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Make Big Money on Your Book: 10 Hot Tips
Copyright © 2002 - 2010 by Susan Harrow. All rights reserved.
Wouldn't it be nice to write a book, get paid handsomely for
it and be considered a top expert all at once? It's
possible--if you know the rules.
1. Study the publishing industry.
Today celebrity books rule. Books that catch a quick trend
come in second. Take chick lit, for example. Nobody cared
about hip books for women ten, or even five years ago. But
women buy the majority of books--and actually read them.
It's not to say that other book genres aren't viable. Of
course they are. The big categories of fiction and non-fiction will live on forever. But even self-help is on the
wane according to some sources. And, as a literature savvy
friend of mine said, *Plots are passe.* There's much more to
know about the industry. Like what agents look for and how
publishers decide on what will be profitable.
2. Understand that publishers don't buy books, they buy
ideas.
Many new authors think they need to write a book to sell it.
Not so. You develop an idea (fiction excluded) and give
publishers a taste of what's to come. They decide whether
your idea has a large enough market for them to make money
on it. You must prove, without a doubt that they can. Lots
of it.
3. Think of your proposal as the business plan for your
book.
Map out the life of your book in the marketplace for the
next five years. Plan on devoting at least that much time to
promoting it.
4. Have a huge platform.
A platform is simply YOUR ability to sell books to the
audience that you have said will buy--from you. Are you
already a *personality* people recognize and love? How many
organizations, companies, groups do you speak to every
month? Do you write regularly for newspapers, magazines or
the Internet? Do you have prestigious clients who can sell
your books in bulk to their corporations? You get the idea.
You must *look* like a mover and shaker in your field.
5. Be a media star.
If you're not already a familiar face on TV, a vivacious
voice on the radio or a person who appears in print often,
not to worry. If you can show you have the potential to
become a star, that's a start. Maybe you've been on local TV
and had rave reviews. If so, mention that.
6. Speak.
A major publishing house
hired me to media coach one of their rising star authors.
Her book was getting major national press--but she was dull.
And they were worried that her lackluster personality would
effect her book sales. We worked until she got comfortable
on camera while talking vividly in 15 second sound
bites.
7. Get media coached.
With some media coaching you can morph into a mediagenic
maven. But it does take practice and sincere commitment. You
can work on your pizzazz factor by studying great
interviewees and modeling the behaviors you liked. If you
can’t afford a media coach, get out that video camera and do
mock interviews with friend. A lot can be revealed and
ironed out just by seeing how you appear to others on the
big screen.
8. Develop your platform.
When I interviewed editors at top New York publishing houses
like Simon & Schuster & HarperCollins they told me
repeatedly that the most important thing a writer can have
today is a strong *platform.* A platform is a plan of how
you are going to reach your audience to sell books.
Prove you have a following. Publishers want to know who has
bought your books or products in the past-- and they want to
know how many. Can you show that you have a track record of
selling your goods to people across the globe, or at least
in your community? Maybe you’re not as far along in your
career as one of my clients who is a $12,000 an hour speaker
who put in his proposal the fact that his audiences range
from 100-10,000 people, and he speaks 250 times per year.
His speaking bureau typically sells his video and audio
tapes to those audiences in advance when they book his talk.
What you want to show is how you can secure sales in large
quantities to people you know will buy from you--because
they have bought already. Or how audiences similar to the
ones who have purchased are primed to buy your book.
9. Get high profile endorsements.
To instantly establish your stature put these accolades on
page number one so they’re the first thing an agent or
editor sees. Endorsements need to be from celebrities, best-selling authors and well-known experts in your field.
Show that you’re respected in the world. Endorsements show
that high-level people believe in you, that you’re a good
bet. They also go on your book cover jacket and help sell
your book--and in today’s competitive marketplace it’s
essential. Don’t say you’re *actively seeking endorsements.*
Leading with the endorsements makes sure an agent or editor
gets that you’re a big shot--or soon will be.
One secret that many authors don’t know is the best blurbs
are written by the writers themselves. Don’t expect famous
people to read your tome. They don’t have the time or the
desire. And please don’t send it to them unsolicited. Ask
permission. Then do the work for them and ask them to sign
off on that perfect gem--the one you’ve written--touting the
marvels of your work.
10. Your sample chapter.
Once you’ve established that the author has some sort of a
platform, that they have some voice in the world beyond
their circle of friends, I go straight to the sample
chapter.
Prove you can write. *I want to know if they are a good
writer, because an agent can tinker away with the rest of
the proposal and make it sound really good,* says Kelly
Notaras, a Senior Editor at Hyperion.
What if you’re not a great writer? Hire a ghost writer.
Remember platform is non-replaceable. You, the personality,
the presence, is what they’re investing in. Good writing can
be bought. Star quality can’t.
Do you dream of making big money for your book idea... even
before you write it... (even if it's your first book.) Want
to be paid $100-$975,000 or more for your book? Let me show
you how. You'll discover how to land a top literary agent
and sign that coveted 6 figure deal. Get more free tips
here:
http://prsecrets.com/store/sixfigurebookproposal.html
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Susan Harrow, CEO of
http://prsecrets.com, is
a top media coach, marketing strategist and author of
Sell Yourself Without Selling Your Soul® (HarperCollins),
The
Ultimate Guide to Getting Booked on Oprah, and
Get a 6-
Figure Book Advance. Clients include Fortune 500 CEOs, bestselling authors and entrepreneurs who have appeared on
Oprah, 60 Minutes, NPR, and in TIME, USA Today, Parade,
People, O, NY Times, WSJ, and Inc. |
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