Posts Tagged ‘title’
Five Secrets of Winning Book Proposals
Working in the publishing industry comes with a high expectation, especially from complete strangers. After the causal ‘hello’ progresses to ‘what do you do,’ and my answer is ‘I am a publisher,’ the words, like fairy dust, work magic; and in the eyes of my conversation partner, I’m transformed into a glamorous Advice Goddess-would I mind reading this stranger’s book proposal?
Cornered in frozen foods at the grocery, black-tie events or at the bus stop, I’ve been ‘pitched’ as we say in the business, with such book proposals as: A Cat’s Tale of Christmas; Old Testament Aphrodisiacs; Break Out (after being committed to a mental institution by jealous relatives, the story of one man’s quest for revenge); and Suck it and See: A Guide to Tropical Fruits.
Admittedly, I chose to share with you the more colorful examples. My point being that the purpose of a proposal pitch is not to motivate the publisher to love the idea as much as you do. That’s the misconception. The publisher is listening for signals that you understand the process of transforming a book concept into a business plan. It’s not just about your passion for the topic: it’s how well you filter your passion through the publisher’s prism of marketing and distribution. That’s the difference between a contract and a polite rejection letter.
Let’s take a look at five typical questions that an agent or a publisher will ask in their submission guidelines.
Question #1: Please provide the title that best captures and conveys the essence of your book and briefly explain why you chose it.
What the publisher is really thinking:
Will the book buyer for Barnes & Noble recognize the section to shelve the book by its title alone?
Is the title’s message succinct and snappy so the publisher’s sales representative will remember it easily?
How does the rest of proposal support what the title says?
Question #2: Briefly describe the primary audience for your book and how they will benefit from reading it.
What the publisher is really thinking:
The book cannot be all things to all people. Do you demonstrate focus?
Are you confident about who the customer is and the primary (most appropriate) category where the book should be placed in the bookstore?
Do you provide three distinct benefits that relate to the book’s core premise?
Question #3: List competing books that you are aware of on this topic and explain how your book differs.
What the publisher is really thinking:
How do you demonstrate that your premise is solid in relation to existing books?
Will the publisher’s sales representatives understand where your book fits among five other books in the same category?
Do you contradict what the book is or is not elsewhere in the proposal?
Question #4: What are your expectations for the project?
What the publisher is really thinking:
Do you sound like you expect to make a million dollars and plan to retire on your royalty earnings?
Is your goal to raise the level of topic discussion and to advance your profile as a thought leader?
How realistic are you about the work involved to write the book from start to finish?
Question #5: Describe your qualifications for writing this book and include your latest curriculum vitae or other relevant factors.
What the publisher is really thinking:
Several proposals are discussed during a publisher’s editorial board meeting. Why say ‘yes’ to yours?
What is your media platform? How are you going to be an asset in marketing and promoting the book?
What’s your track record?
If you are now thinking about you book concept as a business plan, bravo! This is the foundation for a solid beginning; and, I encourage you to continue forward. High-quality books written by people who are committed to excellence (in any sphere of living) are in short supply. Adopt the publisher’s perspective-how will it sell and to whom-and you will not only become a published author. You will make a difference in the world.
Melissa Rosati is a co-active coach, whose clients are writers, authors and creative artists. Prior to her coaching career, she was the Director, Editorial & Production for McGraw-Hill International (UK). She now resides in New York City. Her forthcoming book, The Essential Publisher’s Handbook shows readers how to publish profitably. Register for a complimentary subscription to her newsletter, The Essential Publisher at http://www.melissarosati.com
© 2005 Melissa A. Rosati. All rights reserved.
How to Build and Sell your eBook at the Same Time
Why write an eBook?
You want ongoing, lifelong multiple streams of income. You want to raise your credibility and trust ratings with clients or customers. You want to get your message out so the world can be a better place.
Yet, you want to spend only a little time on it. (Would you be willing to spend 4 hours a week?) You want to get it out fast (Would 4-6 weeks be OK?) You want to market Online at a low-cost investment. And, for some of you, you are ready to be innovative and even take a small risk to get your eBook read by millions, rather than hundreds!
In order to finish your eBook fast you need to first, look at where you are now; second, where you want to be; and then you’ll know how to get to your finish line.
Where are you now?
You have the idea for your eBook; you have a lot of ideas! Take a moment and decide which one you are most passionate about now and will be for the next year. Focus on one great idea, then add others you know will work.
You have your eBook well on its way, but aren’t finished. You need advice on how to get it done, what’s needed to publish (not much!), and how to distribute it.
Who Should Write an eBook?
- If you are ready to invest a little to reap a great deal.
- If you are a business person who want to serve a wider community
- If you have a unique message you want to share with the world
- If are willing to write, publish yourself, and sell 2 years ahead of traditional publishing
- If you want to create active, lifelong streams of income
- If you want to promote yourself, service or products
How to get there.
Build and Sell your eBook at the same time
Every part of your book can be a sales tool. When you include the essential “Seven Hot-Selling Points” before you write chapter one, you’ll sell more books than you ever dreamed of!
1. Write for your one preferred audience. Not everyone wants your book. Find out what audience wants/needs your book? What problems does your book solve for them? Create an audience profile and keep your audience’s picture in front of you as you write. Ask yourself, is my topic narrow enough? The Chicken Soup For The Teenager, For The Prisoner, and other specific groups sold far more copies than the original Chicken
Soup.
2. Write a sizzling book title including benefits. You have 8 seconds to hook your potential buyer. While an eBook cover doesn’t need fancy graphics you will want to create one that can be printed both in color and black and white. It must be easy to see and read. Your title and cover should compel your audience to buy.
3. Write a thirty-sixty second “tell and sell.” You only have a few seconds to impress your potential buyer. Include your title, a few benefits, and the audience. This billboard needs a sound bite to grab attention. “Write, Finish, and Publish your eBook Fast to Pull Online Sales” shows professionals how to shortcut each step of writing, publishing, and promoting a salable short eBook.
Add a sound bite to the above “tell and sell” something like this: Compare your book to someone who is famous. One client’s title “Passion at Any Age” used the sound bite “this book is the ‘Artist’s Way’ for seniors.
4. Write your sales letter before you write your book. Think about your potential buyer. What are his resistances? His problems or challenges? Be sure you address these. Your sales letter used to promote your book either by email or on your Web site needs to give the benefits your potential buyers want and need. Include compelling ad copy, features, testimonials, and a small blurb about you, the author. If your potential buyer likes it, they will buy on the spot.
5. Write your eBook’s introduction. Include the problem your audience has, why you wrote the book, and its purpose. In a few paragraphs include more specific benefits, and how you will present it (format). Keep it under a page. Your introduction will help you write your sales letter.
6. Create a table of contents. Each chapter should have a title, preferably a catchy one. If your reader can’t understand the chapter title, then annotate it. Add some benefits or a sub title. In my first chapter called “Why Write an eBook?” I added this partial list of benefits: Ongoing lifelong multiple streams of income, credibility as the expert, products sell easily online, buyers are more targeted and hence you create more profit.
7. Reach out to opinion molders. After an initial contact of asking for feedback, resend them the same chapter and the table of contents of your book. Ask for a testimonial then. These influential contacts’ testimonials will help promote your eBook Online.
Design every part of your eBook to be a sales tool and a beacon that brings out your best: writing–compelling, easy to read, organized, and enjoyable. Your book can sell to thousands, even hundreds of thousands when you design it correctly.
Judy Cullins, 20-year book and Internet Marketing Coach, Author of 10 eBooks including “Write your eBook Fast,” and “How to Market your Business on the Internet,” she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says…and Business Tip of the Month at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 140 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com
