i’ve gotten a lot of email lately asking me advice on how to write a book and get it published. well, here is a post dedicated just to that topic.
the answer?
i don’t know.
but i’ll let you know as soon as i have it figured out :)
i’ve gotten a lot of email lately asking me advice on how to write a book and get it published. well, here is a post dedicated just to that topic.
the answer?
i don’t know.
but i’ll let you know as soon as i have it figured out :)
Comments
16 responses to “how to write a book (1 of 1)”
big help :)
I try, I try.
Uuuuhhhh, thanks a lot. I’m writing one so your post title got me all excited…and for what? ;) Guess I’ll keep learning as I go…
Exactly! :)
As someone who works in the publishing field, we are often just as much in the dark as the authors. We get hundreds of queries a year. Looking at a manuscript and deciding whether or not the public wants to read it is like looking at a screenplay and trying to decide if it will be a hit movie. We have just as many hits as misses. These are probably no-brainers, but here are a couple of things many people who send me stuff don’t seem to grasp:
1) Are you a unique voice with an interesting take on a subject that hits a need in the audience. (i.e. There are tons of marriage and church growth books out there. How is this different?) Try not to narrow-cast. A book about how to survive as a Sr. Pastor’s wife has a very small audience. And, no matter how interesting you think your life is, or your grandfather’s life, the only biographies that sell are of very, very, very famous people.
2) As an author, how can you help sell the book? This is generally overlooked by many authors. We’ve printed some beautifully written books by authors who just want to sit at home and write. But they don’t sell because no one has heard of them. Unfortunately, we have some very mediocre books by high profile pastors/authors who are speaking and making appearances and pushing the book – and they sell. I’m not saying I like it or agree with it, but publishers are a business first and a ministry second. We don’t want to publish good books, we want to sell good books. If you are an unknown author, you better have speaking or ministry opportunities where your name will get out there.
3.) OR – at least work every contact you can to get some high profile endorsements of your work. You’d be surprised how much credibility you can suddenly acquire from a couple of well-known pastors or authors giving you a short paragraph of endorsement. Send them with your query.
4.) Do some research and figure out which publishing company likes to do the type of book you are writing. But be aware of the flip side, if they already have three books like yours in the works, they may not want another. Keep knocking on those doors.
5.) Finally, have somebody proof your work! You’d be surprised at how much you will look like a real author if you can demonstrate that you know the difference between “its” and “it’s”!
I know this may not be encouraging, but also know that every publishing company is still on the lookout for the next great writer.
It could be you.
Aw cmon! Publish my autobiography! Or at least my myspace! I have it on very good authority that I’m a bit fascinating. (grin)
Tom, very helpful – thanks a ton!
Okay…. I had to laugh at this.. Just yesterday I was asked again about when I was going to write a book. I thought of you, Anne, immediately. My response, “My friend Anne is writing one currently. I am praying for her daily. That’s as close as I’m coming other than blogging.”
Whew.. Thanks for taking some of the heat for me, Anne.. If only that would help me lose some weight. ;)
You are loved woman! As for you others… If you need prayer support… let me know.
You have got this post title thing figured out. :-)
The next title for a post on my blog:
How to Increase your church attendance by 5,000 in one year! (1 of 1)
I don’t know either but here’s what I’ve found – research, research, research – write – network, network, network, write, build authors platforms. write. proposal, determine who you’re writing to, write, agent, agent, agent
Tom – Thanks for the insight!
Jimmy-You are too much for words :)
Camey-Your prayers are cherished…thank you!
Scott-I look forward to it! :D Ha!
Nate-yep. I am still debating the agent thing. I’ve found networking eliminates some of the need for that…but I’m still open…just not landed on that part of the puzzle.
I think everyone I’ve met so far wants to publish a book. They think they’re smart and interesting, but they’re not writers. They don’t love to write, and they really can’t tell good stories.
People who actually write books have piles of stuff they’ve already written sitting in their garage in journals, files, boxes, and anything else that can hold paper.
Writing a book is about writing, not an idea – no, it’s about GOOD writing.
…at least that’s my take.
Anne…that stinks…thanks for suckering me in on that one. ;)
Scott is right on with the TITLE thing you’ve got going on, and wow…TOM…that was awesome!!! Thanks for your insight and honesty…I love the info you provided and would also like to add to it, “add lots of prayers” as well. ;)
Thanks for getting the creative juices going yet again ANNE!!! ;)
I have several posts about my journey to publication. Go to http://www.relevantblog.blogspot.com and click on April 2006. Start on April 10th. There are twelve posts in all, ending in May 2006. Getting published is a bit like birthing a bowling ball!
that friggin cracked me up…
I’ve worked in the publishing biz for many years now, mostly on the book / author promotion side of the fence but I have also served as an agent in a few select cases. I’ve booked authors on national television shows, orchestrated campaigns that have sold 1000 books on Amazon.com in 24 hours, sold a few titles to publishers for nice advances… etc. I’m not saying all that to promote myself, just exampling in hopes to support that I have at least a small bit of knowledge. :)
I think the biggest secret to getting a book published is… having a vision and being able to sell that vision.
Most authors that I know, who are successful, have a few things in common.
1. They are extremely passionate about what they write about.
2. They are able to sell the vision to a publisher. When I say “sell” I mean it more so in the sense of being able to properly communicate and cast the vision.
3. They have a platform or are developing a platform. In the old days publishers did most of the book publicity work. It isn’t that way anymore. Authors have to work very hard at promoting their books and publishers look for great content but also someone who understands the process and can promote their books.
In most cases an author is better served with using an agent but in some cases an agent is not needed. Someone like Anne, who is a master marketer and networker, probably does not need an agent to sell her book but many others do.
Last… I know most people feel they need to write the entire book before they approach and agent or publisher. That’s often what stops people from even trying. They feel overwhelmed and have no clue of where to start. The simple fact though is that you don’t have to have the book fully written before getting a publisher to pick it up. As long as you have a solid outline, proposal and a sample chapter… you can “sell” the book idea and then write the rest of the book.
Getting published is actually a little less mysterious.
Becoming a bestseller is.
Hope that helps a few of you out there.