10 little publishing secrets for book authors
DESCRIPTION
When you make a book deal, your publisher and agent might tell you about the big picture, but here are 10 little things your publisher may not mention (plus one bonus tip). Compiled from my work with authors over the years....TRANSCRIPT
DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS OF TRADITIONAL
BOOK PUBLISHING
You made a book deal!
You made a book deal!
Now I’ll let you in on some things your publisher
probably didn’t tell you.
Now I’ll let you in on some things your publisher
probably didn’t tell you.
10 LITTLE SECRETS other authors say they wish they’d known
at the outset.
Now I’ll let you in on some things your publisher
probably didn’t tell you.
10 LITTLE SECRETS other authors say they wish they’d known
at the outset. starting with . . .
You have to pay for things you would expect
the publisher to cover.
Things like . . .
Things like . . . Research & travel expenses
Things like . . . Research & travel expenses
Fact-checking
Things like . . . Research & travel expenses
Fact-checking Professional author photo
Things like . . . Research & travel expenses
Fact-checking Professional author photo
Your book’s website
Things like . . . Research & travel expenses
Fact-checking Professional author photo
Your book’s website Your book’s index
Things like . . . Research & travel expenses
Fact-checking Professional author photo
Your book’s website Your book’s index (YES, REALLY)
Things like . . . Research & travel expenses
Fact-checking Professional author photo
Your book’s website Your book’s index
Additional editing or promotion (YES, REALLY)
All of that can add up to a
pretty penny.
All of that can add up to a
pretty penny.
Your small advance just got smaller.
It’s not your publisher’s job to get advance blurbs
from big names for the back of your book.
This job falls to you.
This job falls to you.
It can take months.
This job falls to you.
It can take months.
START NOW You don’t have to wait for the final version of your book.
Copyediting is outsourced to packagers, so there’s no way of knowing what
quality of editing you’ll get.
Assume the best. Plan for the worst.
Read over the changes carefully. Push back, if necessary.
Assume the best. Plan for the worst.
Better yet, put in your contract that you will hire the copyeditor,
if publisher covers what they would have paid.
Better yet, put in your contract that you will hire the copyeditor,
if publisher covers what they would have paid.
(WELL, IT’S WORTH A TRY)
Publisher PR departments are focused on
getting reviews,
Publisher PR departments are focused on
getting reviews, not generating articles.
This means they’re focusing on about 1% of the media possibilities.
This means they’re focusing on about 1% of the media possibilities.
You should work on the other 99%.
This means they’re focusing on about 1% of the media possibilities.
You should work on the other 99%.
FEATURE ARTICLES
This means they’re focusing on about 1% of the media possibilities.
You should work on the other 99%.
FEATURE ARTICLES BROADCAST OPPS
This means they’re focusing on about 1% of the media possibilities.
You should work on the other 99%.
FEATURE ARTICLES ONLINE COLUMNS
BROADCAST OPPS
This means they’re focusing on about 1% of the media possibilities.
You should work on the other 99%.
FEATURE ARTICLES ONLINE COLUMNS
BROADCAST OPPS
SPEAKING
This means they’re focusing on about 1% of the media possibilities.
You should work on the other 99%.
FEATURE ARTICLES ONLINE COLUMNS
BROADCAST OPPS
SPEAKING AUTHOR Q & As
Publishers will never tell you that you need an outside publicist.
They don’t want to compete or coordinate with another publicist.
They don’t want to compete or coordinate with another publicist.
Do you need outside help? It’s your call, but don’t look to
your publisher for advice on this.
Your book is old news after six weeks.
You may think it’s an evergreen topic,
but others
You may think it’s an evergreen topic,
but others reviewers
You may think it’s an evergreen topic,
but others reviewers
bookstores
You may think it’s an evergreen topic,
but others reviewers
bookstores
the media
You may think it’s an evergreen topic,
but others reviewers
bookstores
the media your publisher
You may think it’s an evergreen topic,
but others DO NOT.
reviewers
bookstores
the media your publisher
You may think it’s an evergreen topic,
but others DO NOT.
reviewers
bookstores
the media your publisher
Create an advance plan of attack for that short window.
Your first 3 reader reviews on Amazon
are very important.
Everyone sees and clicks on them
Everyone sees and clicks on them
Everyone sees and clicks on them
thus ensuring those reviews remain at the top.
Avoid the random cranks.
Get an early version of your book into the hands of respectable readers
Avoid the random cranks.
Get an early version of your book into the hands of respectable readers
(NOT YOUR RELATIVES)
Avoid the random cranks.
Get an early version of your book into the hands of respectable readers
and don’t be shy about asking them to write an Amazon review.
(NOT YOUR RELATIVES)
Avoid the random cranks.
Goodreads giveaways are a waste of time.
Sure, you can do a giveaway but don’t expect anyone to notice it
and write an early review (which is the whole point, right?)
Sure, you can do a giveaway but don’t expect anyone to notice it
and write an early review (which is the whole point, right?)
N.A. if you’re a celeb writer — in which case
why are you reading this?
Be glad rather than mad when you aren’t sent on
a book tour.
Do you go to book readings by unknown writers?
Travel eats up your precious time.
Do you go to book readings by unknown writers?
Travel eats up your precious time.
Do you go to book readings by unknown writers?
You’re better off at home setting up media interviews
and writing articles that have a multiplying effect.
Bookstores do not want you to drop in
and sign your on-sale books.
It just makes it harder for the retailer to return
the books to the publisher.
Wikipedia is your promotional friend*
Wikipedia is your promotional friend*
*unless someone else has your same name. Then it’s time to disambiguate.
Wikipedia is your promotional friend*
*unless someone else has your same name. Then it’s time to disambiguate.
That’s a Wikiword
Wikipedia often comes up TOP in author name searches.
Wikipedia often comes up TOP in author name searches.
Start a Wikipedia page or update the one you have.
Wikipedia often comes up TOP in author name searches.
Start a Wikipedia page or update the one you have.
(You write it; get a trusted, web-savvy friend to post it.)
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LAURA KELLY laura-e-kelly.com