How to get yourself published

How to get yourself published!Jennifer Jilks

B.A. (ECE), B. Ed., M.Ed.Retired teacher, hospice volunteer, author

Topics

1. First you have to write!

2. Writing: poetry, books, articles, submissions

3. Find a network

4. Find a publisher, literary agent, publicist

5. The book proposal

6. Use an editor

7. The publishing process

8. Marketing your book

8. Marketing your bookSent book to agents and publishers

May, 2007 podcasts, 45 min./chapter

Entered the book in The Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, won 2008

Picked up by McClelland & Stewart

8. Marketing your bookBook signings – Publicist

Book and topical conferencesNSM Palliative Care Conference

Men’s, women’s, senior groups, caregiver support groups

Speeches – send a press release

Press Kit – questions to ask, biography, background information, resume

Twitter related topics:Healthcare

journalistsJames BartlemanRaisin Wine

8. Marketing your bookBook signings – Publicist

Speeches – send a press release

Press Kit – questions to ask, biography, background information, resume

I sold 0 books: 1 1/2, 5 since the radio show!

8. Marketing your book

Batchewana Bay, by the side of the road!

8. Marketing your book

Time consuming, frantic, defeating, e.g., drug store chains

Local papers are your best friends, radio won’t touch you

Donate books to related fundraisers: door prize

Randy Ingermanson advancedfictionwriting.comWriters Conference Survival Guide: $15Promote Your Writing by Speaking: $50

Trade books with other writers, ask for reviews

Podcast your book

8. Marketing your book

7. The Cover Page Design

7. The publishing process

7. The Interior Page Design

6. Use an editer!Hire one if you have to, a co-publisher will provide one for you

Ask for references from 3 happy customers

One book: 11 errors on the first page; syntax, puncutatyon, typs, no commas: too many commas, run-on sentances, ‘quotes’ for no purpose…

Spelling errors make me cringeSeven year old: seven-year-oldNo plot, one-dimensional charactersVulgar, racist, biased (gender, religion)Ensure you have a story to tellSetting: a place you know

5. The book proposal

Every kid who plays hockey thinks they’ll be Wayne Gretsky

Every author thinks s/he’ll be the new best seller

We are a dime a dozen

Put together a fantastic book proposal

Find a literary agent and a publicist

5. The book proposal

See: blog.nathanbransford.com hiwrite.com/pro.html

Overview; catchy,

Competing titles; why yours is better, newer, very salable

Market analysis, e.g., target market

Biography, awards, previous publications

Outline, # pages (Chap Book?)

List of chapters

Sample chapter

4. Find a publisher

Publishers – the big ones won’t touch you!

An agent recently told me ‘editors in big publishers are basically readers for marketing departments’. Another said in the past year she’d got more than 10 excellent books to editorial board, with all the editors staunchly behind them, but marketing vetoed them. An editor I know – very senior in terms of job title and the publisher she works for – laments that she is no longer allowed to accept the rich fiction she loves to read and has to publish shallow sure-fire supermarket titles.

4. Print on Demand Lulu.com

You are in full control of your work in every aspect of it from content, formatting, cover design, and price

You are in control of the marketing and depending on how much you have to spend, you can market your book as extensively and as effectively as any book out there on the market

You make more money off of each copy sold

You can choose to publish your work with a registered ISBN or not

You can choose from 3 book formats

You have full control over distribution, and when/or if you want to publish more editions or cancel the publication. YOU are the boss.

4. Print on Demand

From K. Lynnette Erwin -the downsides: If you want your work to be up to quality, then you will have to hire your own editor.

Cover designs and all formatting are up to you and if you don't have the skills or ability to design your own cover and/or put your book into print formatting.

The upside is that they give you all the formatting options and instructions so that you can do it yourself if you want to, or you will have to pay someone to do that for you.

Because you are in charge of the marketing, it is up to you to get your book out there.

4. Print on Demand

80% of revenueChoice of bindings

4. Self-publishing

YOU MUST HAVE AN EDITOR!

Self publishing costs can be high ($10,000)

Local bookstores don’t want to clutter shelves with newbies

Marketing and promotion is difficult

Dreamcatcherpublishing.ca

4. The Publishing Contract

No. of Pages: 174 pages plus paperbound cover

Cost Options: 200 copies $22,576.00

1000 copies $25,259.00

1500 copies $26,370.00

2000 copies $27,777.00

Delivery: Vancouver

Extra: GST , Courier costs/postage and handling, Delivery from the warehouse to your designated storage place

This was a 'publishing services company’ – not truly a publisher.

4. Co-Publishing Contract

SHARE the cost of editing, design, layout, line edit, proofreading, printing and promotion.

Bookmarks will be printed and distributed to bookstores with the shipping of the books.

500 one-colour flyers will be produced indicating our "800" number and credit card service. These will be sent to our bookstore accounts across Canada as well as to any mailing lists you may provide (up to 40 names).

40 promo copies and 30+ media kits will be sent to traditional media

The book will be included in our catalogue, both on-line and print versions.

General Store Publishing House will also provide marketing/sales services for your book; this involves handling sales to bookstores and direct mail sales.

The complete process to bring the book to market will take up to six months.

3. Blogging Networks

Massive groups of wannabe writers meet on-line

Check into a network

Join a book club, writer’s club, take a writing course

Deconstruct a piece of writing you truly appreciate

A writer needs three things; experience, observation, and imagination, any two of which, at times any one of which, can supply the lack of the others. -William Faulkner, novelist (1897-1962)

2. Begin with poems!

Kay Devlin, resident of Perth Community Care Centre

Kay Devlin, 94, poet

The Walker Poem

Where did my walker go? I had it a minute agoI walked down the hallNow I don’t see it at all.Did somebody take it? It’s nearly new with a nice black seat and legs of blue.Please help me find it. I want it. Oh, for heaven’s sake I’m sitting on it.

2. Begin with poems!

Kay Devlin, resident of Perth Community Care Centre

Kay Devlin, 94, poet

Words to Rhyme With

Or use:

www.rhymezone.com

canadianpoetryassociation.webs.com/

2. Writing Prompts

Get onto blog memes: • many resources; book clubs, ideas for writers,

sharing of ideas, writing prompts, blog memes: Skywatch Friday, My World Tuesday, NaPoWriMo

thankyourteachers.blogspot.com : How Tos• Creative Writing Class – Beaver Creek• AWAD prompts

Journals, self-help books

Natalie Goldberg’s books: • Writing Down the Bones

2. Writing Prompts

crestfallenPRONUNCIATION: (KREST-fo-luhn) MEANING: adjective: Dispirited or disappointed by having one's hopes dashed. ETYMOLOGY: From allusion to the drooping crest or comb of a bird, such as a rooster. From Latin crista (tuft).

One Word oneword.comthepromptwriter.com/one-word-prompts

1. Next you have to write!

1. Writing

Begin with an outline – what do you want to say?

Keep a diary or blog, write daily, with discipline

Submit your work to contests

Join a club: poetry society, e-list: advancedfictionwriting.com

advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php

Understand that you have a story to tell

Give your writing to someone else to read it

1. Learn about writing a novel

How to Write a Novel: The Snowflake Methodhttp://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php

The character's name

A one-sentence summary of the character's storyline

The character's motivation (what does he/she want abstractly?)

The character's goal (what does he/she want concretely?)

The character's conflict (what prevents him/her from reaching this goal?)

The character's epiphany (what will he/she learn, how will he/she change?

A one-paragraph summary of the character's storyline

1. Learn about writing a novel

Character Development

From Barrie Summy recommended reading

The Writer's Journey by Chris Vogler

Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood

 Take a book where she loves the characterization and deconstruct it. And take a book where she thought the characterization didn't work. Deconstruct both books. Look at what is said when the character is first introduced, how the character grows, how the growth takes places vis-a-vis the plot, etc. Seriously, I learn a ton from taking a book apart.

1. Character Development

Of what is your character afraid?

What gives your character joy?

How does your character show love?

What makes your character angry?

How competitive is your character?

What does your character think about during downtime?

What “unreachable” dream does your character have?

What would your character have to give up to realize this dream?

1. Now you have to write

Here is a basic list of character details to help you get started:

* Name * Age * Job

* Ethnicity * Appearance * Residence

* Temperament * Favorite color * Friends

* Favorite foods * Drinking patterns

* Phobias * Faults

1. Now you have to write

Every day, e.g., 5-min. timed writing

Using discipline: the same spot, your favourite tool

Write poems, prose, blogs

Take a creative writing course

Join a creative writing group

Find a story you are compelled to tell

creative writing prompts.com

No Canadian Idol for writers!

1. Learn about writing

e.g., Writers and Company–CBC RadioRead all you can. Why does a book get your attention? Analyse good and bad.Listen to podcasts, they have much to offer the ambitious writer.

1. Canadian Writer’s Guide

Ideas & inspiration

Character development

Overcoming writer's block

Book contracts

Copyright

Internet

Resources

mymuskoka.blogspot.com/search/label/publishing a book

www.Xlibris.com/BookPublishingBook Publishing Made Easy www.Trafford.comWritersdigest.com