Been There

So I had a great idea for a book called "Been There" and it would be full of advice for college, high school and young adults into their 30s. So much I would love to share with this big, beautiful, and sometimes frighteningly bright (sunscreen as needed) world. 

Anyhow, that got me thinking. What would you find most helpful? If you could tell your past self anything, what would it be? For me, it would be embrace the pain. Scars are the evidence of surviving what others have failed. Therefore, I should love myself as I am. 

Book Proposals and How You Too Can Write Like A Pro!

NEWS: There is nothing worse to a writer than to have to endure the loss of a medium of communication. Since October 2014, I was up a DEEP creak without a boat or paddle. Not only did my computer crash, it killed my hard drive, fried every useful part of the computer and I lost over 50,000 words to my newest novel! The research was gone and my backup was plugged in when I got the virus and I lost that too! So needless to say the whole year ended horrible and 2015 started off amazing because I received a new laptop from a very dear friend.

Now on 2/28/15, I've caught up in work and writing. So I wanted to bring to your attention a few points about my latest project and hopefully help a few fledgling writers out. Book Proposals. That's right, I am entering the scary bigs now and have to write a winning proposal that promotes the purity and idiosyncratic nature of my work, while using math and science EEEK! Or it would be EEEK if I hadn't already know exactly what is needed.

So here is the breakdown of a decent book proposal and how I decided to go about it.  First there are two main categories, you and your book.

You:
A brief biography that highlights your skills, talents, education, and prior publications.

Your Book: a synopsis no more than two paragraphs, final estimated word count, estimated completion date, description of target audience, description and information on sales market, list of comparable and competing titles and what makes your book better than them, a few sample chapters: 1-3 are usually the best, a complete table of contents with chapter outlines.. and complete means complete.

So lets tackle the most important part first, YOU. Yes, believe it or not YOU are the most important aspect of your work even though as a writer you don't feel that way. The brief biography is your chance to show creative writing skills and display talents. Did you win an elementary school competition in poetry? Mention it. Did you study writing in AP or college classes? Mention it! Whatever ties you to the art of the written word package it with your personality and jazz it up with your own wonderful angle. The better you sell yourself, the easier it will be to sell your work.

Now on to science, math, and a whole lot of technical blah blah blah. Lets start with the synopsis. Use one or two well crafted paragraphs to sum up your story and don't worry about reveling the surprise ending, that could be a major selling point you will miss out on if you don't mention it. So repeat with me now: MENTION IT! The estimated word count and completion date are for people who are published, if you aren't published then complete your manuscript and use your actual completion date and word count and let the editorial staff know that it is finished, that's a selling point.  

Step two, requires research in many fields. You need to find at least three, well selling books that are comparable competition to yours. Find out who buys them, how many are sold per annum, and what makes them sell. Plot, connection to real world events, good photos, all the juicy bits. Know them well. Now you know based on the competition who your audience is. Next compile your research into three professional and informative sections. 1. Your assessment and description of your target audience and why they will buy from you. Use that as a platform into speaking about the market for your product which is section 2. And that segways into section 3, the list of comparable titles and why your book is different and AMAZING. Remember highlight where they fall short and you have come behind to succeed.

Step three, end your proposal on a solid positive and professional note. Thank them for taking precious time to review your work and let them know you want to work with them, that's why you chose to contact them.

Step four, attach the COMPLETED table of contents and chapter outlines and first three chapters of your book.

Step five, rewrite it all.

Step six, edit and rewrite again

Step seven, have a knowledgeable writer and business person look it over.

Step eight, follow their feedback and rewrite

Step nine, make sure every last letter and punctuation mark is perfect and properly placed. Then and ONLY then should you send off your proposal via email or snail mail however they require.

Remember each organization has different requirements. Follow their guidelines and use mine as a filler if you see something that is useful that they might have left to your discretion.

If you would like any help or tips please comment below and I would be happy to assist in anyway I can. It is my person philosophy that competition is healthy and a good writer is a good writer even if that means I sell less. I would love to help you promote your work of art as being competitive in a tight and brutal market. I want all who have a desire to be a writer to see that dream realized and fulfilled.

Thanks for stopping by and stay classy!

Vera Lynn- "Realizing the impossible together." 

To Publish or not to Publish...

Most people I know want to be writers. They think they want to be published and have a major contract and all the glory that goes with it. 

Pay attention to the operative word in that sentence...think. That's right, most people see the gold and glory and don't know what goes into it. Hours and hours of PAIN! It's like pregnancy except gestation can take years. The publishers are the doctors and your in full blown labor trying to get your baby out into the world. It's not fun. But ask any mother if it was worth it...

Now that you've been warned here is the good news. Go for it! Accept that it's a process that is not easy, be ready to make mistakes, be ready to embrace criticism, and be ready to stand on your own and still have the courage to move forward. 

Most authors (and some mothers) will tell you, "It's so hard- it's this- it's that." "Don't do it." I read 0 encouragements as an aspiring author months ago. 0. And dozens of painful, mean spirited articles about why I should give up. Because hundreds are like me and I am a poor writer because if I wasn't I would already be published. I was told by every word they wrote to give up. But I didn't. 

If you want to write and publish here is my advice. Don't let the negative, sorry stigma other have burden your own success. If they want to complain or quit let them, but don't you dare let go of something you believe in. Don't give up something you value because of someone else's thoughtless remarks. Authors are sensitive, we hurt easy. I half think the big ones that tell us newbies to be quiet are because they fear that we could compete with their books. It's a fair market, write better then me and I won't hold it against you, I will even buy your books.

So, don't let refusal letters, editors, authors, or anyone else tell you, you can't do it. Because the truth is, if you do it with all your might, you will succeed. 

Succeeding isn't a $1,000,000 contract, or a fan base that worships you. It's your book, your baby, finally making it out from the stereotyped womb of unworthiness to the light of individualism. 

Blog, get one reader and you've already proven people wrong. Because even if only one person reads your work, you touched one life. Sometimes the world focus too much on the big names like Nicholas Sparks, Stephan King, and Stephanie Meyers. Not that they aren't amazing, not that they don't have greatness; but there is greatness in you too. The same greatness that these people have is inside you in a unique form. Don't try and be them, it will only mask your true talent, you don't have to be or say anything that isn't 100% you. 

I don't make money from this blog, I am not trying to sell you something, I am only trying to undo the hurt that others may have caused you or someone you know. Don't be depressed. A single, true fan is better than the 100,000s people buy to look popular. Yes, people actually buy viewers to look like they are popular. 

So if you ever meet me on the street, conference, book signing, or anything; I will answer the question the same any day of the week. To publish or not to publish...my answers is: Publish. A blog, a book, a news article, whatever it is; publish and don't look back or be anything but you.