The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published: How to Write It, Sell It, and Market It . . . Successfully
The best, most comprehensive book for writers is now completely revised and updated to address ongoing changes in publishing. Published in 2005 as Putting Your Passion Into Print, this is the book that’s been praised by both industry professionals (“Refreshingly honest, knowledgeable and detailed. . . . An invaluable resource”—Jamie Raab, publisher, Grand Central Publishing) and bestselling authors (“A must-have for every aspiring writer.”—Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner). With its...
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The best, most comprehensive book for writers is now completely revised and updated to address ongoing changes in publishing. Published in 2005 as Putting Your Passion Into Print, this is the book that’s been praised by both industry professionals (“Refreshingly honest, knowledgeable and detailed. . . . An invaluable resource”—Jamie Raab, publisher, Grand Central Publishing) and bestselling authors (“A must-have for every aspiring writer.”—Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner). With its extensive coverage of e-books, self-publishing, and online marketing, The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published is more vital than ever for anyone who wants to mine that great idea and turn it into a successfully published book. Written by experts with thirteen books between them as well as many years’ experience as a literary agent (Eckstut) and a book doctor (Sterry), this nuts-and-bolts guide demystifies every step of the publishing process: how to come up with a blockbuster title, create a selling proposal, find the right agent, understand a book contract, develop marketing and publicity savvy, and, if necessary, self-publish. There’s new information on how to build up a following (and even publish a book) online; the importance of a search-engine-friendly title; producing a video book trailer; and e-book pricing and royalties. Includes interviews with hundreds of publishing insiders and authors, including Seth Godin, Neil Gaiman, Amy Bloom, Margaret Atwood, Larry Kirshbaum, Leonard Lopate, plus agents, editors, and booksellers; sidebars featuring real-life publishing success stories; sample proposals, query letters, and a feature-rich website and community for authors.
Introduction xvPart I Setting Up ShopChapter 1 Writing The Right Idea 3The Economics of Publishing 3Judging Your Idea 6Writers in Search of Ideas 18What's Next? 19Chapter 2 A World Wide Wonderland 20The New Platform 21Social Networking for Luddites 24The Four-Step e-Program 30The Apple of Your Eye 60Chapter 3 The Perfect Package 61Selecting Your Dream Team 61Models for Success 62Getting Titular: Titles and Subtitles 64Perfecting Your Pitch 66The Facts About the Fiction Proposal 71The Nonfiction Proposal 72The Value of Good Readers 97Picking Partners: "Help, I Need Somebody!" 99Prepare Your Package for Liftoff 103Chapter 4 Locating, Luring and Landing the Right Agent 104Do You Really Have to Have an Agent? 105Locating an Agent 107Luring the Agent 113Landing the Big Kahuna 123John Hancocking: Signing an Agency Contract 127What's Next? 129Chapter 5 Demystifying Submission 130Agent Relations: Snarling Snafus and Scary Silences 130Sending Your Brave Little Book Out into the World 137The Agony and Ecstasy of "Interest" 139Sending Your Book Directly to Publishers 146Going Direct to Your Readers 153And in Conclusion … 154Chapter 6 Rejection Section 155Rejection Rules 156To Learn or Not to Learn 158Taking Action 164Part II Taking Care of BusinessChapter 7 Let's Make A Deal! 167The Selling of Your Book 167Sifting Wheat from Chaff: The Right Publisher for You 170Finding a Cowriter or Dumping the One You Have 176Negotiating Nuggets for Agentless Authors 177Get It in Writing: The Deal Memo 179Chapter 8 Contract Facts 181An Askance Glance at Your Advance 181The Reality of the Royalty 185Delivery: The First Step Toward Blissful Acceptance 190Copyright or Copywrong? 194The Many Faces of Subsidiary Rights 194Warranties and Indemnities: Publishers Covering Their Asse(t)s 198Author Copies: "You Mean I Have to Buy My Own Books?" 199Covering Your Cover 199Options for Your Option 200The Rules of Accounting 201Sign Here, Please … 201Someone Has to Write the Thing 202Chapter 9 Write Away! 203Getting Your Ducks in a Row so You Can Get Quacking 203Getting Started 216More Readers 220More on Outside Help 224Don't Let Running Out of Time Drive You Out of Your Mind 225Postpartum Depression 226One Last Thing Before You Turn It In 226Chapter 10 Working With Your Publisher 227Editor 101 229The Mother of All Meetings: The Launching of Your Book 244Preparing Your Book for Cataloging 249The Six Month Meeting 262The Sales Conference 265Making a Stink: When to Get Mad and When to Shut Up 267Enjoying the Ride 268Chapter 11 Publish Thyself 269Why Do You Want to Publish Your Book on Your Own? 270The Costs and Components of Self-Publishing 282Self-Publishing Roulette 287Publicity and Marketing 296Selling Your Book 298Live, Learn and Prosper 306Part III Getting the Word OutChapter 12 Prepub Publicity And Marketing 309Putting Yourself in Expert Hands 310Selling Yourself: An Overview 319To Tour or Not to Tour 346Preparing for Your First Interview 358Building Buzz 362Chapter 13 Launching Your Book and Keeping It Alive 363Your Pub Date 364Giving Away Books (Yes, That's Right, Giving Them Away) 365Connecting with Your Readers 367Bookstore Love 369Making an Eventful Event 373A Tour of Your Book Tour 385Back to Pitching and Hooking 395Book Club Heaven 399Awards As Buzz 400Keeping Your Book Ball Rolling 400The Golden Rules Are … 403Chapter 14 The Fine Art of Selling 404"How Many Copies Did You Say?" 405Back to the Bookstore 407Selling Books in Unexpected Places 413Sales on the Web 414Lovely, Luscious Libraries 417Back to School 417Rotten Returns 418The Last Word on Royalties 418Keep the Sales Train Rolling 421Chapter 15 Okay, What's Next? 422Don't Make the Same Mistake Twice 423Look at the Numbers 424Have the Next Idea Ready 425When to Send 427Th-Th-Th-That's All, Folks! 427Appendices 429Appendix I Great Books on Writing 431Appendix II Resources 433Appendix III Selected Publishers 439Appendix IV Standard Permission Form 448Appendix V Our Proposal for This Book 449Acknowledgments 465Index 469About The Authors 481
