I go around the country and all over the Internet telling hopeful authors that they MUST write a book proposal before they write their books. I’ve been adamant in my coaching on this subject; until recently.
A few weeks ago, it came to my attention that maybe this isn’t the right instruction for everyone. As I worked closely on the business of a book proposal with one writer, in particular, I noticed her confidence waning. Her creativity faltered as we worked together on writing a synopsis and putting together a marketing piece. I watched her, over several weeks, make numerous false starts and attempts. Subsequently, recognizing her high level of anxiety, I realized that she just wasn’t ready to handle the task of writing a book proposal. What to do?
Do I tell her that she’s not cut out for the business of publishing? She’s a professional woman, for goodness sake. Do I suggest she give up on her book? It’s an intimately personal memoir. No! Here’s what I did. I gave her permission to write her book without the stress of the book proposal hanging over her head.
In some ways, this was a difficult decision for me. Here are some of the reasons why I advise writing a book proposal first:
• The newby author will get a sense of the very necessary business end of publishing a book and be more well-prepared.
• He will have the opportunity to build promotion into his book.
• She will understand the importance of establishing a platform.
• They will more likely be writing the right book for the right audience.
• The book proposal is a guide to writing the book.
However, I now realize that some authors, especially when their projects are very personal, are better off to get the story down, first. Especially new writers need to, perhaps, avoid left brain activities right now and just stay in creativity mode—live with the story. If it’s an emotional story—one that’s painful to tell—all the more reason why they must make it their focus, for now.
Yet, this isn’t true for all authors who are writing emotionally draining books—not at all. I work with some authors who can leave an extremely sensitive manuscript in order to take care of business—such as writing a book proposal. I guess it depends on one’s ability to shift from right brain to left brain and back again. And it depends on how raw the emotions are—how much time has passed since the events about which they are writing.
So my lesson for ME this month is to more carefully evaluate a client or student who is in the process of writing a personal memoir. I need to determine whether or not this author is ready to concentrate on the business of writing a book proposal.
So what’s the harm if this author writes the book first? The proposal process probably would not change her way of writing the story. It’s her story and she’s going to tell it from her perspective. The information she collects for her book proposal probably would do nothing to alter the way she wants to tell her story. In fact, writing a book proposal might sour her story by distracting and frustrating her. For authors like this, it may be best to allow them the freedom to write the book, first.
When the book is completed, she may decide that she doesn’t want to share it with the public. She might simply tuck it into a drawer and go on with her life. She might produce it for family and friends. Or she might be extremely interested in having the book published. She’s of a mind now to write a book proposal and to look into her publishing options. She may even discover her business sense and make a few changes to her book in order to create a more salable product.
And so, my lesson this month is a reminder that there is more than one way to approach publishing. And my job is to guide the hopeful author in the direction that fits his or her needs.
New and seasoned authors will find the information they need in order to more successfully navigate the process of publishing in my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
I’ll be starting a new online Book Proposal course September 15. Sign up now at http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm
Or sign up for the course of your choice. We present online courses on demand: http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm