Is that it? Only 24 simple steps?
Oh my goodness. I don't think anyone will be giving me a book deal anytime soon. Perhaps someone will ask me to write a paragraph or two. ;-)
Thank you for the insight.
Want to parlay all your hard-won expertise into a book deal? A blog can be a great way to build a platform -- and impress editors and agents with your writing chops. Here's a step-by-step guide to getting started.
Because I am a freelance writer with a couple of book deals on my bio, I get asked a lot of questions about publishing. Among the most popular: "How can I start a blog to get some buzz about the book I want to write?"
Herewith, my recommendations for starting a blog and learning a bit more about the wacky world of book publishing:
Learn more about the author, Michelle Goodman.
Is that it? Only 24 simple steps?
Oh my goodness. I don't think anyone will be giving me a book deal anytime soon. Perhaps someone will ask me to write a paragraph or two. ;-)
Thank you for the insight.
Hi Jeff,
I'm sure I could add more if you wanted. We didn't even get to the book proposal, agent/editor shopping, outlining, writing, editing, revising, promoting, tearing-your-hair-out parts yet. ;)
Any author will tell you, writing a book is often less glamorous than it sounds. It can even be grueling at times. It can also be the thrill of a lifetime for some writers. I'm torn between thrilling/grueling on my current manuscript...
I do think it's important to only do a book if you're in love with the topic -- and the idea of publishing. Because there are about 9000 better ways to make money out there.
Michelle
What's the current book you're working on, Michelle (or would you have to kill me if you told me?)
I have a book written. A children's book, I know they are hard to 'sell'. I wrote it accidentally for my family and friends, and that's enough for me. How to go about finding a publisher without letting it take over my life? What's a good first step? Should I post it on a blog? That seems kind of random.
Dan, it's My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire, which Seal Press is publishing at the end of 2008. And now, I will have to kill you. ;) Kidding. I think I mention it on my Biznik page too.
Michael, whew, that's a huge topic. I would not suggest posting your entire book on a blog, unless you're happy with that medium of publication as your final outcome. It doesn't sound like you are, so scratch that idea. If you just want to make a pretty book for friends and family and don't care about finding a traditional publisher who will handle sales/publicity/promotion/etc. for you, see Lulu.com for self-publishing options.
However, if you do want to try to find a traditional publisher, I'd pick up a how-to book on the topic. Try to find one specific to publishing kids' books; there are literally hundreds of how-to-publish books out there. Or check out a class called "You're Writing the Manuscript, Now What?" at Richard Hugo House in Seattle:
http://www.hugohouse.org/classes/listings/
Hope that helps, Michelle
Thanks, Michelle. This is a fascinating topic. I can see taking selective posts from one's blog and expanding them into a book. I've only had my own blog for a month but I can see that working over time.
Great suggestions to Dan on publishing. I would add that Gotham Writers Workshops has an excellent online class called "How to Get Published." (I'm working on a memoir now and that class was immensely helpful.) Also, on the craft side, the University of Washington Writing for Children Certificate Program (one-year long) is excellent.
Michele, great advice. Very useful.
Hi Judy. I agree; those are great resources. There are tons out there -- books, classes, blogs -- for anyone who wants to learn more about book publishing. mediabistro.com is another great resource.
Howard Howell has done at least one Biznik event on the topic of publishing (http://biznik.com/events/2008/2/21/authorpublisher-round-table). If anyone is interested in the idea, I'm sure he'd like hearing that he should do another.
My blog at www.fixerfixer.com was started with this very idea. I have a lot of useless knowledge about Real Estate construction with an emphasis on preparing properties for sale. Now that it's started it would be great to see if there is a community to engage in the blog. For me the comments are many times more interesting than the post. There again if someone comments can I use those in a book to call my own?
David, as a journalist, I would ask the commenter if you have their permission to use their quote in the book. Most will say yes. If the issue is controversial, you can give them the option to be anonymous or use a pseudonym.
Another thing you can do (sparingly, because book readers will grow tired of too many anonymous sources) is to say, "One commenter on my web forum lamented blah blah blah..." If you use this approach, make sure you don't identify the commenter at all; in other words, don't say that they're from Boise, work as a teacher, etc.
Excellent information. I'd like to recommend a site if you haven't heard about it yet. It's called zenhabits.net and I've been a fan of this guy from the start. This is relevant because he started his blog from nothing a year ago and he now has a book deal with a major publisher and was voted the best blog on the internet in 2007. His story is amazing and it's the perfect example of how you can turn hard work and talent into something big from nothing. Check out the site, you'll enjoy it. Also study his model if becoming a publishing star from nothing is your goal.
http://zenhabits.net/2008/01/dream-come-true-ive-got-a-book-deal/
Michelle, I love this article! Blogging has been the single best thing I ever did for business - just in the past week I've gotten requests for input on a local article about women and business and a NY Times piece about time management for entrepreneurs - and each of them came about through my blog.
Since I'm in the process of writing a book, this is all great PR for me, and it hasn't hurt my business either!
Chris, thanks for the site rec. Inspiring story!
And Betsy, way to go! Is the NYT article live? I'd love to see it when it goes up. Congrats!
NYT article not live yet - I will let you know when it is. Thanks for your encouragement!
Welcome. Rock on! ;)
Great article-practical steps well laid out!