| How do I get published?" is a question I'm often | | | | a following. You have to demonstrate that a lot |
| asked as a publishing coach. People have an idea | | | | of people already know you and read you. |
| for a book, and dream on being on a talk show | | | | That's why I tell new authors to start a blog, and |
| like Oprah''s. So, how do you take those first | | | | start "testing" their ideas on a blog. If you have a |
| steps toward the dream? | | | | large following of blog readers, this can impress a |
| The first step is to have a great idea. This may | | | | traditional publisher. |
| not be as obvious as it seems. Your book has to | | | | Of course, you can always go the "New Era |
| be a combination of several key ingredients: | | | | publishing" route, and that's to partner with a |
| 1. It has to have great appeal to a certain | | | | publisher that offers publishing services. Be careful, |
| audience (not everyone, but certain specific kinds | | | | though; it's not always obvious who the legitimate |
| of people). A book on fitness in general is not as | | | | "partnership publishers" are and who are the |
| publishable as a book on fitness for working | | | | "subsidy" or vanity publishers that will publish |
| moms. The more general audience books are for | | | | anyone and do nothing to help you market your |
| the well-established names in a field, not for new | | | | book. I did an interview with Terry Whalin on |
| authors. (This tip alone could make you more | | | | publishing in general and this new model in |
| publishable.) | | | | particular that can help you figure out what is |
| 2. Your approach to your topic has to be fresh in | | | | what. |
| some way. "What makes your book unique?" is a | | | | There's also a book called The Fine Print of |
| key question. | | | | Publishing by Mark Levine that goes over publishing |
| The second step is to understand publishing today | | | | contracts of 45 of these "publishing services" |
| and how it works. | | | | companies. Though it's nto exhaustive, it does |
| Publishing has been undergoing a massive sea | | | | point you to many of the better-known |
| change, especially in the past three years. These | | | | companies and shows what to look for an avoid. |
| days it's very difficult to take the traditional | | | | Publishing is a complicated bag today. On the one |
| publishing path, in which you get a publisher to | | | | hand, it's easier than ever to publish a book--if |
| take on all the costs of publishing and pay you a | | | | you have some capital and some good guidance. |
| royalty (percentage of sales--usually 7.5% of | | | | On the other, it's more difficult than ever to go |
| what they get after they give the bookstores | | | | the "traditional publisher" or royalty publisher route |
| their 55% discount). Publishers just don't want to | | | | because publishers are cutting back and very risk |
| take the financial risk of publishing an author | | | | aversive. |
| unless the author can practically guarantee they | | | | But if publishing a book is your dream, take heart! |
| can sell a lot of books, because the author | | | | It can be done, now more than ever. Clarify that |
| already has a large following (called an author | | | | great idea, and do a little research on the |
| "platform"). | | | | publishing scene. As Winston Churchill said, "Never, |
| So nowadays, you not only have to have a great | | | | never, never, never, NEVER give up! |
| idea, you have to demonstrate you already have | | | | |