Book Publishing
Writing a book to help pay the mortgage is hard work. And as with any hard work, getting the most and best help is, in my mind, only logical. The ins and outs of the publishing world are best known by professional publishers and editors, and working to find a publisher is where you should start your book project. Let me help.
Selecting the Subject Matter
Your first job is finding an appropriate book subject, a subject about which there are few if any competing books already in print. Amazon is a good place to start. You may want to write a book about fly fishing (I did), but I quickly found many titles that covered my favorite type of fly fishing – dry flies.
I spent a considerable amount of time scanning the titles that were in print at the time, and I finally recognized the fact that there were no comprehensive books on “Underwater Flies for Trout,” the name of my first book. There were nymphing books and books that focused on streamers and still others on wet flies, but there were none that included all types of underwater flies.
Choosing a Publisher
Next, you need to find a publisher. You’ve already done much of that work by scanning the books that are already out there. If you found books that you like, jot down the identity of the publisher, and use the internet to find particulars – the address to use, the name of the editor who handles similar books, whether the company accepts unsolicited queries (most do), how well they pay, and how good their advances are. There are books out there that list these things.
If you would prefer, you might want an agent to do all of these things for you (the finding a publisher part, not the writing of the book), but an agent will take a cut of your royalties, which may be meager for your first books.
Drafting a Proposal
When you find a publisher you like, you must then put a book proposal together. Please note, in this profession, you sell your idea first, then with half of your advance in hand because you now have a book contract, you write the book. You get the second half when they accept the manuscript.
Please don’t spend six months to a year writing a book, only to find that no one wants it.
Your book proposal may be the toughest part of the entire process. You need to compose a one-page letter selling your idea to your chosen editor. It needs to include the theme of your book, that it has little or no competition out there, why you should be the one to write it (e.g., your writing credits, and your professional background), and when you can deliver a finished manuscript. You then include an outline of the book (roughly a short description of each chapter) and a sample chapter. Then mail it out and wait.
You will find that your book will be greatly improved by having a professional publisher. Your editor will help with organizing the book, asking pertinent questions, and basically make sure the ideas and writing are on track. The company’s line editor will make sure that your grammar and sentence structures are accurate and clear. And a proofreader will pick up any typos and errors and omissions.
Then it goes to the printer. And when your earned royalties have paid off your advance, you can expect to receive checks twice.
Tom Fuller is past president of NEOWA (2006, 2007) and a Lifetime member






