© 2010

James D. BestAuthor of

The Shopkeeper Leadville Murder at Thumb Butte Tempest at Dawn The Shut Mouth Society Principled Action The Digital Organization

How to Get Your Book PublishedNo Nonsense Advice

© 2010

Other Non-Fiction

Writing

Magazine columns Journal articles Ghost writing

Non-Fiction Books

1997 2011

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Historical Novels

Steve Dancy Tales

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Historical Novels

Contemporary thriller

with strong historical

elements

Dramatization of

Constitutional

Convention

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How to Get Your Book Published

Going Public

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“All I need is seventy thousand words and a

head shot.”

Three Ways to Go

1. Traditional Publishing

2. Indie-Publishing3. eBook Only

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Nonfiction vs. FictionCredentials vs. Platform

Nonfiction• Book design more complex

Annotations, index, illustrations• Good News

Journal & magazine articles and bloggingSell direct to interest groups

Fiction• Harder to find audience and build

following• Good News

Easy eBook publishingMore attuned to large print and audio

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What’s Happening

The book industry—a storm is brewing

• Traditional publishers consolidating• Amazon challenging industry norms—retail, formats,

publishing• Web retailers duking it out• Web retailers no longer the Wild West• eBooks garnering increasing share of sales• eBooks becoming off-Broadway for book publishing • eBook pricing (and quality) all over the map

Generally good news for first-time authors

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The Three Rules for Getting Your Book Published

1. Perseverance2. Perseverance3. Perseverance

“Failure? I never encountered it. All I ever met were temporary setbacks.” Dottie Walters

“Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.” Reggie Leach

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Traditional Publishing

Advantages • Advance instead of money out of

pocket• Free professional design• Broad distribution possible• Potential for publisher promotion

Disadvantages • Difficult to break through &

getting harder• Rights, especially eBooks• Little recognition until branded• Royalties • Glacial Pace

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Traditional Publishing

First, you need to get by the gatekeeper

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Traditional Publishing

How to get a traditional publisher• Still best to get an agent first• Query letter—straightforward

and tight• Send multiple queries staggered

by time• Aim for new agent in established

agency• Pitch at conferences• Non-Fiction• Stress credentials • Book Proposal—Absolutely best

writing• Fiction• Complete manuscript• Aim at appropriate

agent/publisher

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Indie Publishing

Advantages • No barriers other than money• Speed, royalty percent, and

control• Ancillary rights, especially

eBooks• Faster pay

Disadvantages • Expensive to do right• Limited distribution• Limited access to reviews, prizes,

MSM• Self-marketing

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Indie Publishing

How to Indie-Publish• Pick your publisher carefully• Cost, royalties/margins, return policy,

reputation• Rights• Basic package always insufficient• Expensive to do right • Editing, proofreading, design

• Best to do your own eBook publishing• Print edition adds credibility

• Look professional• Amazon—Look Inside, reviews, Kindle• B&N—reviews

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eBook Only Publishing

Advantages • Can be zero cost• High demand for popular

genres• Explosive growth • Fast and flexible• High royalty percent

Disadvantages • Trend to low pricing • Limited distribution• Limited access to reviews, prizes,

MSM

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eBook Only Publishing

How to eBook publish

• Free—except for professional editing• Fiction & narrative nonfiction—you can do it yourself• Pricing crucial• 70% royalty from Amazon and B&N• Smashwords for iBooks and Sony Reader • Professional help for nonfiction with charts, tiered headings, sidebars, etc.

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Tips & Advice

• First and foremost, write a good book• Polish your book until it sparkles: revisions, feedback,

editing, proofreading• Striking book cover and clean interior design• Know your market and sell to your market• Recognize that promotion is going to be your

responsibility• Focus on good word-of-mouth• Persevere• Write a second book

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“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that.” Mark Twain

How to Get Your Book Published

© 2010

Thank You