| Let's talk about your book. Do you have an idea | | | | write long-hand because my mind moves faster |
| about what you want to write? Begin by | | | | than I can manipulate an ink pen. I can type |
| searching the market to see what else is already | | | | pretty fast so that is my preferred method. |
| out there on the subject. If you find that the | | | | Others swear long-hand is better. You decide. |
| market is flooded with books in that genre and | | | | Next, it's time to start thinking about how you will |
| yours will be another needled in the proverbial | | | | publish your book. When I wrote my first book, I |
| haystack, you may want to select a different | | | | knew very little about the writing industry and |
| topic to write about. If you decide to go ahead | | | | even less about publishing. My experience with |
| with your idea, you will need these market | | | | self-publishing was a great learning opportunity and |
| comparisons in your book proposal later on, so | | | | I gained knowledge that I now share with others. |
| grab the ISBN, price, binding type, publication year | | | | My second book was published by Booksurge-a |
| and place, and a short synopsis of the book. Save | | | | POD company that I would not recommend |
| this information in a word processing file. | | | | anyone using. The print quality is poor, getting |
| The next thing is to begin your book proposal. | | | | customer service is like pulling teeth and each |
| Yes, even before you write your book. It will give | | | | revision of my manuscript cost $50. It took a |
| you a clear idea of how you will want to organize | | | | friend of mine almost a year to get a printable |
| your thoughts and what you want to cover in the | | | | version of her manuscript into book form and |
| book. It can begin as an outline, but keep adding | | | | available through We both found that getting a |
| this material into the file for your book proposal. If | | | | vanity published book into a bricks and mortar |
| you can get a one- to two-sentence summary of | | | | bookstore was nearly impossible. Needless to say, |
| what your book is going to be about, you will | | | | we learned a lot from our experience. |
| have a home base for tying down all your | | | | By the time I started writing my third manuscript, |
| information. Everything you write will need to | | | | I had met Valerie Connelly. Valerie is the president |
| support that working summary. You may want to | | | | of Nightengale Press-an independent publisher who |
| pitch your book to a publisher before you actually | | | | utilizes the best methods of both commercial |
| finish the manuscript. This will give you an idea of | | | | press and POD technology. I contracted with |
| the interest that agents may have in your book. | | | | Nightengale before I ever wrote the first word of |
| Writing the book proposal is another entire matter | | | | my manuscript. Through Nightengale, an author's |
| and I will cover that later-perhaps in another | | | | book is available by order in all major bookstores |
| article. | | | | in the US through Ingram. |
| If you are writing a fiction work, you can let your | | | | There are a lot of technical details about writing a |
| mind begin to take you into the places and lives | | | | non-fiction book especially if a lot of research is |
| of the characters. As you flow with your | | | | required. I'm referring to footnotes, citing quotes |
| imagination, your creative inner muse will | | | | and formatting the bibliography. There's more to |
| practically write the book for you. It's important | | | | be discussed than I can possibly cover in one |
| to allow the ideas and images to flow unhindered. | | | | article. Therefore, if you need help with writing a |
| Don't stop to edit or even finish a sentence if it | | | | book, our team can help get your book written |
| means you will be side-tracked or lose an | | | | and ready for a publisher or literary agent. |
| incoming thought. I prefer to type rather than | | | | |