| We spend a lot of time talking about how to | | | | your heart out onto the (electronic) pages before |
| deliver your message verbally to your audience. | | | | you, the next step is to get yourself published. |
| However, there's a lot more to communications | | | | Thankfully, Neil is once again here to help us out. |
| than just the spoken word. For your typical | | | | He points out that here in the 21st Century there |
| do-it-once-and-it's-over internal business | | | | are a number of ways to get your message |
| presentation, the actual delivery is enough - do it | | | | book published. Its actually pretty easy to publish |
| well and then move on. But what about those | | | | a book yourself. Somewhat tellingly this is called |
| presentations that you REALLY care about - the | | | | "vanity publishing". However, let's spend some |
| ones in which you'd like to change the world...? | | | | time talking about the more difficult road to |
| There's a lot of different ways to make your | | | | traditional publishing. |
| presentations have a life after you've gotten | | | | Neil tells us that here's what you are going to |
| done giving them. Podcasts, videos, etc. are cheap | | | | have to do in order to get the attention of a |
| and easy to do these days. However, I think that | | | | traditional publisher: |
| if you are really trying to get your message | | | | |
| across, then the written word is your most | | | | 1. Do Some Research: off you go to your local |
| powerful tool. That my friend means that you | | | | Borders store. Find out where your book, once |
| just might have to write a book... | | | | published, would be displayed. See what's already |
| Write a book you say? Not me! I'm no J.K. | | | | there. How would your book be different? Make |
| Rowling or Steven King. Hey, you don't have to | | | | sure that it would be different! |
| be - you just have to have something interesting | | | | 2. Propose!: Create a 10-25 page (double spaced) |
| to tell your audience and the words will flow out | | | | business proposal that tells a prospective publisher |
| of you. | | | | why they should publish your book. It's good to |
| Neil Chethik is a published author who also works | | | | get help on this and the book How to Write a |
| with others to help them get their books | | | | Book Proposal is a good place to start. |
| published. If you really care about the message | | | | 3. Do You Need An Agent?: This one is pretty |
| that you are trying to communicate, then perhaps | | | | simple - if you want one of the 25 biggest |
| we need to spend just a few moments listening | | | | publishing companies to publish your book, then |
| to what Neil has to tell us about getting a book | | | | you need an agent. If you can live with being |
| published. | | | | published by a smaller shop or a university press, |
| If you care enough about your message, then Neil | | | | then you can just send your book proposal to |
| says that there are three things that you need to | | | | them directly. |
| think about when you are writing things down: | | | | 4. Pick An Agent: book agents get about 15% of |
| | | | anything that you make. Just like when finding a |
| 1. What is going to make your book unique (there | | | | real estate agent, pick carefully. |
| are a lot of other books out there!) | | | | 5. Personalize It: After you've picked the agent |
| 2. What makes you so special that you are the | | | | that you want, create a personalized letter to |
| best person to write this book (you are the best | | | | include with the manuscript that you are sending |
| person, now figure out why...) | | | | to them. It has to make them want to read your |
| 3. What are you going to do to make this book | | | | manuscript - make it interesting and watch your |
| appear to have value for the audience of readers | | | | spelling! |
| that you want to buy or obtain this book? If you | | | | 6. Get A Lawyer!: Because I know that you are |
| can make sure that your writing answers all three | | | | going to be successful, please get a lawyer |
| of these questions, then you are getting close | | | | BEFORE you sign any agreement with an agent. |
| having a published book. Once you have poured | | | | You don't want to get taken to the cleaners here! |