How To Write & Publish Your Book_8413

How To Write & Publish  Lorem ipsum daYdoilopoirsusciritnagBmeoleitto., k consectetuer John Brown Author Name

How To Write & Publish Your Book Published by Bookopedia  2020 The Author John Brown asserts the moral right to be identi ed as the sole author of this work.  All views are those of the author. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied or otherwise without the prior written consent of the author or agents A Bookopedia Compact Edition   Page 1

Contents Table Of Contents 3  Introduction   4  Why Do You Want To Be An Author   6   Set Up Your Manuscript   9  Publish Your Book    14  Errors & Corrections   15  Promotion & Marketing     16  Conclusion   Page 2

Introduction How do I become a published author ? This is probably the most commonly asked question by any budding author. There is no single answer to this question, like most things in life, it's a question of application and gained knowledge. However, there are several shortcuts that will ease your path to publication. Within this book I will offer you advice and tips to take you from rst base to publication.  The rst question I would ask at this stage is, why do you want to write and why do you want a published book ? This may appear on rst sight to be a rather odd question - bear with me, there is a purpose in asking such a fundamental question.  Are you looking for fame and fortune or do you simply enjoy the act of writing and look upon publication as the ful lment of your efforts. Think about this for a while, and I will give you some honest advice  in the following chapters.   Page 3

Why Do You Want To Be An Author ? This is rst question I would ask of any unpublished author. If you are looking for instant fame and fortune, you may be disappointed. Contrary to common belief, the book publishing industry is not some cosy club that welcomes new authors with open arms - on the contrary, it is hard-nosed, and often cruel in its treatment of budding talent. Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not some doom-monger out to suppress talent at every turn, quite the opposite, to survive as a writer, you have to have boundless optimism - in fact, almost to the point of masochism. What I am keen to do at this stage is to inject a sense of realism into the proceedings. The danger with all writers, is their isolation, because writing by its very nature is a solitary vocation. In fact, I can't really think of a more solitary occupation. The very nature of this isolation precludes that most important of all human needs - contact. And with that,  comes a lack of input or criticism. In short, no one to offer a few guiding words or advice - writers really do inhabit another world. If you think this is an exaggeration, just think how quickly an hour can pass while you are writing, does it feel more like ten minutes ? I rest my case. Most writers would obviously love to see their work on the shelves of a well known book shop - who wouldn't ? Such lofty achievement is hard won. What the vast majority of modern writers actually end up with, is a more limited product run and  a slot on Amazon or similar. Imagine for one moment you are the commissioning editor for a large publisher, how many manuscripts a week do you think cross their desks - collectively ? It's obviously in the hundreds - so what makes your work so special ?   Page 4

  In short, what is your USP. This is a question that has to be answered and only you can do that. The sooner you clearly de ne your goals as a writer, the more your chances of success. Discover what your speci c talent is best suited to. You may love sci- , or romance, perhaps travel or science is more to your liking. Choose something you enjoy. What is the point of labouring over a subject that brings little satisfaction or joy.  Your efforts will be better rewarded if your heart is in your work - your potential readers will spot a phoney straight away. There have been recorded instances in my own eld - Travel Writing, where the author has never visited the country he or she is writing about. They may think they've got away with it but the sheer lack of personal experiences shine through - you can't fool a clever reader. Once you have decided on your particular genre, take a close look at published writers in your chosen eld. A little time spent checking out their work can pay dividends in the long term. Are they writing a series of books, such as happens with crime novels, or is their work broader in approach. Maybe you are a factual based writer, writing about medicines, science or therapies. Then your premium concern has to be research and lots of it. Are current writers missing a trick, in short, is there an opening for your unique approach, if so, then exploit it for all its worth. Even small twists in a crowded marketplace can make the difference between a popular book or a  dummy. Last but certainly not least be ruthless with yourself. Be your own biggest critic, becauise if you'e not, the buying public will be.   Page 5

Set Up Your Manuscript Whether you decide to take the traditional route to publishing or opt for the popular self publishing option, one thing is paramount - the lay out of your BOOK. There are basic rules and good practice that will save you time and heartache in the long run, if applied at the start of your project. You will make mistakes along the way, we all do. What I will attempt to show you, is clear guidelines to avoid the more common ones. Keep this section handy and use it for repeat reference as you progress through your book set-up stage. The font: Choose your font wisely and apart from the copyright, content and disclaimer pages, use the same font throughout the book. Many people choose Times new Roman, I personally don't like it. I nd it a little stuffy and not the easiest for the reader. This book is set in Montserrat font. Put yourself in the readers situation. Find a font that is clear and easy on the eye. Avoid swirling or over-strong text, they are dif cult to read and add nothing to your work. A good exercise at this point, is, write a short paragraph - let's say six lines, then repeat the lines using three other fonts and print them on one sheet, this way, you will nd your font almost by default. Use a template Start off as you mean to go on. Using a set template from the start allow you to set your book as you write it, rather than writing the complete work then re-editing on a set template. There are several places where you can download a suitable template.   Page 6

  Introducing images Try and insert any images as you go along. The same reasons apply, it's so much easier to balance them out as part of your ongoing layout.  If you are using your own images, you can create a credit to yourself. Should you opt for any other images than your own, make sure you either have permission or if stated place a credit underneath - it's good practise. Assertion page: As the author, you need to assert your rights (see the right page at the beginning of this book). Here you can date it etc. Table of contents Set up your contents page and edit as you increase your page count. Double check your page numbers against the chapters when your book is complete. There is nothing worse than going to press, then discovering the two don't marry up. Front cover: If you have a front cover image it's probably worth including it at this stage. This can be modi ed or changed at a later date but it does help you get a feel of your nished product. There are numerous websites where you can purchase a good looking cover without breaking the bank. Spend a little time n this project, you really don't want a great book let down by a poor cover. Credits page If you have received help or advice along the way, then, it's always a nice touch to mention those contributors. this is also a good time to include any dedications to partners , children or relatives. something that is often forgotten   Page 7

  Set Up a word count: A word count is invaluable at this stage. If you are writing a full novel, they average between 70 & 100,000 words - info books and e books are usually far less.  Bibliography: If your work is very factual and heavily researched, you may wish to include a bibliography within the nal pages. Please be careful. Ensure you keep a running list as you write your book - for example, if you are writing about King George ll, note every mention and the page on which his name appears. Believe me when I tell you, that, failure to do so will land you with the biggest headache you can imagine - keep a list, even if if the bibliography only runs to say - 100 words. Indents: At one time they were always included at the start of any paragraph, and not to do so was frowned upon. The rules are now far more relaxed, we didn't use then on this book. I think a lot of the change in attitude has been due in no small way to the proliferation of e books. The choice is yours. Page size: Again, this is best set up at the start. Re-editing and sizing is a monster pain at the end of your work, far better to set it clearly now. Templates  As previously mentioned there are many templates to be had on the web - some paid, some free. However, it's worth mentioning at this stage, that if you are going down the self publishing route, that amazon kindle and Mobi are perfect for print ready templates.   Page 8

Publishing Your Book   Traditional Publishing What  do we mean by traditional publishing ? For generations all books, no matter what topic were handled by established publishing houses such as Random House, Collins and a host of others. All that changed with the arrival of ebooks and electronic type setting. The publishers are still there, and following a couple of uncertain years, it's fair to say that printed books are back with a bang. What has changed however is the writer's access to publishers. There is literally no chance of an author making a direct submission to a publishing house - you need an agent. This in itself has become, yet one more stumbling block on the road to that publishing deal. So here's the rub, how do you nd an agent to take on your manuscript? The answer, with a hell of a lot of effort and persistence. Be prepared to keep sending out your manuscript to as many relevant agents as possible. A good tip at this point is to purchase a copy of the 'Writers & Artists Year Book'. this is your bible for contacting publishers and agents. Study it, it will serve you well. Ensure you do your homework, the WAYB will show a brief synopsis of the works each agent deals with. In short, there is no point in sending off your manuscript on history, if the agent is listed for sport. If you are lucky enough to nd an agent, he or she then has to nd you a publisher. As you can imagine this can be a lengthy process. My rst agent took 15 months to nd, then he spent two years looking for a publisher. Patience is the key   Page 9

    This is where it is vital to have followed the advice for print set up. No agent will look at a scruffy presentation, even less likely will be the publisher. If you are writing a business guide, then you are in for an even bigger shock, as far back as eight years ago, publishers were demanding up front costs for all but the best known names in this area of publication. In addition, they were seeking costs for the initial print runs - hence why so many business authors have taken the self-publishing route. If you are lucky enough to nd a publisher, allow approx 9-12 months before your book hits the shops. Publishing houses work on premium release date - summer & winter. The Christmas period is obviously the big one for book releases. Your rst meeting and contract offer may be in February, by the time they have edited your work, formulated the cover and prepared for press, you may already be heading for June, hence, your book would probably be sold in to the trade in September, in time for Christmas.  The other major advantage of having a publisher is, all the selling to book shops and listing on-line is done for you, as is the general promotional activity.  Royalties: What can you expect to earn ? If you do sign a publishing deal, ask the one question so many authors don't - what will I earn. This amount varies, but as a guide, on a book retailing at say £7.99, you should be grossing close to £2.00.   Page 10

  Get your agent to explain the full price breakdown. There are agents fees to consider, are these taken at source or from your gross royalties. Questions such as these are far better clari ed sooner rather than later. Don't be afraid to ask. It's your talent and time that's created your masterpiece - you want paying for it. Think of your manuscript as your calling card. You wouldn't offer anyone in business a scruffy, torn business card. Why then would you expect a literary agent to even look at a badly worked manuscript? He or she doesn't have a clue who you are - the old adage that rst impressions are longest lasting, has never been more appropriate.  What you should be presenting to your prospective agent is -  A brief outline of yourself (not too lengthy),  The rst two pages of your book,  The last page A brief synopsis of the book.  This will be adequate - don't, I repeat don't send a full manuscript, it won't be read. In fact, it will be either returned unread or promptly thrown in a bin. So, to recap: Get a copy of the Writers & Artists Find an agent (use the above guide) Who will promote your work to a publisher   Then wait   Page 11

  Self Publishing This area of publishing falls into two distinct camps. The rst appointed self publishing or as it's sometimes titled - Vanity Publishing. The second is totally independent publishing. Appointed self publishing  is exactly what the term describes, you appoint a company or individual to take your manuscript. There is of course a fee for this input and prices can vary from as little as £200.00 to £4,000 +.  Once your fee has been paid (it's usually up front) they should carry out the following on your behalf. Spell check and edit Formulate the book Assist you with your choice of cover (extra charge) Discuss your preferred sales platform - eg amazon & amazon kindle, Mobi pocket etc. Create a nished, downloadable book Present the nished article to your chosen sales platform At this point, it's worth bearing in mind that just because you pay more, doesn't always mean you will get the best - do your homework. Some of the larger self-publishers can be quite pushy, that normally means even more costs. I would hesitate to suggest anyone at this point but there are some very reputable smaller companies out there. Also, bear in mind that using such a publishing company can seriously damage your nal royalty gure - ask for a complaete breakdown before you sign anything or hand over any cash.   Page 12

  Please bear in mind that few of these publishers will include any promotion or marketing in their publishing package - if they do, it can be very expensive because of the time involved.  Also, even though they published your work and it's on-line, that doesn't mean it will be in any high st shop - that is down to you. Your book should carry an ISBN number (barcode), this is your key to onward selling through the book trade. Truly Independent Publishing This means you are truly on your own. You will be responsible for all the above processes. The best way forward is to create your own publishing or product brand, this will set the tone later for both on- line sales and retail supply. Readers like to see a publishing name. You will need a reasonable  degree of computer skills  to achieve this task. That said, amazon and mobi etc offer a good set-up guide that will walk you through the process. Once again, the rewards from this method of publishing are not always that great. Because amazon are both printers and distributors of your book, you take two hits. I have had personal experience of selling one book with them, the result was, a book selling at £7.99, netted me just 0.98p - not very impressive. Check out the costing of both amazon and others before you jump in. This is a numbers game, if you can sell enough copies, then it could work out - and there's no bigger platform for your book than amazon. The real beauty of this method is, there are no upfront costs and any updates are also cost free. Pity about the low royalties.   Page 13

Errors & Corrections I have to admit, that, the worst feeling in the world is receiving your newly printed book, and suddenly realising there's an error or typo'. Don't panic, it happens to the best of us, and even in the books of some top authors. It's worth examining the following - take an average novel, it will have approx 80,000 pages. A one percent error would be 800 mistakes, we are talking about one or two errors, I can't even work out the percentages. As mentioned, the beauty of total self publishing is, you can rectify any errors almost at once. Unlike paid for or traditional publishing, where all your work goes through a third party printer - here even the smallest error could cost you approx £100.00 to correct - so please take your time at the editing stage. One tip some authors swear by is, once you completed your manuscript, simply wall away from it for a few days. Working continually  at the keyboard - you become almost word blind. Try it, you come back refreshed and mistakes glare at you.   Page 14

Promotion & Marketing Now  we come to the juicy bit ! You can have the best book in the world but if nobody nds it, then it's the best unread book in the world. The brutal truth is, unless you are with a reputable publishing house, and they have undertaken all you basic PR, then you have some work to do. The good news is, if you are active within social media, you can achieve some rather impressive results. Choose your media to re ect the age demographic. Instagram is young 14 -30 age group. Twitter is far wider, though can be very harsh in response etc. Facebook has undergone somewhat of a revival of late. If you have the right set up, you can create good shop links or web links - eg directly to amazon pages. Pinterest is 60% female driven - great for novels or cookbooks. If your book has been correctly set up to include the ISBN cod and retail price, you can contact your local book shops and twist their arm to stock you book. This area of work is time consuming and needs determination and patience, that said, it's not impossible to sell a fair number of copies this way, particularly if your book has local twist to it - say historical interest of location. Don't forget local papers or even radio stations if you have a story to tell. You really can't have too much publicity. I always gave myself an 8 week window prior to publication - this gives newspapers a great advance to play with. They may not have a space to ll just now but in 3 weeks time, you may make a great ller - try it.   Page 15

  You really have to learn the art of self promotion, some of it will fall at, some of it may bear fruit - if you don't try you'll never know. Dependant upon your topic, there are countless societies and clubs that will welcome a free speech at their next event. Prepare a basic speech, throw in some one-liners, don't forget to smile and take some copies of your book. If you have the knowledge, set up a basic website. They don't have to cost a fortune, in fact some will offer a four page set up for free. All you need then is to register you domain. This is worth doing before you go to press, as you can include the website address at the rear of your book. This is also helpful if you already have other work to promote, as you can list all previous work and where it can be found. You may want to include a news page or blog - this can stimulate readership and future loyalty.     Page 16

Conclusion  Apologies if I have been a little brutal with you - but the plain truth is, so many people go into the whole process with rose-tinted glasses. Do that and the learning curve can be painful and expensive.   I hope I have been able to impart solid, unbiased advice that you can build upon to kick-start or further your writing career. We all want to see our work in print, we all want to be proud of the end result.   Some of you may be offered that elusive book deal, many of you will be simply happy to see your work out there for consumption. As I said at the beginning of this guide - think why you want to be an author - that will be your touchstone.    Good Luck !   Page 17

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