PERFECT YOUR CRAFT… Practice makes perfect. The only way to be a writer is to write. Writers write. Every day. Train the muse. Set aside time for yourself every day to write. Get up earlier, stay up later. When John Grisham started writing he would get up at 4am (before going to work) to write.
UNDERSTAND YOUR MARKET… Once you have an idea, research it. Check Amazon and see if any similar books exist. Is there a need for your book? How will your book be different? Will it withstand the competition? Find out everything you can about your topic; become the authority.
PROPOSAL VS. FINISHED MANUSCRIPT… To sell fiction you will need to have a finished manuscript. Non-fiction books require a proposal. SPEND TIME ON YOUR PROPOSAL, TAKE TIME AND DEVELOP YOUR MANUSCRIPT.
FIND A LITERARY AGENT… Most large publishers don’t accept unsolicited manuscripts. (Manuscripts that aren’t represented by an agent are considered unsolicited and are referred to as “slush” by the publisher.) Many authors thank their literary agents in their acknowledgements. Find a book that’s similar to yours and find out who the agent is then do your homework. Go to the reference section of your local library and ask for The Literary Market Place (known in the industry as “The LMP”). This hefty book is considered the ‘Yellow Pages” of the book publishing industry and includes listings of literary agencies and publishers and their guidelines. Look up the literary agent and please follow the submission guidelines.
WHEN LOOKING FOR AN AGENT… Make sure you find someone with whom you’ll be comfortable. Seek the agent you think will best represent you and your work. Word to the wise: Don’t be lured by agents who tell you they can get you “big money.” Authors who get a reasonable advance and earn back the money for the publisher are much more attractive than authors who get a big advance and don’t earn back their money. It’s much better to build a long-term career based on solid book sales.
BUILD YOUR CAREER PATIENTLY AND DILIGENTLY… Rome wasn’t built in a day, and Terry McMillan wasn’t an overnight success. For Terry McMillan’s first book MAMA, she wrote letters to her publisher’s sales force and to booksellers to let them know that her book was out. She created her own author tour and drove herself around in her own car. For her second book DISAPPEARING ACTS, she again sent letters to the sales force and to booksellers, and then she achieved commercial success with WAITING TO EXHALE.
DON’T ASSUME THAT YOUR AGENT OR PUBLISHER KNOWS YOUR MARKET AS WELL AS YOU DO… Do whatever it takes to give the agent and publisher ammunition to effectively sell your book.
PUBLISHING IS MORE COMPETITIVE NOW THAN IT’S EVER BEEN… Regardless of what your publisher does, you have to get out there and sell your book.
IF YOU ARE BLESSED WITH A BOOK CONTRACT, RESERVE A PORTION OF YOUR ADVANCE FOR AN INDEPENDENT MARKETING AND PUBLICITY PERSON… Many publishers are cutting back on publicity and marketing, so take matters into your own hands.
SELF-PUBLISHING IS ALWAYS AN OPTION… There are a slew of self-published authors who have been picked up by major publishers. E. Lynn Harris and Zane are the most famous, but many other authors have followed suit.
SELF-PUBLISHING USED TO BE A STEP ON THE WAY TO GETTING PICKED UP BY A MAJOR PUBLISHER, BUT NOW MANY AUTHORS ARE CHOOSING TO REMAIN AS SELF-PUBLISHED SO THEY HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR BOOKS. Distribution can be challenging, but there are outfits that can help, like iuniverse. Many independent and major booksellers have a special program for self-published authors as well.
GET A SUBSCRIPTION TO BLACK ISSUES BOOK REVIEW, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (PW) (If the PW subscription is too costly, read it at the library or get it online.)
FINALLY:
REMAIN ENCOURAGED, STEADFAST AND ENTHUSED The word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek “en thios” or “in God”. Do not underestimate the power of prayer (along with sweat equity!)
Janet Hill is the former Executive Editor of Random House in New York (a Ministry Marketing Solutions client).
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www.PamPerryPRCoach.com
Posted By: Pam Perry
Sunday, November 2nd 2008 at 8:42PM
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