How to Publish Your Book

The world of writing and getting published; the history of the business, the competition and the major and minor players in the industry; misconceptions about what it takes to become a published writer; pursuing a career as a writer.

Understanding where one's fiction book falls in the general categories of literature is an essential step to getting published; the various categories of fiction writing; defining commercial and literary fiction; the types of children's books.

The non-fiction world is broken into categories including memoir, education, creative or narrative non-fiction and practical or self-help; the genres of non-fiction writing; determining which publishing house aligns with one's non-fiction manuscript.

The modern publishing markets are far more complex than they were even a few decades ago; the different agents and publishers; the tools to help one find the right ones; spotting scams; what questions to ask when deciding whom to approach.

The pros and cons of using literary agents; how the responsibilities and obligations of literary agents have evolved; how to acquire one and what to expect from an agent; standard and non-standard practices one may face if one chooses that route.

It is important to create a memorable query letter; what elements comprise a good query letter; what components the publisher or agent requires; how to stand out from a sea of queries; which red flags almost always result in immediate rejection.

After the query letter, one has to provide a synopsis; condensing the story into a one-page overview while still keeping it compelling and intriguing is not easy; valuable tips on what a synopsis should and should not contain; a successful synopsis.

A platform refers to an author's visibility and reach to a target audience; who is aware of one's work, where one's work appears and how many people see it; the six components that make up most platforms; the requirements for various writing genres.

A book proposal is a business plan that persuades a publisher to invest in one's book; publishers look for a viable idea and a writer who has credibility; a proposal needs to demonstrate both, probing the target market, audience and competition.

Analyzing how to include one's research findings in a compelling manner; an author bio that showcases one's credentials; integrating a marketing plan throughout the proposal; how statistics and research are incorporated into well-crafted proposals.

Each publisher and agent has their own rules to follow when submitting work for consideration; some universal rules; the guidelines for sending queries; one's rights and protecting one's work; terminology that publishers and agents may use.

Networking is an important component to getting published; the options and resources for meeting other writers, agents and publishing representatives; a gripping elevator pitch for one's work; ways to network online to help perfect one's proposal.

Not all aspiring writers have a chance to pitch their books; every writer should have a pitch prepared; the three types of pitches one should have ready; strong and weak pitch examples; tips to prepare for pitches without succumbing to stage fright.

Many agents and editors can tell within the first page whether a manuscript is worth reading further; the two types of red flags are structural problems and surface-level errors; tips to create a strong opening; the pivotal first sentence.

The different stages of writing and reviewing; the different types of editing one can consider; what an editor can and cannot do to make one's work publishable; the three reasons why one may consider hiring a professional to review their work.

Learning why one might be rejected, even if one has done everything correctly; common reasons for rejection; letting go of rejection or reacting to it in a constructive manner; options after rejection; knowing what feedback is really being conveyed.

Rejections are not the only obstacles to becoming a published author; looking at common dilemmas writers face; learning how to create time for writing no matter what one's daily schedule looks like.

The process where publishing contracts are drafted; it is important to grasp the terminology and protect one's rights; one should pay close attention to the grant-of-rights clause, the reversion-of-rights clause and the subsidiary rights clauses.

What is expected of an author once a publisher agrees to move forward; the phases one goes through with the publisher: editorial development, design and production, sales and marketing planning, the book launch and post-launch PR and publicity.

Marketing one's book is a huge part of becoming a bestseller; how one is expected to provide support to help publicize their book; hosting author events, creating a presence on social media and reaching out to one's connections.

Author websites, blogs, newsletters and social media are an author's responsibility; these marketing tools are often required by the publisher; tips on creating successful marketing tactics to help publicize one's work and keep the publisher happy.

Discussing the value of publishers; specific scenarios in which one may not need those benefits; knowing if self-publishing a viable option for one's book; advice on steps to take if one chooses to self-publish; the tools one needs to succeed.

The vital role metadata plays in positioning one's self-published book for success; pricing models to attract a large audience that is hesitant about purchasing from an unknown entity; tips to garner reviews that will help one's book get noticed.

In an era when attention spans are shrinking, it is important to consider the story or message one wishes to share; considering the many ways to share ideas in the digital age; the options one has today; reflecting on what the future may bring.