(Today I am demonstrating a tip sheet. Create your own and send them to appropriate magazines, newsletters and also newspapers nationwide. Editors love informative, useful filler pieces. They use them to fill small spaces left over once the meaty articles and ads are set.)
1: Study the publishing industry so you understand your options, the possible ramifications of your choices and your responsibility as a published author.
2: Define your purpose for writing this book. Make sure it is valid, not frivolous.
3: Determine your target audience. Who is most likely to read this book and how many people does this comprise?
4: Ascertain whether this book is needed/desired. Is there a market for this book?
5: Consider your platform—your following, your connections, your way of attracting readers. Why are you the person to write this book and who is going to care about reading it?
6: Create a marketing plan. How will you get word out about your book?
7: Find ways to build promotion into your book while you’re writing it.
Patricia Fry is the author of 29 books, most of them related to writing and publishing. For much, much more on every aspect of this tips sheet, read Patricia Fry’s book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
(This is tip sheet comprises 130 words—perfect for, perhaps, newspapers, senior publications, authors’ newsletters/magazines and so forth.)
If you are thinking about or you’re in the process of writing a book, be sure to sign up for my 8-week online Book Proposal workshop starting January 5, 2010. I send you a lecture and assignment each week and you do the work. By the end of week 8, you should have a pretty well formed and edited book proposal. It’s like working one-on-one with me on your book proposal, only it costs you a fraction of my hourly fee. Learn more here:
http://www.matilijapress.com/course
If you have a book in hand and you need some direction with promotion? Sign up for my Book Promotion course, starting January 12, 2010
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookpromotion.htm
SPAWN members get $25 off. http://www.spawn.org