Business of Writing

Philip Wylie

Description

If you apply the guidelines contained in this e-book without taking any shortcuts, you will get your non-fiction book published. Note: this guarantee applies only to non-fiction guidebooks except personal memoirs of people who do not enjoy celebrity status (that's most of us!). Also, every individual who purchases this e-book can take advantage of Philip Wylie's manuscript evaluation service.

Sujets

• Gestion et management

Informations

• Publié par: Andrews UK
• Date de parution: 06 juin 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781783330607
• Langue: English

Extrait

Title Page
THE BUSINESS OF WRITING
WRITING NON-FICTION FOR SUCCESSFUL PUBLICATION



Publisher Information
Copyright © Philip Wylie 2013
Published by Fast Track Publishing
[e-mail]
www.fasttrackpublishing.com
Digital Conversion Published in 2013 by
Andrews UK Limited
www.andrewsuk.com
All rights reserved . No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
Disclaimer: Although the author has been diligent in his research of this book, readers are advised to double-check information before acting upon it. Business practices and laws of relating to publishing are constantly changing and may be interpreted differently. The author and the publishers cannot accept liability for any losses or damages resulting from the guidance contained in this book.



Guarantee
If you apply the guidelines contained in this e-book without taking any shortcuts, you will get your non-fiction book published . Note: this guarantee applies only to non-fiction guidebooks except personal memoirs of people who do not enjoy celebrity status (that’s most of us!). Also, every individual who purchases this e-book can take advantage of Philip Wylie’s manuscript evaluation service.



PREFACE
I was associated with a writers’ club of over twenty wordsmiths; and I was one of just two published authors in the group (and both of us write non-fiction). This anecdote summarizes the reality of writing - the majority of successfully published writers specialize in non-fiction . So it is not surprising that the published writers of the group write non-fiction and that the most talented writer was an unpublished writer of fiction.
The reason for the low success rate among writers of fiction is due to intense competition. To be successful as a fiction writer, you are competing with Stephen King and J.K. Rowling. Why would your target reader ever purchase your book instead of Stephen King’s or J.K. Rowling’s? Think about it.
I am interested in practical writing that makes real money. Non-Fiction is where the demand and money is. Only the massive international publishers have the resources to produce and market fiction effectively worldwide.
I have been writing and publishing successful non-fiction guidebooks and directories since 1990. I self-published my first book The Holistic Network Directory in May 1991. This book generated handsome advertising revenues as well as income from the international book sales. My first self-published book sold in all top British bookstalls, from W.H. Smith to Waterstones.
In this e-guidebook, I am sharing several of my publishing secrets for the first time. You will learn how I clinched a lucrative publishing contract to write a business guidebook for foreigners in Thailand. You will also learn from my experience that the most effective methods of selling books cost absolutely nothing. Finally, I will share with you some of the painful lessons that I have experienced, so hopefully you will save yourself thousands of dollars and countless headaches.
I wish you the best of luck with your publishing endeavors, and I look forward to hearing your success stories in due course.
Philip Wylie
Philipwylie.com
31 January 2012



INTRODUCTION
Despite endemic turmoil throughout the publishing industry, there are more opportunities for writers of quality non-fiction books than ever, but there are also many pitfalls to avoid. I will guide you along your journey from idea through to successful publication, while highlighting the main pitfalls that you need to aware of.
If you have a sound non-fiction publishing concept and you follow my guidelines carefully, I guarantee that you will get your book published. In other words, if your non-fiction publishing concept is strong enough, and you organize your writing properly (without taking delinquent shortcuts), you will be successful, as long as you promote your book adequately.
My background is business, and my career spans advertising sales to accountancy and finance, and directory & guidebook publishing to business consultancy and brokering. During the last twenty years I have done many things, but my main focus has always been writing for successful publication . I have made mistakes en route to getting books published successfully, but I believe I am the best person to help you get your non-fiction book published.
I must emphasis that my above-mentioned guarantee applies to non-fiction writing only, which includes Travel, Biography, History, How To, Self-Help, Vocational Training, Business and Motivation, Science and so forth; however your autobiographical memoirs are probably an exception unless you have celebrity status (or if you are related to Michael Jackson or Princess Diana). My business formula does not apply to fiction because competition is brutally intense in that genre.
Many non-fiction books sell by the million; examples include The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman and The Guinness Book of Records . However, please note that bestselling paperbacks tend to be fiction where competition is rampant. Although sales of non-fiction books tend to be lower, your chances of successful publication are much greater .
So, just to check that we are still on the ‘same page,’ this book is about making a living from non-fiction writing. However, even if you write fiction, this guidebook will help you to get your book published because I cover each of the publishing options, which are self-publishing, vanity publishing, e-book publishing, and contracting with literary agents, international publishers, and specialist SME publishers.
Just 50 years ago, writers could sign a contract with their literary agent and effectively delegate all the business administration and promotional tasks. Nowadays, authors need to be market-oriented businesspeople, practitioners of Public Relations and social media enthusiasts. Writers need business skills in addition to their core craft; and that is where I will help you.
If you are determined to make money by writing non-fiction, and you are willing to apply the guidelines contained in this book - congratulations - you have found the right publication. I will help you to avoid the usual costly mistakes, but you must be disciplined and work towards deadlines, budgets and other goals.
Self-motivation and dogged persistence are prerequisite determinants for success, so you need to evaluate yourself. You must set and meet your own deadlines and other goals (unless you have an agent or publisher to push you forward). Too many adept writers fail due to lack of work that results in deliverables such as manuscripts and publishing proposals; others fail due to ignorance of the ‘ Rules of the Game ,’ which are covered in this guidebook.
Many successful writers set themselves daily, weekly, or monthly targets for their writing output. Typical targets are 2,000 words per day or at least three hours of productive writing. Stephen Russell (aka: Barefoot Doctor ) claimed to write his Urban Warrior book during a two week ‘holiday.’ Author of ‘ The Art of Non-Conformity ,’ Chris Guillebeau (chrisguillebeau.com) writes at least one thousand words every day except for Sundays. Be mindful, however, of the potential dilemma between quantity of words and their quality. These guidelines, therefore, apply only to initial drafts prior to rewriting and self-editing.
During nearly a decade of living in Southeast Asia, I have encountered many nomadic foreigners claiming to be writing a book. These writers reappear every year or so, and I always enquire about the status of their writing projects.