nonfiction: the long stuff (or finding your sweet spot)

NONFICTION: NONFICTION: THE LONG STUFFTHE LONG STUFF

or

Finding Your Finding Your Sweet SpotSweet Spot

Melanie RigneyCreative Word Seminar, Herndon, VANovember 1, 2008

What We’ll Do This Afte noonWhat We’ll Do This AfternoonHow do I know if my ideaHow do I know if my idea

would make a good book?How do I get started?gHow many words/chapters

do I have to have?What about the different

kinds of book publishing?d f dHow do I find an agent or

publisher?

Please do not reproduce without Melanie Rigney's permission ([email protected]). 2

It’s All About GoalsIt s All About GoalsWhy do you want to write this

book?book?Who will read it?Why will they read it?Where will they read it?Where will they read it?


What’s Yo Book Abo t?What’s Your Book About?

How to have firmer thighs in 10 daysHow to spend less, enjoy life moreHow my home-based business went

from $0 to $1 million in revenue in five yearsIf God can welcome back this prodigal

daughter, He will welcome back anyone.


Yo Edito ial VisionYour Editorial Vision

I’m writing this because:I’m called to do itI want to fill a need I or the readers haveI want to help people solve this problemI want to share knowledgeI want to change the worldgI want to be a famous authorI want to make a million dollars and retirePlease do not reproduce without Melanie Rigney's permission

([email protected]). 5

I want to make a million dollars and retire

Sta t ith the ActionStart with the ActionAs with novel writing nonfiction booksAs with novel writing, nonfiction books

begin with a problem.Every scene or chapter must move theEvery scene or chapter must move the

book along to its logical, satisfying conclusionconclusion.Show, don’t tell. Write in the moment.


Wh ’Where’s YOURYOUR sweetsweet spot?spot?


Sampling Other SweetsSampling Other Sweets

Study the competition:Page count/word lengthPage count/word lengthWriting style/pacingUse of charts/pullquotes/

illustrations/photosillustrations/photosTitle words


Sampling Othe S eetsSampling Other Sweets

How long/how many chapters or words?What must each chapter or section

accomplish?acco p sWhat special issues must you consider?


The State of Nonfiction Book Publishing TodayThe Association of American Publishers (AAP) estimates The Association of American Publishers (AAP) estimates sales were down 0.3 percent to $24.2 billion.As membership in mainline Protestant denominations has declined, publishers including United Methodist Publishing , p g gHouse, Augsburg Fortress (owned by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and Westminster John Knox (owned by the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.)—have seen the traditional markets for their books and other products traditional markets for their books and other products shrink. Like many university presses, publishing houses owned by churches are now expected to be self-supporting.BOTTOM LINE: BOOK PUBLISHING ON THE WHOLE IS STAGNANT OR DECLINING.

Wh t D Th t M t M ?What Does That Mean to Me?It’s riskier for publishers to take onIt s riskier for publishers to take on

first-time authors.While nonfiction still represents aWhile nonfiction still represents a

safer choice, publishers are looking for:for:Authors with a proven track recordAuthors with a platform (contacts, a

name in their field, marketing savvy)


Wh t D Th t M t M ?What Does That Mean to Me?If you don’t have the credentials orIf you don t have the credentials or

platform, team up with someone who doesExplore publishing optionsYour book proposal must be bullet-Your book proposal must be bullet

proofIt’s more important than ever toIt s more important than ever to

develop a strong marketing plan


T pes of P blishingTypes of PublishingTraditional/commercial publishing: Typically receive an / p g yp y

advance of $1,000 or more and a percentage of sales. You don’t pay anyone.

Subsidy publishing: You pay money up front and sell yourSubsidy publishing: You pay money up front and sell your rights.

Self-publishing: You (or your contractors) do it all, including editing la o t co e design p inting dist ib tion P int onediting, layout, cover design, printing, distribution. Print on demand technology is a subset of this type of publishing.

BOTTOM LINE: NO MATTER WHICH TRACK YOU PURSUE, YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THE MARKETING.


ResourcesResourcesLiterary Marketplace (searchable distributor list):

www.literarymarketplace.comU.S. ISBN Agency: www.isbn.orgLibrary of Congress Site for Publishers:

www.loc.gov/loc/infopub/Dan Poynter’s self-publishing site: www.parapublishing.comy p g p p gPenny Sansevieri’s publicity site: www.amarketingexpert.comBrian Jud’s special sales site: www.bookmarketingworks.com John Kremer’s list of top independent distributors: John Kremer s list of top independent distributors:

www.bookmarket.com/distributors.html


What Is a Book P oposal?What Is a Book Proposal?

It provides a quick snapshot for prospective agents and publishersIt helps clarify your goalIt makes life easier for agents andIt makes life easier for agents and

editors


Nonfiction Book P oposalsNonfiction Book Proposals

Query letter: One page that “hooks” the agent or publisher in the first paragraph with

h t’ f h b t b k th i thwhat’s fresh about your book, then in the second paragraph describes how the book will execute this vision and in the thirdwill execute this vision, and in the third paragraph states why you are the ideal person to write it.p

State how far along you are, when you will be finished, and how long the book will be.


g

Nonfiction Book P oposalsNonfiction Book ProposalsOne-sentence summary75-word summaryChapter-by-chapter outline: Often, one

h ( l ) hparagraph (6-10 lines) per chapterOverview: One to three pages about the

book’s content and benefitbook s content and benefitThree sample chapters, usually the first threeCompetitive analysis: Three to five books onCompetitive analysis: Three to five books on

the topic published in the past five years that have sold well—and how yours is different.


Nonfiction Book P oposalsNonfiction Book ProposalsAuthor biography: Typically one pageAuthor biography: Typically one page,

specific to your qualifications for writing this book.

Marketing analysis: At least three, hopefully at least five pages, about how you and your contacts will help the publisher sell bookscontacts will help the publisher sell books.

Reader profile: Your target reader, where he or she buys books, other demographic o s e buys boo s, ot e de og ap cinformation.

Endorsements


Seeing Is Believingg g


Seeing Is Belie ingSeeing Is Believing


Check the GuidelinesCheck the GuidelinesWhile publications like Christian p

Writers’ Market Guide and Writer’s Market aren’t always as up to date as we might like (not even g (WritersMarket.com), they can provide leads on publications the target market reads.g

Be sure to consult the latest version; you’ll find them at your library or bookstore as well as forlibrary or bookstore as well as for sale online.


Check the GuidelinesCheck the Guidelines

Increasingly, you’ll find the most up-to-date guidelines at publishers’ Web sites.If you can’t readily find the guidelines

on the home page, search for o t e o e page, sea c o“guidelines” or try the “About Us” or “Contact Us pages.”Co ac Us pages


Book P oposal Reso cesBook Proposal Resources

www.stevelaube.comBook Proposals That Sell (Terry Whalin)Formatting and Submitting Your Manuscript

(WD Books)Write the Perfect Book Proposal (Jeff

Herman)How to Write a Book Proposal (Michael

Larsen)


Q estions?Questions?

Melanie RigneyEditor for YouEditor for You4201 Wilson Blvd. #110328Arlington VA 22203 1859Arlington, VA 22203-1859(703) [email protected] do not reproduce without Melanie Rigney's permission

([email protected]). 27

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nonfiction: the long stuff (or finding your sweet spot)

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