Being published in Landscape – how to get yourself in your journal By Ruth Slavid, editor.
How to get yourself published
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Transcript of 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