More Publicity for Patricia Fry
My name is mentioned four times in Moira Allen’s latest edition of Writing World. Dawn Copeman (editor) quoted my blog in her commentary on the difficulties of getting publishing as well as in an article she wrote on getting noticed by an agent or publisher. (July 3, 2008, Issue 8:07.) http://www.writing-world.com
Question From a Reader
I’m glad to know that my blog is being read. Obviously, I spend time each day composing well-thought-out entries that will inform and teach in the area of writing for publication and navigating the competitive publishing industry. And I’m always glad to know that they’re being read. I received a question about something I wrote in yesterday’s blog entry. This author of children’s fiction said that she was having trouble placing her manuscripts and wondered how to favorably compare her stories with those of others as I recommend.
You might recall that I suggest explaining to a publisher what makes your book different, what makes it as desirable as similar books, what makes it better than what’s out there. Well, this is, indeed, difficult to do with fiction. Here, in part, is what I wrote to this author:
“The questions I posed relate more to nonfiction. You can easily rate a nonfiction book against others on a particular topic. For example, ‘My book has an index, it includes case histories/anecdotes, it is less (or more) spiritual in nature, I has a how-to component…'”
I told her this, “You may be able to come up with features that make your children’s fiction book different from and more appealing than others in your category/topic. Maybe you have a dot-to-dot game in the back of your book. Perhaps your characters all represent different ethnic groups. Maybe your book is an interesting/convenient size/shape or it has a foreign language element.”
I suggested that she, “Use everything you have to entice the publisher to consider your book over the others. Maybe your children’s fiction book relates to a topic that is really hot right now; for example, Mommy and Daddy Fighting Over Money. Is yours the only book featuring a story on this topic? If not (if there are others) what makes yours more useful, valuable to this age group?
For a book of fiction, your selling point might not be ‘differences,’ but your platform and your marketing plan. Perhaps you have set aside some money to go toward promoting your book or you have found an investor. SOME publishers love it when authors come in with money. They also love it when the author has a ‘following’—a way of attracting readers (a platform). Maybe you have been submitting and selling stories to children’s magazines for years and you are well-known as a storyteller for your book’s age bracket. You say that you have a background in education. If the authors of the other books that this publisher is considering do not have this sort of background and all else is the same, who do you think will get the publishing contract? You, of course.”
I go on to suggest that she tell the publisher how she will utilize her background in education to promote her book to local school districts and beyond.
I also suggest this, “Before you start your next children’s book, consider what is current or hot. What do kids today—this year/month/week—fear or worry about? Where are we heading in the world situation? What will kids be concerned about—their mom/dad going away to war? Losing their home/neighborhood/friends due to foreclosure? (Those who hear Mom and Dad talking about it and crying about it a lot will worry about this.) Maybe kids are worried about whether they will lose their toys and not be able to have new toys. Boy, is this an opportunity for a lesson story.”
I really hate watching authors try to play catch-up—trying to pitch (or promote) a manuscript (or book) that does not have the elements needed to bring it to the top of the slush pile heap or entice readers to buy it.
This why I continually teach, preach and nag you over and over again to think about your audience and their needs and desires BEFORE you start writing a book. Also, develop a platform BEFORE you start showing your book around to agents/publishers. And this advice holds for fiction as well as nonfiction authors.
Are you starting to understand why this is so important?
Whether you fully understand this truth or not and no matter where you are in the writing/publishing process, you will make better decisions and experience greater success if you will study my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and adhere to the suggestions that make sense for your project. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
If you need assistance with determining the direction of your project, choosing and approaching an appropriate publisher, preparing your manuscript for publication, contact me for an evaluation and consultation today: PLFry620@yahoo.com.