Following My Own Guidance

Well, I'm celebrating today and of course, everyday, but today in particular because my editor for my book, 101 Author Tips: Creating A Successful Book Campaign, has finally approved the interior pages. I submitted my completed manuscript on the evening of Sunday, March 22, 2009, and on Thursday, April 16, 2009, the very, last chapter was approved.

I was surprised that it took this length of time for the book to be edited and it wasn't necessarily because the manuscript, itself, needed so much work. I was not directed on three points. First, do not include any personal comments, remove all "I, me, mine, my" associations. Second, just because it's a tip book doesn't mean that the text should include an unlimited number of "lists" per se. Third, I wasn’t aware that my editor, wasn't my editor and that my work was being turned over to a new editor. (I had been communicating with a particular editor for a year and assumed she would be my book editor, but that wasn't so.) The newly assigned editor had a different take on my book and we had to become acquainted with each other and the book's premise.

So, just as my book guides an author through some possible scenarios of what can happen with the publisher and understanding the publishing process, I was subjected to the very things I had written about for "other" authors, never thinking that I would be experiencing some of those very same situations.

What I learned was to follow my own guidance in remaining calm, polite and cooperative. In the long run, this newly appointed editor proved to be a breath-of-fresh-air. Her suggestions and insight have made my first book a winner!

If' you'd like a sneak peak at some of the content, I invite you to visit my blog, http://publishing.lifetips.com./ .

101 Author Tips will release towards the end of May 2009. Watch for a listing of my upcoming appearances in your area.

101 Author Tips: Creating A Successful Book Campaign

The book is finally finished and currently being edited. Yes, that's right I finished my book, 101 Author Tips: Creating A Successful Book Campaign. Yeah! I have a new found respect for authors having gone through this process. It was and is so exciting! I'm ready to start another.

But, for the next few months and moving forward, the majority of my free time must go to publicizing and promoting the book. That's the one thing that many authors don't realize. Just when you think you're finished with the book and you can take a breather, you have to put on your publicity and marketing hats. Without publicity and marketing your book will remain unknown.

So, today I'm formulating my plans and getting ready to launch them in the next two weeks in preparation for the release in May 2009.

I have already lined up a book launch event at Book Revue in Huntington, NY on June 9, 2009 at 7:00pm. So, it's begun, but there's a lot more work to do.

I'll keep you posted as I progress through the campaign.

Cheers!

The Best Writer Can Use Help

The best writers still can use some help navigating the publishing process. Like any industry it has protocols, procedures and people. It's the people part that seems to trick up even the most experienced writers. Getting to know all the people in the various roles they play in the publishing of your book is crucial to maximizing the publisher's resources.

As a first-time author, it's important to remain calm, friendly and supportive in all of your dealings with the publisher. You, both, have entered into an agreement not unlike marriage, where you need specific things from each other in a timely manner. The more cooperative and supportive you are, the more support you will recieve from the publisher. Be willing to jump through hoops if necessary to deliver what the publisher asks of you.

The departments you will work with are: Editorial, Marketing, Publicity, Events, and Creative Services. These departments deliver the finish product, your book, to the Sales Department. It's all of their jobs to do their best to bring together all the pieces in order to create the most saleable book possible.

If you ever thought that writing a book was the end of your responsibility as an author, think again. It's only the beginning. The publisher will depend on you to do your own marketing, speaking, media and more to ensure the sale of your book is a success.

However, working collaboratively with your publisher will maximize both sides of the publishing process to drive sales. Everyone will win, if you work as a team.

If you want to be ahead of the game and be a writer in-the-know of the publishing process, checkout The Art and Business of Writing Conference: http://www.theartandbusinessofwriting.com I guarantee you'll be glad you did. Sign up today!