ComputerHunter.org |
|
|
|||
|
 |
Five Secrets of Winning Book Proposals
Working in the publishing industry comes with a high expectation, especially from complete strangers. After the causal 'hello' progresses to 'what do you do,' and my answer is 'I am a publisher,' the words, like fairy dust, work magic; and in the eyes of my conversation partner, I'm transformed into a glamorous Advice Goddess-would I mind reading this stranger's book proposal? Cornered in frozen foods at the grocery, black-tie events or at the bus stop, I've been 'pitched' as we say in the business, with such book proposals as: A Cat's Tale of Christmas; Old Testament Aphrodisiacs; Break Out (after being committed to a mental institution by jealous relatives, the story of one man's quest for revenge); and Suck it and See: A Guide to Tropical Fruits. Admittedly, I chose to share with you the more colorful examples. My point being that the purpose of a proposal pitch is not to motivate the publisher to love the idea as much as you do. That's the misconception. The publisher is listening for signals that you understand the process of transforming a book concept into a business plan. It's not just about your passion for the topic: it's how well you filter your passion through the publisher's prism of marketing and distribution. That's the difference between a contract and a polite rejection letter. Let's take a look at five typical questions that an agent or a publisher will ask in their submission guidelines. Question #1: Please provide the title that best captures and conveys the essence of your book and briefly explain why you chose it. What the publisher is really thinking: Will the book buyer for Barnes & Noble recognize the section to shelve the book by its title alone? Is the title's message succinct and snappy so the publisher's sales representative will remember it easily? How does the rest of proposal support what the title says? Question #2: Briefly describe the primary audience for your book and how they will benefit from reading it. What the publisher is really thinking: The book cannot be all things to all people. Do you demonstrate focus? Are you confident about who the customer is and the primary (most appropriate) category where the book should be placed in the bookstore? Do you provide three distinct benefits that relate to the book's core premise? Question #3: List competing books that you are aware of on this topic and explain how your book differs. What the publisher is really thinking: How do you demonstrate that your premise is solid in relation to existing books? Will the publisher's sales representatives understand where your book fits among five other books in the same category? Do you contradict what the book is or is not elsewhere in the proposal? Question #4: What are your expectations for the project? What the publisher is really thinking: Do you sound like you expect to make a million dollars and plan to retire on your royalty earnings? Is your goal to raise the level of topic discussion and to advance your profile as a thought leader? How realistic are you about the work involved to write the book from start to finish? Question #5: Describe your qualifications for writing this book and include your latest curriculum vitae or other relevant factors. What the publisher is really thinking: Several proposals are discussed during a publisher's editorial board meeting. Why say 'yes' to yours? What is your media platform? How are you going to be an asset in marketing and promoting the book? What's your track record? If you are now thinking about you book concept as a business plan, bravo! This is the foundation for a solid beginning; and, I encourage you to continue forward. High-quality books written by people who are committed to excellence (in any sphere of living) are in short supply. Adopt the publisher's perspective-how will it sell and to whom-and you will not only become a published author. You will make a difference in the world. Melissa Rosati is a co-active coach, whose clients are writers, authors and creative artists. Prior to her coaching career, she was the Director, Editorial & Production for McGraw-Hill International (UK). She now resides in New York City. Her forthcoming book, The Essential Publisher's Handbook shows readers how to publish profitably. Register for a complimentary subscription to her newsletter, The Essential Publisher at http://www.melissarosati.com © 2005 Melissa A. Rosati. All rights reserved.
Google News - Top Stories
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Speaking for a Publication Why write a book and get attention and loads of contacts? Is There a Book Hiding Inside You? Have you always wanted to write? Ready, Set, Go Sell Your Book In The Real World! We hear a lot these days about more books actually being sold 'outside' the traditional bookstore. Think about it. When was the last time you actually took time to linger and explore the bookshelves? When did you last impulsively grab a book, flip it over, read the blurbs, and finger through a few chapters? Let's face it, most of us are too hurried. Why Testimonials are Number One in Selling your Book or Service Even if your book or service is excellent, they won't sell well unless you give your potential customers a reason to buy. Testimonials work harder than other promotional words, so be sure to start early collecting them. Know These Five Audiences to Write a Top Selling Book To create a saleable book you need to know your preferred audience or audiences before you write your book. This essential "hot-selling point" helps you write focused, organized, and compelling copy your audience will appreciate and talk about. How to Get Your Book Reviewed Imagine your book at the top of the Best Sellers List of the New York Times. Most authors do. The question is, "How do I get it there and sell millions of copies?" Media Events for Book Promotion "How do I set up a media event?" -- As a publisher, that's a good question to have an answer for. How to Market Your Unsold Books on the Internet: Its Easy Your book expresses your wondrous information, your creativity, and your genius. It's your dream come true. Or is it? You have already tried a few venues--maybe an expo, book signings, press releases, book reviews, distributors, wholesalers, speaking and book tours. Promotion - Credibility Extras For many of us, marketing our titles is one of the most tedious tasks of being an author. Even authors who published with large New York houses are expected to take part in marketing and promotion. Many articles and several books have been written to give us guidelines. One thing all marketing experts stress is the importance of being professional. Spend a Little Time, Get Free Books Online There's just something so gratifying about owning your own books and creating an in-home library. Not only does book ownership provide you with hours, and hours of escape and enrichment, a well-stocked library is a great heirloom for future generations. FSBO Author believes in Bookswaps Hi Noel, 10 Reasons Why People Attend Book Signings This is the survey result of 325 people conducted by myself so I can improve at my own book signings. After completing the survey, I saw the wealth of insight it had given me. I felt it was important to share it with a wider audience. I also interspersed some personal experiences. Colour and Book Covers - What You Should Know if Youre Self-Publishing Color is tricky at the best of times. If you want exact color management (such as a particular shade of blue for a university logo) you really should use something called spot color. Spot colors are specially mixed ink colors. Like the paint you purchase for your walls, the spot colors, or PMS colors (PMS stands for Pantone Matching System), are mixed according to pre-determined recipes. Each color in the PMS spectrum has an assigned number. When a client picks a number, the ink is mixed according to that recipe. It's usually more expensive than process color printing. Self Publishing Success Starts With Marketing Self-publishing is not for the faint of heart. The publication process is lengthy, involves a considerable number of detailed, administrative tasks and can be expensive. This is the easy part; the real challenge involves "S & M" ? sales and marketing. Why Would I Buy Your Book? Six Steps to Your Tell and Sell - Part 1 How would you like to have countless people clamoring for your book and willing to visit your Web site to buy them? How would you even like to presell your self-published book before they are finished? 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. How to Make Money With Your Short Stories, Poems, Essays, and Novels Recently, someone rated my "Online Book Marketing" article a 2 out of 5. That person apparently didn't like the article. My guess is that he or she was turned off by the marketing angle. Writers write; they don't sell. Some writers even view the concept of selling or marketing their work as somehow inherently wrong. Sell Your Book with Pennies Three Powerful Tips on Selecting a Book Topic that Sells The topic of your book or eBook counts-big time. Which would you buy-The Art of Kissing or The Art of Courtship? The kissing book sold over 60,500 while the other sold only 17,500 copies. Before you choose your topic pay attention to your audience. What do they want and need? What will they be willing to pay for your information? How to Create an Amazing Author Website Without a website, an author is unknown. Without a website, an author sells fewer books. Without a website, an author has limited web presence. Without a website, an author has limited media presence. Without a website, an author can't maximize his or her creativity, expertise and talent.
|
|
|
|
|
