Lots of writers like to talk about writing books. You hear very few talking about writing book proposals. Maybe that's why it's easy to forget that a strong book proposal is the first step to getting a great deal for your non-fiction book. It's where you make the big pitch and tell the editor everything that's going to make him or her want to buy.
A book proposal is also a great time saver for you because you'll find in the course of researching your book proposal whether or not your idea is viable, or whether your category is already crowded with similar books. Here are the parts that make up a book proposal, and a few tips on how to make it really stand out to a potential publisher.
Title Page
This is the first page of the book proposal. Your title should be centered and printed about two-thirds of the way down the page. In the bottom left hand corner you'll type in your name, address, phone number, email address and the name and contact information for your agent.
Overview
You'll want to have two to three pages explaining the overall premise of your book. You'll also want to include a Table of Contents that shows what points will be covered in each chapter.
Bio/Credentials
This isn't just your usual resume stuff, this is a big opportunity to sell yourself as THE person to write the book. Write it in the third person starting with your education and credentials. You'll want to point out any experience that specifically relates to the subject matter of the book. Have you written articles or previous books on the topic? Note those as well. List any public speaking that you have done and will do in the future, including television and radio interviews. Include a really nice photo. It doesn't have to be a glamour shot, but you do want to look interesting and engaging. A 5"x7" is fine.
Competition
The publisher will want to know if there are books similar to yours already out there. It will help them to see that there is a market for such books. At the same time, you'll want to point out how your book will be different, or better, than what's already out there. Do not trash someone else's work. It's bad form. It's enough to say a competitor's book left something out, or doesn't cover a certain aspect. If you don't know what competing books exist, you can look them up in Books in Print. Most libraries have it in the reference section.
Outline
This will be your chapter-by-chapter outline showing what you will cover, point-by-point, in each chapter. You can plan on allotting about half a page per chapter.
Sample Chapters
This is where you get to show that you really can write! You should submit at least three chapters of content. It doesn't have to be the first three chapters, but if you haven't written anything yet those may be the easiest to do. Then again, some writers like to start in the middle of a book! The main key here is to be good--no typos, no misspellings and no factual errors.
Marketing
The marketing section of your book proposal is so important that many publishers will often read it first. So make sure you spend the time to make this the best it can be. Lay out your whole marketing plan here. Explain who your target audience is, how big it is and why they will buy this book. How do you plan on reaching them? Are you buying your own advertising? If so, in what publications and what is their combined circulation? Will you be reaching out to book clubs, corporations or college classes where you book could be taught? How can you make your book stand out against the ones that are already out there? You want to make the case that there is a ready made audience out there and all the publisher has to do is reach out and grab them by signing you.
Promotion
Remember, a publisher wants to acquire you and your connections, so this is another important section of the proposal. How will you put yourself out there for your book? You'll want to explain if you'll be doing public speaking, or maybe you have a huge list you communicate with via newsletter every month. How many are on your list? If you plan to hire your own publicist, put that fact in as well. Do you have famous connections that will help you get great blurbs? Do you have a budget? If so, how much? Yes, they do want to know if you plan on spending some of your own money!
Publishing Details
Here you'll detail the length you propose for the book (in words) and whether the book will have any illustrations or photos. You'll also want to give an estimate for the time you'll need to turn in the finished manuscript.
And that's it. When your proposal is done you might want to hire an editor or a book consultant to go over it and give you some strong feedback. That way you'll know you have it in the best shape possible and you can feel confident when you're sending it out.
About the Author: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/
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Content Or Passion: Balance In The Writing Journey
Is it better to participate in content writing or write for magazine publication?
The above question is actually multifaceted and can help you determine the overall thrust of your freelance writing career.
It has been estimated that a writer will need to pen a million words before a publisher is likely to accept their first work. That means a lot of rejection slips.
So, does that imply that content writing is preferred to the crafting of a book or magazine article?
Well not exactly. Content writing is a means of addressing a short-term need. If the immediate need is cash, then content writing might provide the answer. However, if you are looking for a means of affecting long-term royalty payments or a greater flexibility in the ownership of your material you may look at other publishing options.
When you agree to write content for a client you are essentially providing a service for hire. Once you release the article or story to the client and they reciprocate with a payment you have no further interest in the article. You can't use it again and you will gain no further payment for its ongoing use.
When you write a story for potential use in a book anthology, or a full manuscript for publication, you may have a variety of rights to consider.
If you are the author of a story, you can negotiate with a publisher for the rights you are willing to provide. You could provide First North American Rights, which would allow you to resell the story in the future as a second right, but you would also have the capability of selling first rights to someone else on an international basis. Nonexclusive rights allow you to continue selling the material with the same rights to as many publishers as are interested.
As we venture back to the original question it is important to understand that freelanced writing can and should be a balanced approach to writing. If it takes you a million words before you find publishing success why not make some of those words available to a paying content market to provide some skills-based writing while you work on other projects that are more personal and may have the potential to provide long-term residual payments.
A writer should always find time to write about the things they are passionate about, however the service of content writing provides a means of gaining some writing income while learning new skills and writing techniques while you are waiting for a publisher's acceptance letter.
Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of FaithWriters (http://www.faithwriters.com) and many other web projects. FaithWriters has grown to become one of the largest online destinations for Christian writers. Please visit the website at: http://www.faithwriters.com
----------------
Visit More Learning Sites:
inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
The above question is actually multifaceted and can help you determine the overall thrust of your freelance writing career.
It has been estimated that a writer will need to pen a million words before a publisher is likely to accept their first work. That means a lot of rejection slips.
So, does that imply that content writing is preferred to the crafting of a book or magazine article?
Well not exactly. Content writing is a means of addressing a short-term need. If the immediate need is cash, then content writing might provide the answer. However, if you are looking for a means of affecting long-term royalty payments or a greater flexibility in the ownership of your material you may look at other publishing options.
When you agree to write content for a client you are essentially providing a service for hire. Once you release the article or story to the client and they reciprocate with a payment you have no further interest in the article. You can't use it again and you will gain no further payment for its ongoing use.
When you write a story for potential use in a book anthology, or a full manuscript for publication, you may have a variety of rights to consider.
If you are the author of a story, you can negotiate with a publisher for the rights you are willing to provide. You could provide First North American Rights, which would allow you to resell the story in the future as a second right, but you would also have the capability of selling first rights to someone else on an international basis. Nonexclusive rights allow you to continue selling the material with the same rights to as many publishers as are interested.
As we venture back to the original question it is important to understand that freelanced writing can and should be a balanced approach to writing. If it takes you a million words before you find publishing success why not make some of those words available to a paying content market to provide some skills-based writing while you work on other projects that are more personal and may have the potential to provide long-term residual payments.
A writer should always find time to write about the things they are passionate about, however the service of content writing provides a means of gaining some writing income while learning new skills and writing techniques while you are waiting for a publisher's acceptance letter.
Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of FaithWriters (http://www.faithwriters.com) and many other web projects. FaithWriters has grown to become one of the largest online destinations for Christian writers. Please visit the website at: http://www.faithwriters.com
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inspiredauthor
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Comments From A Book Reviewer
For the past several years I have been reviewing books for my own site, Bookpleasures.com, as well as many other sites. I am also a regular contributor to the Canadian Book Review Annual.As editor of Bookpleasures.com, I would like to make a few comments about book reviewing and what to expect, particularly from Bookpleasures.com.
Today, with the advent of the Internet, there has been a proliferation of book reviewers, whom I shall classify as the good, the bad and the ugly.Those falling within the last category are ones that you have to be particularly on the look out for, as their only interest is to receive complimentary books without bothering to review them, or if they do review them, their reviews are very short and without substance.On the other hand, there are many serious and excellent reviewers, who devote a great deal of their time and energy in reading and writing a review.
Unfortunately for the authors, sometimes reviews are not exactly very complimentary. However, it is to be noted that it is not the objective of a reviewer to be a salesperson or a public relations representative for the author. If the criticism is constructive, a great deal can be learned from the review, particularly if the reviewer is also an author.
From the point of view of a reviewer, what I find most annoying is receiving a book without first asking me if I would accept to review it. Bookpleasures receives on average about 20-30 email requests per week. These requests are forwarded to our reviewers, who communicate directly with the sender of the email.In all probability, there is a 20%-30% chance that a request to review will be accepted by a reviewer. The reason why a book is not accepted is wide and varied. Many of our reviewers have a backlog that they would like to clear before accepting new assignments, or the subject matter is not one that interests any of them.
What I like to see in a request is not “hype” but rather a brief resumé of the contents of the book, who the author is, if the book is published by a main stream publisher or is it self-published, and if the book is available on Amazon. Bookpleasures also conducts e-interviews with some authors, and if the author is open to have himself or herself interviewed, please indicate.
If you are a publicist or publisher, don’t be afraid to put Bookpleasures as well as other book reviewing sites on your emailing list. You never know when something catches our eyes. Sometimes you may be publicizing a particular book, and our reviewers will look to your site and see something else that interests them.
As for the time frame, this all depends on the reviewer. Anywhere from one week to three months is the norm. You can ask the reviewer to give you some idea as to his or her time frame. You can also inquire as to his or her credentials. Bookpleasures does provide links to the reviewers’ site that should give you some idea as to their experience.
I do hope this is of help to some of you.
Norm Goldman is a free lance book reviewer and travel writer. He is editor of Bookpleasures.com, a book reviewing site, and sketchandtravel.com, a travel site that melds words with art.
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Today, with the advent of the Internet, there has been a proliferation of book reviewers, whom I shall classify as the good, the bad and the ugly.Those falling within the last category are ones that you have to be particularly on the look out for, as their only interest is to receive complimentary books without bothering to review them, or if they do review them, their reviews are very short and without substance.On the other hand, there are many serious and excellent reviewers, who devote a great deal of their time and energy in reading and writing a review.
Unfortunately for the authors, sometimes reviews are not exactly very complimentary. However, it is to be noted that it is not the objective of a reviewer to be a salesperson or a public relations representative for the author. If the criticism is constructive, a great deal can be learned from the review, particularly if the reviewer is also an author.
From the point of view of a reviewer, what I find most annoying is receiving a book without first asking me if I would accept to review it. Bookpleasures receives on average about 20-30 email requests per week. These requests are forwarded to our reviewers, who communicate directly with the sender of the email.In all probability, there is a 20%-30% chance that a request to review will be accepted by a reviewer. The reason why a book is not accepted is wide and varied. Many of our reviewers have a backlog that they would like to clear before accepting new assignments, or the subject matter is not one that interests any of them.
What I like to see in a request is not “hype” but rather a brief resumé of the contents of the book, who the author is, if the book is published by a main stream publisher or is it self-published, and if the book is available on Amazon. Bookpleasures also conducts e-interviews with some authors, and if the author is open to have himself or herself interviewed, please indicate.
If you are a publicist or publisher, don’t be afraid to put Bookpleasures as well as other book reviewing sites on your emailing list. You never know when something catches our eyes. Sometimes you may be publicizing a particular book, and our reviewers will look to your site and see something else that interests them.
As for the time frame, this all depends on the reviewer. Anywhere from one week to three months is the norm. You can ask the reviewer to give you some idea as to his or her time frame. You can also inquire as to his or her credentials. Bookpleasures does provide links to the reviewers’ site that should give you some idea as to their experience.
I do hope this is of help to some of you.
Norm Goldman is a free lance book reviewer and travel writer. He is editor of Bookpleasures.com, a book reviewing site, and sketchandtravel.com, a travel site that melds words with art.
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Get Your Book Published
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Visit More Learning Sites:
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Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
Visit More Learning Sites:
inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
Home Renovating
I've started to blog on home renovating, and was surprised to find out how popular the topic has become. Not only did the niche give me a chance to explore what is out there for Do-It-Yourself home improvement buffs, but it also introduced me to some really unique ideas.
I am always telling writers that there is a niche out there waiting for a writer. Most writers quit to soon and pick something common. They then wonder why they don't make money.
Well, you'll never believe what I found today: Sectional Garages. That is right, these garages come in pieces and are put together, in the same way a closet organizer is assembled - sort of.
If I lived in the UK, I would own one. Our garage is the last major project in our house. It would be nice to slip something simple into our yard. It would save us so much time and money. I am just getting a little tired of dealing with trades people. There are only so many times a person can listen to their excuses why you can't have what you want, why you must pay more, and why they 'won't be in next week.'
It would be nice to have something that will look just like the picture, and can be installed quickly without having to endure more trades people and their excuses.
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A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned
The Internet has given ordinary people the opportunity to work form their homes, create passive income streams - and save money. I never forget to balance my blogs on work at home opportunities without reminding people that generating wealth involves more than bringing money in.
In many ways, wealth can be saved. When I bought my Dell, I used a dell coupon that came from an online 'code' from a site like WebbyPlanet.com. I saved $300, which at that time was about 2 weeks income. I also wrote the computer off.
The online coupon stores provide coupons for the regular purchases you need, from the hardware store to the software store.
Quote: ''There are so many online marketplaces out there, but we feel that WebbyPlanet.com is really the only one that gives consumers thousands of useful discounts and ensures they pay less for the things they love.''
So, stop before shopping next time and pick 3 ways that you are going to save money that day - you'll be surprised how much extra 'wealth' you will accumulate over the next year.
These are my thoughts. I thank webbyplanet.com for offering to sponsor this post.
In many ways, wealth can be saved. When I bought my Dell, I used a dell coupon that came from an online 'code' from a site like WebbyPlanet.com. I saved $300, which at that time was about 2 weeks income. I also wrote the computer off.
The online coupon stores provide coupons for the regular purchases you need, from the hardware store to the software store.
Quote: ''There are so many online marketplaces out there, but we feel that WebbyPlanet.com is really the only one that gives consumers thousands of useful discounts and ensures they pay less for the things they love.''
So, stop before shopping next time and pick 3 ways that you are going to save money that day - you'll be surprised how much extra 'wealth' you will accumulate over the next year.
These are my thoughts. I thank webbyplanet.com for offering to sponsor this post.
I Think I Need An Agent
I choose articles that I believe will benefit my readers. For every one I choose, there are 10 I overlook. However, sometimes I find an article that really impresses me. This article gives writers a 'realistic' look at the publishing world.
Your initial manuscript is complete. Maybe it's even been shelved for a period of time. You may have sent the manuscript to a publisher, but it never really went anywhere. You really believe in the book, but are tired of hitting the roadblock that reads, "No unsolicited manuscripts".
Maybe what you need is a literary agent; one who believes in you and your work and will represent that belief to appropriate publishers. You conduct an online search and find several agents and agencies available, but you have no idea what to do next.
It is true that many authors who utilize the services of a literary agent may still have little publishing success, but by utilizing an agent you may be able to find a few more doors open.
There is a cautionary tale in all of this. You see, there are many 'agents' who will ask for a fee (sometimes called a readers fee) to review your manuscript. If an agent asks for any fees up front they are not likely to be members of the Association of Authors' Representatives (AAR). This organization provides rules of conduct and ethics for literary agents.
One of the prime motivators for a literary agent is that they do not receive payment until/unless they actually sell your manuscript to a publisher. In this way they are as interested in seeing you succeed as you are. If they are paid up front they may be less inclined to market your work effectively.
If you are looking for an agent, check to see if they are a member of AAR. There are plenty of individuals who are making a significant living by receiving fees from clients they do not represent well.
There are several locations on the web that provide information on agents to avoid. One of the most comprehensive can be found at http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/peala.htm Another source for agent information is a writer's market guidebook (there are multiple directories available).
You should know that it is entirely possible to get your manuscript published without the use of an agent, but it will take more research from you.
You will also most likely need to sell yourself as well as your work to a qualified agent. Many agents are already working with established authors so they often find it difficult to bring new authors on board. It can be done - remain persistent.
Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of FaithWriters (http://www.faithwriters.com/) and many other web projects. FaithWriters has grown to become one of the largest online destinations for Christian writers. Please visit the website at: http://www.faithwriters.com/
----------------
Visit More Learning Sites:
inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
Your initial manuscript is complete. Maybe it's even been shelved for a period of time. You may have sent the manuscript to a publisher, but it never really went anywhere. You really believe in the book, but are tired of hitting the roadblock that reads, "No unsolicited manuscripts".
Maybe what you need is a literary agent; one who believes in you and your work and will represent that belief to appropriate publishers. You conduct an online search and find several agents and agencies available, but you have no idea what to do next.
It is true that many authors who utilize the services of a literary agent may still have little publishing success, but by utilizing an agent you may be able to find a few more doors open.
There is a cautionary tale in all of this. You see, there are many 'agents' who will ask for a fee (sometimes called a readers fee) to review your manuscript. If an agent asks for any fees up front they are not likely to be members of the Association of Authors' Representatives (AAR). This organization provides rules of conduct and ethics for literary agents.
One of the prime motivators for a literary agent is that they do not receive payment until/unless they actually sell your manuscript to a publisher. In this way they are as interested in seeing you succeed as you are. If they are paid up front they may be less inclined to market your work effectively.
If you are looking for an agent, check to see if they are a member of AAR. There are plenty of individuals who are making a significant living by receiving fees from clients they do not represent well.
There are several locations on the web that provide information on agents to avoid. One of the most comprehensive can be found at http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/peala.htm Another source for agent information is a writer's market guidebook (there are multiple directories available).
You should know that it is entirely possible to get your manuscript published without the use of an agent, but it will take more research from you.
You will also most likely need to sell yourself as well as your work to a qualified agent. Many agents are already working with established authors so they often find it difficult to bring new authors on board. It can be done - remain persistent.
Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of FaithWriters (http://www.faithwriters.com/) and many other web projects. FaithWriters has grown to become one of the largest online destinations for Christian writers. Please visit the website at: http://www.faithwriters.com/
----------------
Visit More Learning Sites:
inspiredauthor
Get Your Book Published
Get Paid To Write
How I Built a Career
Homeschooling
I've noticed that a lot of work at home parents homeschool their children. It has been that way for a long time. I worked at home before it was 'in' and a common thing. When I started, a work at home mom meant selling Avon or plastic storage containers.
I homeschooled my son without the resources available today. I found St Gabriel's Catholic Academy on the net.
This is a teacher supported online school for homeschooled students. They offer affordable tuition that includes the course materials for K-grade 12. I wish I found this site 5 years ago. I had to put my son in high school because there was no resources at the time for him.
This is a very religious based school, which I don't see as a bad thing. We took 'God' out of the public schools and look what happened. The best schools in the world for 200 years are now turning out the worst students. I read an article a few months ago that claimed only 10% of USA students were able to find their country on a map.
Add this to the fact that a large portion of students graduate while still illiterate, and it becomes imperative that we start taking our children's futures in our own hands.
I don't regret homeschooling my son. He is 17 years old, able to keep a set of business books, and has started his own business. Not bad while most of his peers are still unable to maintain a study and chore schedule without their parents help.
I homeschooled my son without the resources available today. I found St Gabriel's Catholic Academy on the net.
This is a teacher supported online school for homeschooled students. They offer affordable tuition that includes the course materials for K-grade 12. I wish I found this site 5 years ago. I had to put my son in high school because there was no resources at the time for him.
This is a very religious based school, which I don't see as a bad thing. We took 'God' out of the public schools and look what happened. The best schools in the world for 200 years are now turning out the worst students. I read an article a few months ago that claimed only 10% of USA students were able to find their country on a map.
Add this to the fact that a large portion of students graduate while still illiterate, and it becomes imperative that we start taking our children's futures in our own hands.
I don't regret homeschooling my son. He is 17 years old, able to keep a set of business books, and has started his own business. Not bad while most of his peers are still unable to maintain a study and chore schedule without their parents help.
Professionally Developed Websites
One of the most overlooked aspects of working at home which many people overlook. They will invest the business budget on all sorts of things - very few of them will generate an income.
The first rule of business management is 'spend your budget on tasks and marketing that generates an income.' But, understanding what generates an income can be difficult.
Vortex Solution is a Montreal Web design firm that provides Web Service like:
Design services; they create a website and an excellent strategy. Other people pay to learn how to create their own website.
The thing is - a static website will not generate income. And the 'low graphic' may be good for the SEO optimize experts - who know very little about generating income, just bringing the masses to a website.
I have heard many people say 'I do not have money to invest.' That is because they don't spend money. For example, I buy traffic. 10 000 hits earns me $55 - $80 and costs $12. That is income. But, I wouldn't make any money if the traffic wasn't driving people to a website that interested them.
So the next time you are thinking about 'earning money,' do not pay another $1000 to learn the next best secrets. Instead, invest in an Internet marketing that will generate an income for your business.
The first rule of business management is 'spend your budget on tasks and marketing that generates an income.' But, understanding what generates an income can be difficult.
Vortex Solution is a Montreal Web design firm that provides Web Service like:
Design services; they create a website and an excellent strategy. Other people pay to learn how to create their own website.
The thing is - a static website will not generate income. And the 'low graphic' may be good for the SEO optimize experts - who know very little about generating income, just bringing the masses to a website.
I have heard many people say 'I do not have money to invest.' That is because they don't spend money. For example, I buy traffic. 10 000 hits earns me $55 - $80 and costs $12. That is income. But, I wouldn't make any money if the traffic wasn't driving people to a website that interested them.
So the next time you are thinking about 'earning money,' do not pay another $1000 to learn the next best secrets. Instead, invest in an Internet marketing that will generate an income for your business.
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