my websites: http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

Yesterday, we talked about landing a publisher for a self-published book. I explained that it does happen, but only if the author has done his homework. To start with, it has to be a well-written book with a large audience. The author must offer up proof that the book is a viable product—that it has done well in the marketplace. But how do you approach a publisher?

First, you need to research publishers in your genre/topic. Locate publishers through publisher directories such as the Writer’s Market. Here’s an online directory you might check out, as well: http://www.publishersglobal.com. Also research publishers by locating books similar to yours online and/or in bookstores. Who published those books? Contact some of those publishers.

Check each publisher’s submission guidelines. Generally, however, you will send a query letter introducing your project. Tell the publisher when you first produced this book and let him know that you are interested in turning it over to a traditional publisher at this time. Give sales figures and offer to send a copy of the book. Publishers are always interested in sales figures.

If your book is accepted, be prepared to do a rewrite, to have your cover and title changed. A publisher might ask for minimal changes or he may require a major revision.

Do you have a book that you think might do better under the control of a publisher? Have you gone just about as far as you can promoting it alone? If it is a promising book with a wide audience base and if you have done relatively well selling it yourself, perhaps it’s time to start approaching publishers with it.

It’s sometimes a tough decision to make. Your profit per book will diminish considerably. However, in partnership with a publisher, you might sell more books, thus rake in more money. If your profit is $5.00 per self-published book and you’re selling 300 per year, that’s $1,500 per year. Your royalty percentage with a publisher might only compute to $1.50 per book. But if you’re selling 2,000 copies per year, your earnings will be $3,000.

I’d like to hear from those of you who have landed a publisher for a self-published or pay-to-published book. Of if you’ve attempted to find a publisher for a book that was doing well and it didn’t happen—contact me. Let’s see if we can figure out why.

Check out my books and services:
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com