It is the end of February. For most people that means two things, winter is almost over, and the debts are the highest they will be this year. Normally, I don't talk about debt on this blog, but everyone needs to understand that 'making money' is as much about saving it as it is about generating revenue.
I went bankrupt once. The stigma of going bankrupt, even though it was not my fault, did not hurt the most. What hurt the most was the fact that it didn't have to happen. When I couldn't pay my bills because of the actions of a third party, I thought that bankruptcy was the only option.
I've now learned that I had other options, even though the debts were in excess of $40 000. In fact, I would have been better off in the long run if I had paid the debt instead of declairing bankruptcy.
There are several Debt Solutions which do not involve petitioning for insolvency or bankruptcy. Now, more than ever, banks are willing to work with people. I never knew that. I always believed they were more willing to foreclose than rearrange a payment program to help their clients.
My mother had a saying 'Ignorance kills.' As a child I never quite understood this, and while my bankruptcy didn't kill me, it did kill my savings account.
I won't be in the same boat again, because next time (If there is one) I will ask for help.
Know Your Author Rights—And Hang Onto Them!
When a book or magazine publisher agrees to publish your work, you must sign a contract. In this contract there is a very important area concerning rights.
Be very careful about which rights you retain, and which rights you hand over.
For a magazine article, you want to grant first rights only. Be careful of granting electronic rights, which almost everyone will ask for these days. If they are paying you for a piece, be clear about whether you want them to be able to distribute it on the Internet. If you do grant this right, know that the article probably can't be resold anywhere else (because it will be so available to everyone else).
It may be advantageous for you to grant electronic rights, as long as you make sure you stipulate that they must include your byline and web site address(es). This way you will get something out of it—free, targeted traffic to your site. This is a key marketing strategy which I use all the time. I write articles and distribute them for free—but only with a carefully-worded resource box that tells people where they can go for more (enticing) information.
I was recently contacted by a publisher who wanted to rework an article I'd written back in 1987 for a product they were selling. They didn't ask me, they just told me, and included a check for $25. Upon inspection of my contract, I learned that they had a right to do that, because even though they had bought "first rights," the contract also said they could use it as a reprint in an anthology or other product.
As for books—grant only print rights, if you can. I have clients whose hands are tied on creating other (more lucrative) products, because they signed away things like "audio-video recordings of any or parts of the WORK or of adaptations of the WORK."
One author recently told me that current book contracts include wording such as "the right to all forms of the WORK which currently exist or may be invented, into perpetuity"! Yikes!
If you do land any kind of publishing contract, seek out a good intellectual properties attorney, or at least send me an email about your contract. I can help you spot what may be problematic in it.
Note that agents aren't always as sensitive to these things as you should be. Though they are supposed to have your best interests in mind, they want to seal a deal, and unless they would be included on your other information product ventures, they don’t have a vested interest in making sure you retain these rights.
The words you create are your most important assets as an author. Make sure you protect them
About the Author:Diane Eble has 28 years experience in the publishing industry as an editor (magazines, fiction and nonfiction books), author (11 published books, more than 350 articles), and copywriter. She is now a book publishing coach as well. Visit her site at http://www.wordstoprofit.com for information on writing, publishing, and selling books and other information products.
----------------
Visit More Learning Sites:
inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
Be very careful about which rights you retain, and which rights you hand over.
For a magazine article, you want to grant first rights only. Be careful of granting electronic rights, which almost everyone will ask for these days. If they are paying you for a piece, be clear about whether you want them to be able to distribute it on the Internet. If you do grant this right, know that the article probably can't be resold anywhere else (because it will be so available to everyone else).
It may be advantageous for you to grant electronic rights, as long as you make sure you stipulate that they must include your byline and web site address(es). This way you will get something out of it—free, targeted traffic to your site. This is a key marketing strategy which I use all the time. I write articles and distribute them for free—but only with a carefully-worded resource box that tells people where they can go for more (enticing) information.
I was recently contacted by a publisher who wanted to rework an article I'd written back in 1987 for a product they were selling. They didn't ask me, they just told me, and included a check for $25. Upon inspection of my contract, I learned that they had a right to do that, because even though they had bought "first rights," the contract also said they could use it as a reprint in an anthology or other product.
As for books—grant only print rights, if you can. I have clients whose hands are tied on creating other (more lucrative) products, because they signed away things like "audio-video recordings of any or parts of the WORK or of adaptations of the WORK."
One author recently told me that current book contracts include wording such as "the right to all forms of the WORK which currently exist or may be invented, into perpetuity"! Yikes!
If you do land any kind of publishing contract, seek out a good intellectual properties attorney, or at least send me an email about your contract. I can help you spot what may be problematic in it.
Note that agents aren't always as sensitive to these things as you should be. Though they are supposed to have your best interests in mind, they want to seal a deal, and unless they would be included on your other information product ventures, they don’t have a vested interest in making sure you retain these rights.
The words you create are your most important assets as an author. Make sure you protect them
About the Author:Diane Eble has 28 years experience in the publishing industry as an editor (magazines, fiction and nonfiction books), author (11 published books, more than 350 articles), and copywriter. She is now a book publishing coach as well. Visit her site at http://www.wordstoprofit.com for information on writing, publishing, and selling books and other information products.
----------------
Visit More Learning Sites:
inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
Getting Published: Publishing Tips And Advice From Rose Desrochers
It appears that today everyone is a writer, and we all have the same dream. We all hope to someday be published. So as writers, where do we get started?
I suggest joining writing groups first and start seeking feedback that can help your career as a writer. It is most likely that your closest friends and family are telling you that your writing is the greatest thing since Steven King’s, and maybe it is, but it doesn't hurt to get some feedback from your fellow writers.
Once you are ready to take that plunge into the deep oceans of writing to see your work published for the first time, the best places to start are magazines and e-zines looking for calls for submission. For example, there are over 150 publishers listed on the Today's Woman Writing Community website, all looking for stories and poetry.
You are going to want to purchase a copy of Writer's Market that is published annually. This is an essential book for writers who are interested in publishing their work. You are also going to want to research your market. You are going to want to see just what kind of stories the magazine publishers are seeking. Each publisher will have specific guidelines to follow.
Offer your short stories for publication in their magazines, and be sure to list your other published work if any, and thank the editor for considering your work. If you are hoping to see your book published, some publishers will want you to send them your entire manuscript, while others may only want a query letter outlining your book proposal. Some may wish to see a few chapters from the book. If you're sending a full manuscript or sample chapters, always include an S.A.S.E. (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope) bearing sufficient postage with your submission. Present a cover letter that is professional. I suggest doing a Google search for query letter to give you some examples. If you are submitting by email, make sure that you follow the guidelines on the publisher’s website.
Stories posted on websites - are they personal or published?
In some cases, magazines will consider a story posted on your website or in an open community to be published. Therefore, they will not be able to claim first rights to it and most magazines, newspapers, etc. will not accept it as a submission. This will differ from publisher to publisher, and it is a very gray area. I suggest if you are submitting work that has already appeared on the web for publication, mention in the cover letter the forums or site where the story has been posted and let the editor make an informed decision.
Simultaneous Submissions?
There is a great debate in the writing community regarding simultaneous submissions. I have had a few interesting discussions myself. Some feel that it is the only way to get published quickly; others feel that it could lead to a bad reputation for you as a writer. This is due to the fact that publisher one will invest time in to reading your manuscript, only to find later it has been accepted by another publisher. I do encourage writers who wish to use simultaneous submission to advise the editors of it in their query letters.
Look over the contract:
Many first-time writers are so excited to just be published that they sign their name on anything without fully reading the contract. I can honestly say this is one mistake that I have made. Without carefully reading over the contract, you could sign yourself into a contract where for the next seven years you are bound to it and your publisher is reaping the rewards. Do not get trapped into this loop hole. Make sure you do an in-depth check into the background of any publisher. Once you send off your manuscript, now the fun comes. You sit and wait.
How long does it take?
It could take from 8 to 10 weeks to 8 to 10 months. Don't be discouraged by rejections; every writer gets rejected. Even Steven King was rejected. One published author says every story, on average, must be submitted to 100 markets before it is accepted.
You are going to want to know about rights, like first serial rights, etc. On Today's Woman under ‘writing lessons,’ there are some great articles that cover rights. Please be sure to check them out.
Getting published isn't easy. The editors get thousands of unsolicited Manuscripts a year. Don't give up. Start at the bottom and work up. I know some very talented writers who still aren't published. They've been trying for years. Writing is all about creating a name for yourself and that takes time.
If you are really eager about having your book published, you may wish to consider self-publishing or POD (print on demand) publishing. If you are considering this, I suggest developing a budget for publishing and advertising costs. You are going to want to shop around and look at the different prices of POD publishers or printing companies.
If you are going to go the self-publishing route you are going to need your own ISBN number and cover designer. In Canada you can get an ISBN number through http://www.collectionscanada.ca/isbn/s11-202-e.html. If you're looking for a print on demand publisher, I suggest starting at the Today's Woman Writing Community database of POD Publishers http://www.todays-woman.net/link-49.html. Be sure to consider factors such as set-up costs, royalty payments, control over your book, distribution, cover price, advertising and the publisher's reputation. The Internet can be a very useful tool as it allows you to investigate the company's name to see if other writers have had trouble with the company. Another approach to learning about the reputation of a publishing company might be to post questions within the different writing groups.
Todays-Woman.net also hosts a ‘Warning Writers’ page http://www.todays-woman.net/poetry-scams.html. Be sure to do your homework and never just take the publisher’s word.
If you write poetry, why not consider making a chapbook of your poetry. A chapbook is "a small book or pamphlet containing poems, ballads, stories, or religious tracts" (MIT) the term is still used today to refer to short, inexpensive booklets. Be sure to read my article "Make a Chapbook of Your Poetry". http://www.todays-woman.net/article805.html
Remember self-publishing means just what it says- self-publishing- you do the editing, the marketing, advertising, distribution, and sales.
It might be good to get some writing credits under your name before you think big. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you much success and hope you never give up on your dreams.
“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.” -William Arthur Ward
Rose DesRochers is a published poet and freelance writer. Rose has been writing poetry for more than 20 years. She is also the founder of http://www.todays-woman.net/
----------------
Visit More Learning Sites:
inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
I suggest joining writing groups first and start seeking feedback that can help your career as a writer. It is most likely that your closest friends and family are telling you that your writing is the greatest thing since Steven King’s, and maybe it is, but it doesn't hurt to get some feedback from your fellow writers.
Once you are ready to take that plunge into the deep oceans of writing to see your work published for the first time, the best places to start are magazines and e-zines looking for calls for submission. For example, there are over 150 publishers listed on the Today's Woman Writing Community website, all looking for stories and poetry.
You are going to want to purchase a copy of Writer's Market that is published annually. This is an essential book for writers who are interested in publishing their work. You are also going to want to research your market. You are going to want to see just what kind of stories the magazine publishers are seeking. Each publisher will have specific guidelines to follow.
Offer your short stories for publication in their magazines, and be sure to list your other published work if any, and thank the editor for considering your work. If you are hoping to see your book published, some publishers will want you to send them your entire manuscript, while others may only want a query letter outlining your book proposal. Some may wish to see a few chapters from the book. If you're sending a full manuscript or sample chapters, always include an S.A.S.E. (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope) bearing sufficient postage with your submission. Present a cover letter that is professional. I suggest doing a Google search for query letter to give you some examples. If you are submitting by email, make sure that you follow the guidelines on the publisher’s website.
Stories posted on websites - are they personal or published?
In some cases, magazines will consider a story posted on your website or in an open community to be published. Therefore, they will not be able to claim first rights to it and most magazines, newspapers, etc. will not accept it as a submission. This will differ from publisher to publisher, and it is a very gray area. I suggest if you are submitting work that has already appeared on the web for publication, mention in the cover letter the forums or site where the story has been posted and let the editor make an informed decision.
Simultaneous Submissions?
There is a great debate in the writing community regarding simultaneous submissions. I have had a few interesting discussions myself. Some feel that it is the only way to get published quickly; others feel that it could lead to a bad reputation for you as a writer. This is due to the fact that publisher one will invest time in to reading your manuscript, only to find later it has been accepted by another publisher. I do encourage writers who wish to use simultaneous submission to advise the editors of it in their query letters.
Look over the contract:
Many first-time writers are so excited to just be published that they sign their name on anything without fully reading the contract. I can honestly say this is one mistake that I have made. Without carefully reading over the contract, you could sign yourself into a contract where for the next seven years you are bound to it and your publisher is reaping the rewards. Do not get trapped into this loop hole. Make sure you do an in-depth check into the background of any publisher. Once you send off your manuscript, now the fun comes. You sit and wait.
How long does it take?
It could take from 8 to 10 weeks to 8 to 10 months. Don't be discouraged by rejections; every writer gets rejected. Even Steven King was rejected. One published author says every story, on average, must be submitted to 100 markets before it is accepted.
You are going to want to know about rights, like first serial rights, etc. On Today's Woman under ‘writing lessons,’ there are some great articles that cover rights. Please be sure to check them out.
Getting published isn't easy. The editors get thousands of unsolicited Manuscripts a year. Don't give up. Start at the bottom and work up. I know some very talented writers who still aren't published. They've been trying for years. Writing is all about creating a name for yourself and that takes time.
If you are really eager about having your book published, you may wish to consider self-publishing or POD (print on demand) publishing. If you are considering this, I suggest developing a budget for publishing and advertising costs. You are going to want to shop around and look at the different prices of POD publishers or printing companies.
If you are going to go the self-publishing route you are going to need your own ISBN number and cover designer. In Canada you can get an ISBN number through http://www.collectionscanada.ca/isbn/s11-202-e.html. If you're looking for a print on demand publisher, I suggest starting at the Today's Woman Writing Community database of POD Publishers http://www.todays-woman.net/link-49.html. Be sure to consider factors such as set-up costs, royalty payments, control over your book, distribution, cover price, advertising and the publisher's reputation. The Internet can be a very useful tool as it allows you to investigate the company's name to see if other writers have had trouble with the company. Another approach to learning about the reputation of a publishing company might be to post questions within the different writing groups.
Todays-Woman.net also hosts a ‘Warning Writers’ page http://www.todays-woman.net/poetry-scams.html. Be sure to do your homework and never just take the publisher’s word.
If you write poetry, why not consider making a chapbook of your poetry. A chapbook is "a small book or pamphlet containing poems, ballads, stories, or religious tracts" (MIT) the term is still used today to refer to short, inexpensive booklets. Be sure to read my article "Make a Chapbook of Your Poetry". http://www.todays-woman.net/article805.html
Remember self-publishing means just what it says- self-publishing- you do the editing, the marketing, advertising, distribution, and sales.
It might be good to get some writing credits under your name before you think big. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you much success and hope you never give up on your dreams.
“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.” -William Arthur Ward
Rose DesRochers is a published poet and freelance writer. Rose has been writing poetry for more than 20 years. She is also the founder of http://www.todays-woman.net/
----------------
Visit More Learning Sites:
inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
Submitting Your Manuscript: Getting Started
I am often asked "Do you know of a publisher who would be interested in my book?" There's no easy way to answer this question. You see, according to the PMA Newsletter, there are over 86,000 publishers in existence (http://parapub.com/statistics). It would be impossible to know what each one is looking for at any given time. However you do know that you're not going to submit your manuscript or book proposal to 86,000 publishers. It would be a waste of your time and money. To improve your chances in the submission process, you have to do your homework. Here are a few tips so your research will be most effective:
Publishing Houses: Get the Facts
Can you submit your manuscript to more than one place at a time? Depends on where you're sending it. Unfortunately, each publishing house has its own set of rules for reviewing a manuscript that will have multiple submissions. You have to find out what those rules are. You can check out the 2006 Writer's Market, published by Writer's Digest. It's an excellent source for publisher's guidelines. So is the website, Literary Marketplace.
While reviewing these resources you should also note what kind of material the company publishes and what kinds of manuscripts and proposals they would like to see. Another way to get more specific information on this topic is to go to your local bookstore and look at books similar to yours. Note the publisher as well as the agent and editor who handled the book (they're usually mentioned in the acknowledgments). Granted, a publisher might turn your manuscript down if they feel they've "been there, done that", but on the other hand if the company has had success with the subject matter they may be scouring the landscape to find more of the same!
Looking for an Agent
Your research may tell you that the publishers who seem right for you don't accept unsolicited manuscripts. That means you'll need an agent so you'll have to start your submission process with literary agencies. If that's the case, the 2006 Guide to Literary Agents is a great place to begin your search. Writer's Digest publishes this hefty tome listing more than 600 non-fee charging agents.
All of the agents listed in the guide adhere to the ethical guides established by the Association of Author's Representatives (AAR). Members of AAR are forbidden from charging fees. So in one book you get the security of knowing the agent you're dealing with is on the level, plus you get a full understanding of what material the agent represents. That means you won't be sending your manuscript out on a fruitless--and costly mission.
Manuscript Mechanics
Don't get too caught up in the specifics of what your manuscript should look like. Your research will tell you if the agent or publisher wants your manuscript a certain way, but for the most part as long as it's double-spaced and printed with a clear, easy-to-read 12-point font such as Courier or Arial you should be fine. Put your name, book title and page numbers on each page and--this is key--don't staple anything. Leaving the pages loose make it easy for the recipient to make copies. This is necessary because usually more than one person will be reading your work.
One note: These days more and more agencies and publishing houses are accepting electronic submissions. Find out if this is the case for your targets. You can save yourself some money and a trip to the post office!
The Entrepreneurial Mindset
Banish all fear. I know that's easier said than done, but look at it this way. If writing is something you really want to do, then manuscript submissions will become a regular part of your life. You don't want to go through your days and nights in a constant state of submission angst! It makes me feel tired just to think of what that would be like!
Instead put yourself in the mindset of being a writer and a businessperson. Your writing is your product. You will put out the best product possible. Know that the bulk of your rejections will have nothing to do with the quality of your product so don't take it personally. You move on to the next prospect with the same positive attitude that the next one may be the right one. Know that writing is part of your work. Being afraid isn't.
© 2006 Sophfronia
See Sophfronia's The Book Sistah Blog, category "Articles". Author and Writing Coach Sophfronia Scott is "The Book Sistah" TM. Get her FREE REPORT, "The 5 Big Mistakes Most Writers Make When Trying to Get Published" and her FREE online writing and publishing tips at http://www.thebooksistah.com/
----------------
Visit More Learning Sites:
inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
Publishing Houses: Get the Facts
Can you submit your manuscript to more than one place at a time? Depends on where you're sending it. Unfortunately, each publishing house has its own set of rules for reviewing a manuscript that will have multiple submissions. You have to find out what those rules are. You can check out the 2006 Writer's Market, published by Writer's Digest. It's an excellent source for publisher's guidelines. So is the website, Literary Marketplace.
While reviewing these resources you should also note what kind of material the company publishes and what kinds of manuscripts and proposals they would like to see. Another way to get more specific information on this topic is to go to your local bookstore and look at books similar to yours. Note the publisher as well as the agent and editor who handled the book (they're usually mentioned in the acknowledgments). Granted, a publisher might turn your manuscript down if they feel they've "been there, done that", but on the other hand if the company has had success with the subject matter they may be scouring the landscape to find more of the same!
Looking for an Agent
Your research may tell you that the publishers who seem right for you don't accept unsolicited manuscripts. That means you'll need an agent so you'll have to start your submission process with literary agencies. If that's the case, the 2006 Guide to Literary Agents is a great place to begin your search. Writer's Digest publishes this hefty tome listing more than 600 non-fee charging agents.
All of the agents listed in the guide adhere to the ethical guides established by the Association of Author's Representatives (AAR). Members of AAR are forbidden from charging fees. So in one book you get the security of knowing the agent you're dealing with is on the level, plus you get a full understanding of what material the agent represents. That means you won't be sending your manuscript out on a fruitless--and costly mission.
Manuscript Mechanics
Don't get too caught up in the specifics of what your manuscript should look like. Your research will tell you if the agent or publisher wants your manuscript a certain way, but for the most part as long as it's double-spaced and printed with a clear, easy-to-read 12-point font such as Courier or Arial you should be fine. Put your name, book title and page numbers on each page and--this is key--don't staple anything. Leaving the pages loose make it easy for the recipient to make copies. This is necessary because usually more than one person will be reading your work.
One note: These days more and more agencies and publishing houses are accepting electronic submissions. Find out if this is the case for your targets. You can save yourself some money and a trip to the post office!
The Entrepreneurial Mindset
Banish all fear. I know that's easier said than done, but look at it this way. If writing is something you really want to do, then manuscript submissions will become a regular part of your life. You don't want to go through your days and nights in a constant state of submission angst! It makes me feel tired just to think of what that would be like!
Instead put yourself in the mindset of being a writer and a businessperson. Your writing is your product. You will put out the best product possible. Know that the bulk of your rejections will have nothing to do with the quality of your product so don't take it personally. You move on to the next prospect with the same positive attitude that the next one may be the right one. Know that writing is part of your work. Being afraid isn't.
© 2006 Sophfronia
See Sophfronia's The Book Sistah Blog, category "Articles". Author and Writing Coach Sophfronia Scott is "The Book Sistah" TM. Get her FREE REPORT, "The 5 Big Mistakes Most Writers Make When Trying to Get Published" and her FREE online writing and publishing tips at http://www.thebooksistah.com/
----------------
Visit More Learning Sites:
inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
The Reality Of Publishing Your Book
According to a recent survey, more than eighty percent of Americans want to write a book. This shocking statistic is somewhat puzzling because the National Endowment for the Arts estimates that only fifty-seven percent of Americans have read one book in the last twelve months!
What is it that makes people -- even non-readers -- want to put pen to paper?
Perhaps it's the desire for fame and fortune. Maybe it's the need to earn respect from others. Or maybe it's the hopeful wish to leave some mark on the future, a permanent record of a life lived.
Whatever the reason, for those who actually complete a manuscript, the odds of seeing it published by a reputable book publisher are slim to none.
For the estimated two million manuscripts that authors complete, there are only 64,000 publishers of record, and only a fraction of those publishers actively seek new manuscripts.
So what are the millions of hopeful authors to do?
The first step would be to ensure their manuscripts are the best they can be. This is usually accomplished by re-writing, editing, and proofreading by an outside firm or by a well-read and literate colleague.
Even then, most of those two million books stand no chance of being accepted by a traditional publisher. Authors who do make the cut are not necessarily the best writers, but rather they are writers who can sell themselves and their stories most convincingly.
Some authors, after rejections from the trade, will find themselves victims of vanity publishers, who take advantage of the hopes and aspirations of writers to extract an exorbitant fee to publish their book. Writers are better off publishing through firms like iUniverse and Lulu. Although their books will likely never see wide distribution, at least their losses will be minimal.
Finally, there are the select few who decide to become publishers themselves, even if it is only to self-publish their own book. These self-publishers will find great obstacles, and a great deal of work in this route. The challenge and reward of having one's success or failure entirely in one's own hands is a powerful feeling.
Whether they choose to publish electronically, or use short run printing service like Lightning Source, or even to go full boar with a print run of 1,000 or more, their success depends on how well they sell themselves and their story to others.
There's an age-old debate about which method is better; using a publishing company or self publishing your own book. You know your situation and you know what will work best for you. You'll want to consider how much time or money you have to invest in the project. That should give you an idea as to which route to take. Using a publisher takes less time on your part, but you'll forfeit some of the royalties by using this method. If you self publish, you'll have to pay "up front" and do the initial work to get the ball rolling on sales of your book.
If you are about to embark on a new manuscript, educate yourself thoroughly about the industry, its scams, and potential pitfalls. More importantly, learn to market yourself well, for this, more than any other skill, is the determining factor in your success or failure.
About the Author:Learn how to become a published book author! Download Brian's free e-book, Book Writing for Fun and Profit, at www.BookCatcher.com. Visit Brian's blog, Book Publishing News
----------------
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inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
How To Get A Book Published - The Competition Is Tough In The Book Publishing Industry
How to get a book published is a question every author asks themselves.
How difficult is it to get a book published by a commercial book publisher? Well the odds are better gambling in Las Vegas. It has been estimated that 25 million people in the United States consider themselves writers and only 5% have been published anywhere. At any one time 5 to 6 million manuscripts are looking for a publishing home.
Most major book publishing houses, and many small presses, will not accept submissions that aren’t represented by a literary agent. During the research of The Publishing Primer: A Blueprint for an Author's Success, we asked literary agents how many unsolicited query letters/proposals/sample chapters, they receive. For the typical agency it is close to 5000 per year. On the average these agents accepted only 11 new clients, that’s about 1out of every 500 submissions.
Of course writers submit to more than one agency in the hopes of obtaining representation which makes the odds a little better, but not much.
It has been estimated that the five large book publishing companies, Random House Inc., Penguin USA, Simon & Schuster, Time Warner and HarperCollins, account for nearly eighty percent of all book sales in the US. This has occurred for the same reasons any other industry goes through consolidation: by combining certain administrative or staff functions, costs can be reduced and profits increased. Publishing, relative to many other industries, has not enjoyed a high Return on Investment (ROI) for investors. Now, book publishers are much more focused on having every single book they publish be profitable. This means a more risk averse philosophy, with a preference for publishing authors with successful track records--a sound business strategy.
How to get a book published by a commercial book publisher isn't an easy task, but with perseverance and a good book you can do it.
About the Author:Find out how you can avoid scams and still get your book published. A complimentary report "Perils and Pitfalls of Publishing for Writers" just visit - brianhillanddeepower.com There is no charge for the report.
----------------
Visit More Learning Sites:
inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
How difficult is it to get a book published by a commercial book publisher? Well the odds are better gambling in Las Vegas. It has been estimated that 25 million people in the United States consider themselves writers and only 5% have been published anywhere. At any one time 5 to 6 million manuscripts are looking for a publishing home.
Most major book publishing houses, and many small presses, will not accept submissions that aren’t represented by a literary agent. During the research of The Publishing Primer: A Blueprint for an Author's Success, we asked literary agents how many unsolicited query letters/proposals/sample chapters, they receive. For the typical agency it is close to 5000 per year. On the average these agents accepted only 11 new clients, that’s about 1out of every 500 submissions.
Of course writers submit to more than one agency in the hopes of obtaining representation which makes the odds a little better, but not much.
It has been estimated that the five large book publishing companies, Random House Inc., Penguin USA, Simon & Schuster, Time Warner and HarperCollins, account for nearly eighty percent of all book sales in the US. This has occurred for the same reasons any other industry goes through consolidation: by combining certain administrative or staff functions, costs can be reduced and profits increased. Publishing, relative to many other industries, has not enjoyed a high Return on Investment (ROI) for investors. Now, book publishers are much more focused on having every single book they publish be profitable. This means a more risk averse philosophy, with a preference for publishing authors with successful track records--a sound business strategy.
How to get a book published by a commercial book publisher isn't an easy task, but with perseverance and a good book you can do it.
About the Author:Find out how you can avoid scams and still get your book published. A complimentary report "Perils and Pitfalls of Publishing for Writers" just visit - brianhillanddeepower.com There is no charge for the report.
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28 Reasons Why Publishers Will Buy Your Book
Editors will buy a book for one or more of the followingreasons. By knowing what these reasons are, you can thendesign a marketing plan with these features in mind.
1. The author's previous books have sold well.
2. They love the book and think it will sell.
3. They think the book will sell.
4. They love it enough to publish, regardless of itscommercial potential.
5. It's a book that deserves to be published because of itsvalue to a cause or the country.
6. An editor is passionate enough about it to overcome anydoubts the house may have about the book.
7. A new editor has arrived from another house and isbuilding a list.
8. The publisher has the opportunity to reflag a successfulauthor from another house.
9. The book will be the first in a series with stronggrowth potential.
10. The idea for the book is brilliant.
11. The idea for the book is timely.
12. The writing is superb.
13. The title alone will sell books.
14. An author's promotion plan guarantees a book's success.
15. The author is a media magnet who can guarantee enoughpublicity to make the book successful.
16. The author has a national platform such as a column ora radio or television show that will guarantee continuingexposure for the book.
17. The publisher thinks that the book will back list andbecome an evergreen (like evergreen tree -- sells for a longlong time).
18. The book has subsidiary rights potential including bookclubs, audio cassettes or foreign, electronic or movierights.
19. The book has adoption potential in schools oruniversities.
20. The house has published similar books with success.
21. The book is on a subject that the house has or wants tobuild a list on.
22. Overcome by auction fever, publishers convincethemselves that, despite the profit-and-loss statement ratedto determine the book's value, they pay whatever it takes tooutbid their rivals.
23. The author wants to switch houses.
24. The editor discovers the book on a trip to a book fairand thinks it will sell, or is caught up in the excitementsurrounding the book, or wants to justify the trip.
25. The publisher is sending the industry the message thatbecause of new management or despite changes in the house,the house is a player.
26. The book being sold may not be a big one, but futurebooks will have bestseller potential.
27. The author has a personal connection with someone inthe house with the power to buy the book.
28. Publishing the book will enhance the house's prestige.
This is not a definitive list. John Saul, a novelist,observed if publishers don't want to buy a book, they say"It's been done to death." If they do want to buy thatbook, they'll say, "Always works."
Catherine Franz, a Certified Professional Marketing & Writing Coach, specializes in product development, Internet writing and marketing, nonfiction, training. Newsletters and articles available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com/
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1. The author's previous books have sold well.
2. They love the book and think it will sell.
3. They think the book will sell.
4. They love it enough to publish, regardless of itscommercial potential.
5. It's a book that deserves to be published because of itsvalue to a cause or the country.
6. An editor is passionate enough about it to overcome anydoubts the house may have about the book.
7. A new editor has arrived from another house and isbuilding a list.
8. The publisher has the opportunity to reflag a successfulauthor from another house.
9. The book will be the first in a series with stronggrowth potential.
10. The idea for the book is brilliant.
11. The idea for the book is timely.
12. The writing is superb.
13. The title alone will sell books.
14. An author's promotion plan guarantees a book's success.
15. The author is a media magnet who can guarantee enoughpublicity to make the book successful.
16. The author has a national platform such as a column ora radio or television show that will guarantee continuingexposure for the book.
17. The publisher thinks that the book will back list andbecome an evergreen (like evergreen tree -- sells for a longlong time).
18. The book has subsidiary rights potential including bookclubs, audio cassettes or foreign, electronic or movierights.
19. The book has adoption potential in schools oruniversities.
20. The house has published similar books with success.
21. The book is on a subject that the house has or wants tobuild a list on.
22. Overcome by auction fever, publishers convincethemselves that, despite the profit-and-loss statement ratedto determine the book's value, they pay whatever it takes tooutbid their rivals.
23. The author wants to switch houses.
24. The editor discovers the book on a trip to a book fairand thinks it will sell, or is caught up in the excitementsurrounding the book, or wants to justify the trip.
25. The publisher is sending the industry the message thatbecause of new management or despite changes in the house,the house is a player.
26. The book being sold may not be a big one, but futurebooks will have bestseller potential.
27. The author has a personal connection with someone inthe house with the power to buy the book.
28. Publishing the book will enhance the house's prestige.
This is not a definitive list. John Saul, a novelist,observed if publishers don't want to buy a book, they say"It's been done to death." If they do want to buy thatbook, they'll say, "Always works."
Catherine Franz, a Certified Professional Marketing & Writing Coach, specializes in product development, Internet writing and marketing, nonfiction, training. Newsletters and articles available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com/
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Editing Is Your Friend
The following article is written by Anne Whitfield, the Senior editor at www.enspirenpress.com, multi-published author, and my friend. We've been working together for several months now. I asked her to write an article for this blog.
As an editor, I find many writers have either edited their work too much or too little.
The key is to edit well enough to create a great story, but not too much that your work no longer has heart.
A lot of novel authors believe the golden word limit is 100 000. This is not always the case. Many publishers, big and small, prefer the word limit to be around 90k or even under. One of my publishers is UK hardback publisher Robert Hale Ltd. Their word count is approx 73 000 words. Always check the publisher’s guidelines, if possible.
Now some writers will be horrified that their beloved opus is a massive 300k words, and they refuse to cut a single word from it, but honestly think of the bigger picture — money. Publishers are companies out to make money, some foster careers, too, but mainly it is money and it is silly to think otherwise. For them to make money they have to create marketable books that will sell. If your book is a massive tome, do you think that the average publisher is going spend an awful lot of time and money on something that will be priced above all the competition?
When writers are confronted by the prospect of cutting words, they panic and think it can’t be done without destroying plots and characters.
In actual fact, most writers will learn that there is a skill to trimming word count. Once that skill is learnt, they can apply it to other works, and also this will change the way they write future manuscripts.
Sometimes, the act of cutting words from the manuscript is simply a case of re-writing the odd paragraph, of eliminating passive writing or over telling, deleting repeated or redundant words. Look for instances where you have explained the same thing more than once, but perhaps in different ways or by different character’s viewpoint. There are many good websites built to aid writers in writing the best work they can. I have a list on my website of several such websites.
http://www.annewhitfield.com/writingwebsites.html
In the end, write the story of your heart, but edit it with a business mind and the chances are you’ll have a better prospect of becoming published and the journey with your future editor may be also smoother.
Good Luck!
Anne Whitfield, author and editor.
http://www.annewhitfield.com
----------------
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inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
As an editor, I find many writers have either edited their work too much or too little.
The key is to edit well enough to create a great story, but not too much that your work no longer has heart.
A lot of novel authors believe the golden word limit is 100 000. This is not always the case. Many publishers, big and small, prefer the word limit to be around 90k or even under. One of my publishers is UK hardback publisher Robert Hale Ltd. Their word count is approx 73 000 words. Always check the publisher’s guidelines, if possible.
Now some writers will be horrified that their beloved opus is a massive 300k words, and they refuse to cut a single word from it, but honestly think of the bigger picture — money. Publishers are companies out to make money, some foster careers, too, but mainly it is money and it is silly to think otherwise. For them to make money they have to create marketable books that will sell. If your book is a massive tome, do you think that the average publisher is going spend an awful lot of time and money on something that will be priced above all the competition?
When writers are confronted by the prospect of cutting words, they panic and think it can’t be done without destroying plots and characters.
In actual fact, most writers will learn that there is a skill to trimming word count. Once that skill is learnt, they can apply it to other works, and also this will change the way they write future manuscripts.
Sometimes, the act of cutting words from the manuscript is simply a case of re-writing the odd paragraph, of eliminating passive writing or over telling, deleting repeated or redundant words. Look for instances where you have explained the same thing more than once, but perhaps in different ways or by different character’s viewpoint. There are many good websites built to aid writers in writing the best work they can. I have a list on my website of several such websites.
http://www.annewhitfield.com/writingwebsites.html
In the end, write the story of your heart, but edit it with a business mind and the chances are you’ll have a better prospect of becoming published and the journey with your future editor may be also smoother.
Good Luck!
Anne Whitfield, author and editor.
http://www.annewhitfield.com
----------------
Visit More Learning Sites:
inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
Law of Attraction And Successful Business Management
The secrets of wealth generation and the law of attraction are the same. If you want something bad enough then you will get it. This truth is as old as society itself. However, we replaced this law with complacency and the expectancy that someone will give us hand outs. We want our money now – no matter what the cost. We want to be entertained – regardless of the consequences.
The law of attraction is ‘believe – achieve – receive’ and has been a part of society for thousands of years.. If you believe that a program works, and work to reach goals, you’ll receive the reward.
The opposite is people who want something and wait until it is given to them. They never receive what they are waiting for.
The same works with Google, ecommerce businesses, and Affiliate programs. A person may believe that they can make money from Google. But, without taking action there will not be a reward. There may be belief, but there is no action.
Another person may buy the same program, and work hard – they will receive a reward.
But, only if they do the ‘right’ work. Remember, work smart not hard. You need to learn what the profitable people do.
For example, I am a successful pro blogger. I teach a course at www.writersonlinecourses.com where I’ll teach everything I know. But, not everyone can make the program work a) because they don’t believe, or b) they don’t do the work.
Anything can succeed if you follow the laws of attraction.
The law of attraction is ‘believe – achieve – receive’ and has been a part of society for thousands of years.. If you believe that a program works, and work to reach goals, you’ll receive the reward.
The opposite is people who want something and wait until it is given to them. They never receive what they are waiting for.
The same works with Google, ecommerce businesses, and Affiliate programs. A person may believe that they can make money from Google. But, without taking action there will not be a reward. There may be belief, but there is no action.
Another person may buy the same program, and work hard – they will receive a reward.
But, only if they do the ‘right’ work. Remember, work smart not hard. You need to learn what the profitable people do.
For example, I am a successful pro blogger. I teach a course at www.writersonlinecourses.com where I’ll teach everything I know. But, not everyone can make the program work a) because they don’t believe, or b) they don’t do the work.
Anything can succeed if you follow the laws of attraction.
Secret to Wealth Building
There is no secret to building wealth, despite what the gurus say. If there were secrets, they were released in the major recession of the 1990s. However, there are a few basics.
The first, and most important basic, is that wealth is not measured in money. It is measured in assets – things you can hold that have a value. There are many people in the world who are wealthy but still have a hard time paying their bills.
Goal One: Set Goals
You need to understand what wealth is before you can create goals for yourself. To some wealth means power. Others believe wealth is found at the bottom of a balance sheet. Others think it means having extra money in your pocket to waste on indulgences. Some measure believe wealth is measured by the amount they will leave to their kids.
The important thing to remember is that wealth is something personal. Your goals should not be based on what someone else believes wealth is.
Goal Two: Pay Down Debts
The first step to building wealth is to pay down your debts. Most adults pay more than $5000USD a year in unnecessary interest. That is wealth. If you could pay down your debts and stay out of debt, then you would have an increase of $5000 a year in expendable income.
After you set your goals, you need to work on different methods of reducing your debt. Many people can do this just by altering their budget for one year. Others can save a few hundred dollars (to use paying down debt) by changing to a more affordable credit card.
Some people learn how to do this by planning a trip. They must pay down their debt, and save the money for the trip before they can go. By the time this is done, they have learned more responsible spending habits, and taught themselves the art of budgeting money.
Goal Three: Motivation
Desire creates ambition and ambition creates action. This action generates cash – sometimes. Most of the wealthy people do not spend 5 hours a day in front of the television, or out entertaining themselves.
People need to learn how to work smart, not hard. That means that they must learn how to determine which wealth generating strategy will work in your situation. The budget has already increased income. Look for other ways to generate a passive income. Just make sure it involves you.
I knew one person who wrote a list of all the things everyone else could do to fix their financial problems. Of course this didn’t work. You need to start with yourself and then draw everyone else in.
Goal Four: Learn to Generate Wealh
Passive income doesn’t mean that you are doing nothing. You need to spend time with your family or your spouse and children will disappear. You need to spend time at work or your boss will fire you. The same goes for passive income. The money is there, but you need to invest time and effort into making it come to you.
However, many ‘work at home’ professionals do everything but generate income. They spend all their time marketing, creating a network, building reports, learning, and never seem to get around to the task of making money.
The people who succeed follow a certain behavior pattern. Those who fail also follow a certain set of behavioral patterns. Those who build wealth do not have a ‘turn off’ switch. They see no difference between spending the weekend at a flea market earning money than spending it at the beach. Of course, they also go to the beach…after the market closes.
The first, and most important basic, is that wealth is not measured in money. It is measured in assets – things you can hold that have a value. There are many people in the world who are wealthy but still have a hard time paying their bills.
Goal One: Set Goals
You need to understand what wealth is before you can create goals for yourself. To some wealth means power. Others believe wealth is found at the bottom of a balance sheet. Others think it means having extra money in your pocket to waste on indulgences. Some measure believe wealth is measured by the amount they will leave to their kids.
The important thing to remember is that wealth is something personal. Your goals should not be based on what someone else believes wealth is.
Goal Two: Pay Down Debts
The first step to building wealth is to pay down your debts. Most adults pay more than $5000USD a year in unnecessary interest. That is wealth. If you could pay down your debts and stay out of debt, then you would have an increase of $5000 a year in expendable income.
After you set your goals, you need to work on different methods of reducing your debt. Many people can do this just by altering their budget for one year. Others can save a few hundred dollars (to use paying down debt) by changing to a more affordable credit card.
Some people learn how to do this by planning a trip. They must pay down their debt, and save the money for the trip before they can go. By the time this is done, they have learned more responsible spending habits, and taught themselves the art of budgeting money.
Goal Three: Motivation
Desire creates ambition and ambition creates action. This action generates cash – sometimes. Most of the wealthy people do not spend 5 hours a day in front of the television, or out entertaining themselves.
People need to learn how to work smart, not hard. That means that they must learn how to determine which wealth generating strategy will work in your situation. The budget has already increased income. Look for other ways to generate a passive income. Just make sure it involves you.
I knew one person who wrote a list of all the things everyone else could do to fix their financial problems. Of course this didn’t work. You need to start with yourself and then draw everyone else in.
Goal Four: Learn to Generate Wealh
Passive income doesn’t mean that you are doing nothing. You need to spend time with your family or your spouse and children will disappear. You need to spend time at work or your boss will fire you. The same goes for passive income. The money is there, but you need to invest time and effort into making it come to you.
However, many ‘work at home’ professionals do everything but generate income. They spend all their time marketing, creating a network, building reports, learning, and never seem to get around to the task of making money.
The people who succeed follow a certain behavior pattern. Those who fail also follow a certain set of behavioral patterns. Those who build wealth do not have a ‘turn off’ switch. They see no difference between spending the weekend at a flea market earning money than spending it at the beach. Of course, they also go to the beach…after the market closes.
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