Ready to write your nonfiction book? You are in the right place!
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The document outlines a comprehensive six-step guide for writing, publishing, and promoting a nonfiction book, emphasizing the importance of planning as the first and essential step. It details each step from planning through promotion, highlighting the roles of professional partners, production, and understanding publishing options. Additionally, it provides insights into effective marketing strategies, particularly online, to successfully reach readers.
Ready to write your nonfiction book? You are in the right place!
- 2. 2 Are you ready to write your book? Yes, but – You’re not sure you have a viable idea. – You don’t know where to begin. – You wonder if you can really write a whole book. – You know you need help but don’t know what kind. – You are puzzled by all the ways to publish. – You’re uncertain about the idea of Internet marketing. Relax. You are in the right place. Welcome to How to Write, Publish, & Promote a Nonfiction Book
- 3. 3 An Overview of the Six Steps How to take a nonfiction book from aspiration to Amazon. 1. Planning 2. Writing 3. Professional Partners 4. Production 5. Publishing 6. Promotion
- 4. 4 Planning • What it is – A plan or proposal – Your thinking document – A work in progress – Way to organize your thoughts – A plan every element of your book • Why it matters Planning is the first and most important step in the process. It forces you to ask yourself many tough questions, including “What is my book about?”
- 5. 5 Can You Answer These Ten Questions? 1. Why are you writing this book? 2. What is your book about (in one sentence)? 3. How are you qualified to write this book? 4. Why is this an appropriate and timely topic? 5. Who is your ideal reader? 6. How will your reader benefit? 7. How will you reach your ideal reader? 8. How many potential readers are there? 9. What else is out there on this subject? 10. How will you help to promote your book?
- 6. Writing • What it is – The heart of the matter – The content – Most time-consuming step • Why it matters – Your subject is important to you. – You want to share it with others. – You want your readers to respond.
- 7. Parts of a Book: Why Each Part is Important There are four main sections in any nonfiction book, and each section has a specific function. – Covers must be well designed, eye-catching, and informative. – Front matter includes the information you want to share with your readers. – Chapters contain your subject matter—your message. – Back matter allows you to share information without interrupting the flow of the chapters.
- 8. Get Organized As important as planning is before you begin writing, it is equally important to organize every step of the writing process. There are four steps: 1. Set up your book files. 2. Organize your files. 3. Save your files. 4. Create a writing plan. 5. Fill in your deadlines.
- 9. 9 Professional Partners • What it is – Partnerships with people who can provide expertise exactly where you need it. – Each member of your “team” focuses on making your book a success. • Why it matters – Very few people can or would even want to do everything that must be done to take a book from concept to completion. – Choosing partners will directly influence the success of your book.
- 10. 10 Production • What it is – A series of activities handled by the publisher between the completed manuscript and the published book – If you self-publish, you make production decisions. – Production details may seem confusing at first, but many of them are just a matter of preference. • Why it matters – There are many aspects of a book that attract you or leave you unimpressed, and someone made decisions on every one of those components. – No matter how you publish, you will play a role in those decisions.
- 11. 11 Publishing • What it is – Converts digital files into e-books or printed, bound pages • Why it matters – Your book must be in a form readers can access. – There are more publishing options for authors than ever before. – The more you know about those options, the better equipped you are to choose the right one for your message and audience.
- 12. Why it’s Important to Understand Your Publishing Options • The publishing world is changing every day, and the biggest change is in emerging technology. • The more you understand about this world, the better your choices will be. • There are five main publishing options.
- 13. What You Should Know About Literary Agents Your agent is a partner who will … – Critique your book proposal before it is submitted – Make suggestions or edits to help you improve proposal – Submit your proposal to interested publishers – Secure advances, settle contract disputes – Review royalty statements – Ensure that publishers meet their contractual obligations – Become your support system, guide, and cheerleader – Bring a new editor up to date on you and your book – Earn money only when he or she sells your book proposal
- 14. Publishing Options 1. Conventional publishing 2. Independent (“Indie”) publishing 3. Self-publishing 4. Print on demand (POD) 5. Electronic (E) publishing
- 15. Costs of Self-Publishing Professional Partners Estimated Fee Administrative Asst $25-$60/hour Attorney $150-$350/hour Book Coach $75-$300/ hour Copy Editor $4-$10/pg, or $18-$35 /hour Development Editor $10-$12/page or $75- 125/hour Designer (cover) $450-$650 Designer (interior) $5-$15/page Distributer Nominal registration fee + 55% of profit Ghostwriter $20,000-$50,000 Professional Partners Estimated Fee Illustrator A well-kept secret Photographer $500-$10,000 Proofreader $2-$3.75/typeset page or $15-$25/hr Printer 500: $3.65-5.25 each 1,000: $2.36-3.50 each Proposal Development $3,000-$5,000 Publicist $75-$350+ per hour Reviewers Free book; no charge Website Designer $1,500-$5,000 Total $30,900-$82,579
- 16. 16 Promotion • What it is – Your book has been published. – Now, you must get it into the hands of readers. • Why it matters – Many books are vying for readers’ attention. In nonfiction, there are thousands upon thousands of distractions. – Promotion increases your chances of finding your readers. – Promotion is an ongoing process; you are responsible for managing that process.
- 17. 17 Fill in the Boxes of Your Promotional Plan
- 18. Harnessing the Power of Online Marketing • You must have a presence on the Web. Here are some of the most effective ways to promote your book: • Website – Doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive – Introduces you, your qualification, what you have to offer, and how to acquire it • Social networking – Connects people and encourages conversation and engagement • Amazon – Offers numerous opportunities to sell books and develop your “author presence”
- 19. 19 Why Should You Blog? • To provide value to your readers – Most successful bloggers are generous. They give away lots of information, and it’s all free. • To inform, teach, guide, entertain, or all of these – Content should relate to the mission of your blog. • To develop a following of loyal readers – One visit to your blog is not enough. You want readers to return, again and again. • To sell ideas, services, or products – Content counts. You have to have something to say, something worth reading.
- 20. 20 Amazon: Where Readers Will Look for Your Book • If you have a book, potential readers expect it to be on Amazon. • Amazon is much more than a huge, virtual bookstore. • Its greatest value may be in the ways it can sell YOU. • Marketing your book on Amazon should be the heart of your promotional plan. 20
- 21. 21 What Next? • Take my step-by-step online course: How to Write Publish, & Promote a Nonfiction Book. • Read How to Write a Nonfiction Book: From planning to promotion is 6 simple steps. • Not sure if you’re ready to proceed? Let’s talk about it. Contact me at 314-969-8661 or bobbi@writeanonfictionbook.com