"Don't Hire Me": 2 Cautions

Before I try to dissuade you from hiring me, I'll tell you what I do for clients seeking to publish a book:

• If you're seeking a contract with a traditional publisher, I review your book proposal, and coach you on how to strengthen it.

• If you're planning to self-publish, I offer a developmental edit of your book, which is the first of several edits you'll need on the road to publication.

But I don't want you to hire me to do either of those things without counting the cost.

1. Traditional publishing

Authors are submitting proposals with compelling ideas and beautifully written prose, but if he/she doesn't have a "platform" to help a publisher sell that book, publishers often have to say "no."

What that means, practically, is that you need to be reaching readers right now, in any variety of ways: blogging, speaking, social media, publishing articles, etc. (Check out Michael Hyatt's book Platform for ideas about building yours.)

Sometimes a smaller publisher can take a chance on an author with a smaller platform, if they really believe in what you're writing, but those opps are few and far between.

2. Self-Publishing

Front end: I want you to know that self-publishing requires a sizeable investment of money for a developmental edit, line edit, proofreaders, cover design, interior design, printing, etc.

Back end: When you choose to self-publish, you become responsible for selling every single book. Don't choose this path without having a clear plan about how you'll sell those books.

If you have any questions, visit wordmelon.com to send me a message. I am FOR you.

4 Things You Can't Not Know Before You Self-Publish

Whenever I have a client who’s self-publishing, especially those who are just dipping their toe into the world of publishing for the first time, there is a host of information I want them to know. I can’t communicate all of it, but here’s what you can’t not know:

1.    Editing Process

When a contracted manuscript is submitted to a traditional publisher, the process will typically involve:

·      One or two rounds of developmental editing

·      A round of copy editing

·      Several meticulous rounds of proofreading, looking for the tiniest errors: an extra space after a period, a “zero” that’s really a capital “O,” or a “there” instead of a “their.”

Readers have been trained to expect an error-free product, and even a few errors can cause the reader to lose confidence in the book, and set it down. While this rigorous level of precision isn’t always possible when self-publishing, your readers will be best-served if you put this important work into your book up front.

2.    Book Cover

Whether readers will be browsing through a bookstore, scrolling through thumbnail images on Amazon, or buying from a merch table, the cover matters. It both signals what’s inside and whether what’s inside has value for the reader. Even if you have the technical skills to create a cover using your photo editing software, don’t. Resist the urge. There are tried and true principles relating to images, colors, font styles, and font sizes that make for great covers. Let a professional design the cover of your book.

3.    Book Design

Have you ever noticed that the inside of a traditionally published book, all the pages of content, have been designed? Care and attention have been given to the precise measurements of margins, as well as the size and shape of fonts in the text, chapter titles, headers and subheads. None of this is accidental. Each choice was made to serve the book and serve the reader. Although certain independent publishing options might aid you with book design, it’s up to you to ensure that nothing about the design creates a barrier to a reader reading your book.

4.    Books Are Hard to Sell

Before you sink your own dollars into publishing a book, have a plan for how you will market and distribute the book to your target audience. Don’t just throw it up at Amazon with millions of other books and hope for the best. You’ve been warned.

The purpose of your book is to serve the reader, and a well-written book with a sharp design does that. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.

I am for you,

Margot

www.wordmelon.com

8 Reasons I'm Cautious About Recommending Self-Publishing to Clients

While some folks have great success self-publishing, many do not. Because I feel protective of my editing/writing clients, I want to make sure they know some of the reasons why I am cautious about pushing them toward self-publishing.

1. Dollars

You are investing your own money into producing a product that you will sell. I don't take that lightly. When you self-publish you (should) pay for developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, cover design, book design, and other publishing essentials that I don't even know about.

2. Sales

As a creative, I've become aware that creating art and selling art are two different skill sets. Self-evident to many, but I had to learn the hard way. (Selling beautiful cards, magnets, puppets, beads, and even toilet plungers. Fer reals.)

When you publish with a traditional publisher, sales and marketing teams partner with the author to sell books. When you self-publish, you become responsible for selling every single copy of books stored in your closet, attic, basement, or trunk. (Worth considering as you decide how many copies you will buy.)

3. Opportunity

Folks who do well selling their self-published books are folks with lots of opportunities to sell in-person to audiences. These are folks who speak 30-60 times per year.

4. Strategy

Other folks who do well selling self-published books are those who have a smart clear calculated strategy. This may include speaking gigs, facebook advertising, print advertising, publicity, inviting Amazon reviews, etc. Publishing a book and hoping it will sell, or believing it is so great that it will catch on like wildfire, is naive.

5. Advertising

People need to learn about your book. One of the ways that happens is through advertising. I know that there are smartie geniuses out there who have mastered effective advertising--let's say...advertising on social media. They understand how to implement advertising that produces sales. If you plan to invest in advertising, don't drop the cash and hope for the best.

6. Quality Content

As a self-respecting writer and editor, I probably should have led with this one. Traditional publishers have many rounds of edits to ensure they're producing the best possible product. On the front end these include, but are not limited to, one or more rounds of developmental (or content) editing. In this early stage of editing, an editor is thinking about the reader: her felt need, her experience, her life circumstance, etc.  He or she gives the writer feedback, to improve the first draft, that serves the reader.

7. Quality Experience

Further down the line in the book production process, a traditional publisher employs folks who do line editing, and several rounds of proofreading. These latter steps are critical to delivering a book to readers that is as close to error-free as it can be. A reader who finds several errors in a self-published book quickly loses confidence in the book, and may abandon it altogether.

8. Quality Design

While few of us give much thought to the aesthetic of the books we're reading, we are drawn to attractive covers before we buy a book, and we appreciate attractive interior design while we're reading it. When some element of design is "off"--style of font, size of font, space between paragraphs, etc.--our experience of the book suffers.


If you're considering self-publishing, and these don't feel like insurmountable hurdles to you, I commend you. And envy you.

Best wishes as you pursue your publishing dreams!

Your Nonfiction Book Proposal: Three Things Every Publisher Must See

In order to say "yes" to a writer's nonfiction book proposal, every publisher needs to see three things:

1. CONCEPT

Your concept is the--fresh, unique, compelling--premise of your book.

A publisher is looking for a book with a unique and compelling concept. The best books serve readers by presenting a timeless truth with a vibrant fresh angle. When publishers read these proposals, they say, "Hmmm...I haven't heard it put quite this way before."

2. PLATFORM

Your platform is how you're reaching audiences.

You must demonstrate that, as an author, you are building a solid platform and is already reaching audiences.

This might be reflected in social media numbers. It might mean you're reaching audiences as a speaker. Or perhaps you write regularly for a popular online magazine.

Although there is no magic formula, an author does need to be reaching readers.

3. WRITING

Your writing is how you organize and express your unique concept.

Your writing captures the reader's attention by engaging him or her with well-organized and beautiful writing.


Could missing one of these three be a deal breaker for a publisher? Unfortunately, yes. While a publisher will occasionally take a chance on a brilliant writer with very little platform, you make it easier for a publisher to say "yes" when you can demonstrate that you are building a platform.

If your book proposal demonstrates that all three of these elements are strong, it will be hard for a publisher to say "no."

If your proposal lacks one or more of these, it will be hard for a publisher to say "yes."

Bad News for Good Writers

Dear Gifted Not-Yet-Published Writer Who Has A Timely Message Audiences Need,

I think your writing is fantastic. You’ve allowed me to peek and I think that you have an important message and that you can deliver it well. I wish that was enough. It should be, right?!

It’s not enough.

In today’s publishing world, publishers who want nothing more than to publish great writing aren’t able to say “yes” to every book with a great message that’s written well if the writer has not worked diligently to build an audience. Some publishers do take that risk on a book they believe in, knowing that it might not pay out for them.

And if you’re like me—with way more confidence than might be merited—you believe that your awesome book will be the rare shining exception. Once the first reader reads it and tells all her friends, you figure, it’ll start selling like...a bestseller. And possibly it will. Much more likely, though, you’ll not find an audience for your writing unless you work to build one.

So—momentarily abandoning my signature irrational optimism—I’m just going to outline the bad news so that you have access to the facts you need.

1. Agents and publishers need to sell books.

Every agent and publisher I know loves great writing. In order to stay in business, though, they must publish and sell books that sell. It would be great if these two were synonymous, and sometimes they are. Not always.

2. Writers with audiences sell books.

Whether you publish with a traditional publisher or decide to self-publish, you must have access to an audience that trusts you in order to sell books.

3. Demonstrating an Audience is Requisite to Securing an Agent or Publisher

For an agent or publisher to consider representing you or publishing your work, you need to demonstrate that you’re reaching an audience. 

4. Building an Audience Takes Hard Work

Occasionally someone will build an audience with seemingly little effort—because they win an Olympic gold or are elected as President of the United States. (Okay…there was some effort.) The rest of us have to work REALLY HARD to grow an audience. Smarties, like @jeffgoins, with much more experience than I have can teach you how to do this. (Mention other smarties in the comments, below.)

5. Selling Books is Really Hard

Whether you publish with a traditional publisher or self-publish, selling books takes work.

Now start at the top of the list and read them all again. Congratulations, you now have a handle on the bad news.

The Good News

The good news is that there’s always something you can  be doing to build your audience:

• Pitch article after article to editors.
• Speak to audiences, for free at first, about your subject.
• Offer a freebie download at your site to build your mailing list.
• Guest post on blogs of folks you know.
• Make friends online by sharing their great stuff. (They will love you for this. And owe you.)

If you were bummed out by all the bad news, do one thing today to build your audience.

Cheering you on,

Margot

Considering Self-Publishing? 5 Things You Can’t Not Know

I want any writer who’s considering self-publish to know these 5 things:

1. It’s hard to sell books. 

When you self-publish, you become responsible for selling every copy that is printed. Have a solid strategy in place. Many writers never make back what they invest into producing the book.

2. Readers expect quality. 

Whether or not they realize it—and whether or not you realize it!—readers expect excellence in publishing. Even one or two errors, in an otherwise brilliant manuscript, quickly erode reader confidence. Do what it takes to ensure your book has the right title and subtitle, a strong professional cover and is error-free.

3. Quality costs money.

When traditional publishers contract with an author to publish a book, they invest money into the

process. That’s why anyone planning to self-publish needs to understand the process of producing a traditionally published book.

A fairly typical process for a traditionally published book might go something like this:

• Author writes first draft of book
• Author combs through first draft, once or twice or five times, to make it excellent
• Author submits first draft to editor
• Editor offers a macro, or developmental, edit
• Author reworks manuscript based on editor’s comments
• Author resubmits manuscript and editor offers a second round of feedback
• Author reworks the second draft of the manuscript (There may be additional rounds of editing)
• Manuscript is line-edited
• Manuscript is copyedited
• Manuscript is typeset in book layout form (At this point, only the smallest changes are possible. Ideally nothing that will push words onto next page.)
• Typeset manuscript is scoured by official proofreader
• Typeset manuscript is scoured by second proofreader
• Manuscript goes to printer!

And as any reader knows, even with this thorough process, books still end up with typos and other errors!

Because it’s clearly an extensive process, the financial reality for most writers is that those who self-publish must pick and choose where they invest their resources. Weigh the costs before self-publishing.

4. Some writers who self-publish have regrets.

• They might have regrets because they printed 5000 books and 4942 of them are now mildewing in the garage/attic.
• They might have regrets because there were three small errors in the first chapter.
• They might have regrets because the clever title they adored is really so random that book browsers don’t know what the book’s about.
• They might have regrets because they let the teenager next door design their book cover—a critical part of attracting readers online and in physical bookstores. What seemed at first like a great cover really looks less-than-professional beside other book covers.

Talk to others who have self-published to learn more about their experience.

5. Self-publishing still might be right for you!

My talented friend Sharon Garlough Brown self-published her novel with Westbow Press, sold several thousand books, was noticed and picked up by InterVarsity Press (my beloved first publishing home!) and her brilliant Sensible Shoes: A Story About the Spiritual Journey ended up on The Today Show because Cathy Lee Gifford loved it!

Self-publishing was the right choice for her.

It may be right for you. Weigh the options.

QUESTION: Have you had a great experience with self-publishing? What made it a success?