By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
As authors and writers, we’re always learning about resources and industry tools that we can use to improve our book project performance and the enjoyment of our writing and marketing experiences. Today let’s talk about the key to your debut in the publishing world.
Many writers and also those who want to work in the book publishing field don’t know where to begin. Debuts in any industry can be challenging; however, they don’t have to be impossible.
Creativity is one of the keys when it comes to debuting your talents and work. Oftentimes there are great opportunities to get support for your work within the very venue you wish to reach. The publishing world provides these in a variety of ways but first, before you approach the very world you want to be a part of, learn about it. Take the time to better understand the landscape.
In publishing, you’ll find a world that is in constant flux. Publishers and booksellers are contracting while opportunities in digital media continue to expand. Last year more than half of reported sales from major booksellers were ebook sales.
As a writer, you must learn the publishing lingo and process in order to determine the highest and best path for your book. There are lots of outlets to take advantage of for this including blogs, conferences, workshops, webinars, home study courses, books, consultants and others.
What’s important is for you to make the time and take the action to learn about the lay of the land before you go to market with your project or professional desires. Do your homework and prepare your project or resume accordingly to show your best self and your best work to those you want to reach.
If you are looking to connect with an agent, read some blogs. Get to know the agents out there and understand what they have to offer. Some even take questions from time to time and write about the answers to them to help writers better prepare for their publishing path. Here is a smattering of examples to check out:
- Rachel Gardner, a literary agent at WordServe Literary, and her blog and post about How to Get Published on her blog at cba-ramblings.blogspot.com
- Janet Reid, a literary agent at FinePrint Literary Management, who often writes about queries and rejections like this post http://ht.ly/3IozR on her blog at queryshark.blogspot.com
- Scott Eagan, a literary agent at Greyhaus Literary Agency, whose posts like this one about older writers can often be insightful and found on his blog at scotteagan.blogspot.com
A great new resource that is more personal than just a blog post is the new project debuting from today’s guest, Bree Ogden, called Operation Virtual Agent where you can submit questions to Bree via video. Bree is taking the time to create a video answer that she posts on her blog called This Literary Life at agentbree.wordpress.com.
There are a plethora of options outside of the agent world where you can still get published if you choose to take it on. Like today’s show guest, actress
Tanya Wright, you can opt to independently publish or self-publish your book too. For example, Tanya used Amazon’s CreateSpace platform to self-publish her book in conjunction with the independent film she wrote, produced, directed and starred in by the same name called Butterfly Rising.
If all of this seems confusing, there are also consultants like me and others who offer support and assistance with this somewhat overwhelming landscape so you can better understand your role, the options you have and your responsibilities in the industry.
Creativity is the hub for your entrée into the publishing world. Getting to know the business so you can put your best foot forward is the key to your success.
For if you are planning to use your book as your hook in today’s publishing industry, you won’t be able to move forward until you have a book – and more importantly, more knowledge about the book business.
So get busy and get down to business with the preparation for your debut in the book industry!
Jennifer’s show can be heard every week on Tuesday mornings at 9am when it is broadcast on WomensRadio.com and syndicated on Google News and Live365.com. Each show is archived for replay listeners in different time zones and countries.
For more information on this Education Corner topic and others, please refer to www.YourBookIsYourHook.com/blog for more articles and resources to help you with your books.