Get a Handle on Your Next Article or Book and Get Published

Many novice writers, when asked about what they want to write about, respond with the name of a broad topic, such as “relationships” or “computers.” At the same time, these writers overlook an important question, “Well, what ABOUT relationships” and “What ABOUT computers?”

In other words, what main point do you want to make about some aspects of a broad subject to a specific audience?

For example, writing a letter to a friend is likely to use different language and include news that will appeal to that audience. On the other hand, writing a letter to a relative is going to be quite different and not likely use exactly the same language or news that might be presented to a friend.

So before producing that article or book, all writers need to decide who their audience and tailor their material to it, just like a letter-writer would to his or her audience. In other words, tailor the material to a given audience.

For example, the novice writer’s main point might be “Lap computers are becoming obsolete” for an audience of college students. And in the other broad subject of relationships, the novice writer might state that “Having an older brother or sister can be an advantage.” In this case, the specific audience might be young parents. Also, the best part is that both points are related to their respective broad subjects and speak directly to their intended audiences. Another benefit is that the novice writer can visualize each audience and tailor his or her statements to it.

As a result, that writer’s work will be well-focused, with interesting content, and attract his or her given audience — including an editor at some publishing house who just happens to be looking for such a topic!

Follow these suggestions and you will have a smoother road to a faster sale for your article or book.

Dorothy Zjawin’s website, http://www.profitable-pen.com, is open to ALL writers and features articles and a free forum.

10 Things To Remember When Writing Articles To Market Your Website

Whatever you’re selling, writing articles to distribute freely amongst webmasters is one of the best ways of getting yourself and your service known.

Although I know nothing much about cheese, for example, I’m sure there are all sorts of ways an article could be angled. Cheese comparisons, the way various cheeses are made, where they originate from, recipes for cheese based meals are all ideas that immediately spring to mind. Some subjects will be easier to find angles for, others more difficult, but everything can be written about.

Well written articles give the reader a good impression of your business. I know I’d be much happier buying cheese from somebody I “knew” had the ability to make educated recommendations than somebody who knew nothing. Convince the reader that you’re educated in your subject. That way, when they have to choose between buying from you or your competitor, your name will be the first to spring to mind.

But what constitutes a good article? Let’s see.

* The Number One Rule - DO NOT PLAGIARISE

While it’s ok to use other material as a source of research, it is not ok to take somebody else’s work and simply re-writing it. Not only is it not ok, it’s illegal and, if caught, you can be prosecuted.

Don’t imagine that because the Net is huge, you won’t be caught. Writers have software that can help them locate their material and if they find anything that’s too similar to their own work, they may become suspicious. And quite rightly so, too.

* Use Your Introduction

The average web visitor will spend 7 seconds looking for the information they want. If they don’t find it, they’ll hit the back button.

Make your article leap out and grab them. Have those first sentences pull them in and make the rest of the article scannable. A quick glance down the page should tell them whether the information they want is likely to be there.

Use sub-headings and bullet lists. Keep paragraphs short and use bold text to make important information stand out.

* Strike The Right Balance

It isn’t always easy to know exactly how much to write but in general, try not to be too wordy whilst giving the reader the necessary information along with a smattering of your personality.

A list of dull fact probably won’t be read but neither will an article that drones on about the history of Amsterdam when the reader really wants to know about Edam cheese!

* Write Articles, Not Adverts

People want information. Anything that looks remotely like an advert will make them suspicious. Think of your own reactions. Do you trust advertisers to tell you the truth about their products? I certainly don’t!

Keep your article informative, perhaps humorous, and interesting. If you must mention your company, do it either in the opening paragraph or wait until the concluding paragraph where you might write something like “After 8 years in the cheese making industry, I know only too well just how important the rich, oaken taste is to the truth connoisseur…” This lets the reader know that you really know your cheese and leads them to look for more information, in your author bio, about your business.

Subtlety is the key!

* Keep It Simple!

When you’re an expert on your subject it’s very easy to use jargon that others won’t necessarily understand. Even if they do, they’d still be happier if you’d used an everyday word that they’re comfortable with.

New writers often make the mistake of believing that big words will impress the reader. Who said readers want to be impressed by your vocabulary? It’s your knowledge they’re interested in, and the simpler your language, the easier it is for them to identify the facts and educate themselves.

When you have a choice, go with the simple word.

One word of warning, though. Don’t be repetitive. If you find yourself using the same “little” word over and over, then you need to start looking for alternatives which may mean using some of those fancy words I’ve just said you should drop.

Nothing’s ever cast in stone!

* Proofread and Edit Your Work

If your article isn’t properly written, don’t bother to distribute it. Nobody will take you seriously if you can’t spell or use your apostrophes properly.

While the spell check facility of your word processor is useful, you can’t depend on entirely on it. “Can eye have too deserts next weak, please?” would slip through the checker because the individual words are correctly spelled. That doesn’t make them right, though, does it?

If your spelling and grammar’s a little rusty, use the web’s resources to help polish your skills. My personal recommendations are:

Dictionary.com - http://www.dictionary.com
Guide To Grammar & Writing - http://cctc.commnet.edu/grammar/

When you’ve finished writing, go through your work with a fine toothed comb and find every mistake. Then go through it again. Try to keep the writing tight by getting rid of any unnecessary padding.

Proofreading and editing are just as important and the actual writing and can often take just as long.

* Make Use of Your Resource Box

Free articles are used on the understanding that the author’s resource box is to remain intact. This is a short informative piece at the end of the article that tells the reader more about the author. Look at the bottom of this article for an example. These are sometimes called “author bios”.

Your resource box is where you advertise your service. Something like:

“Camen Bert has 7 years experience in the cheese making industry and has her own home-made for sale at www.somecheesedomain.com. Visit her store buy speciality cheeses as well as find lots more cheese related information.”

Hopefully, if the reader wants to know more, he’ll follow the link to read further articles (some of which you’ll have used exclusively on your site) and while he’s there he’ll have a wander around the shop. If he sees what he likes, BINGO! A new customer!

* Be Patient

It takes time to build up a reputation as an expert but if you syndicate your articles to enough websites, people will eventually start to recognise your name and even think of it (or your company name) whenever they think cheese.

Obviously, cheese has been used as an example in this article - the product could just as easily have been car tyres, wedding dresses or fishing rods. The product isn’t important - how you market it is!

Sharon Jacobsen is a freelance writer living in South Cheshire, England. She’s been writing for as long as she can remember and is happy to help others learn from her own experience. To contact Sharon, or learn more about her work, please visit http://www.sharon-jacobsen.co.uk

Writing The Blockbuster Book Proposal: How To Sell Your Non-Fiction Book

You did it. You crafted the perfect query letter for your
non-fiction book, and as a result, an editor at a large
publishing house has requested a full book proposal. At this
point, you have a 50/50 chance of seeing your work on a
bookstore shelf. The difference maker will be a strong book
proposal that exhibits knowledge of your audience, what that
audience needs and wants, and how that audience can be reached
on a cost-effective basis.

When an editor makes a request to see your book proposal, he/she
will most likely send along a brief overview of the publisher’s
book proposal guidelines. You might want to make some subtle
adjustments to your proposal in order to meet those guidelines.
But under no circumstances should you wait for a book proposal
to be requested before actually writing one. A well-written,
professional book proposal takes several days, oftentimes
several weeks, to compose. It should be the first thing you
write - before both the query letter and the manuscript itself.
Despite the guidelines, each proposal is unique, and the quality
of yours will be THE difference maker in determining whether or
not the publisher takes a financial risk with your book. So put
your best effort into crafting a blockbuster book proposal.
Below, you’ll find a list of the basic elements of a book
proposal that, if mastered, will all but guarantee the offer of
a book contract.

Element #1: The Title Page/Table of Contents: The first page of
a book proposal is the title page. The title page states the
working title for the book you are proposing along with your
contact information (and that of your agent if you have one).
Make sure to center the text. Generally, it isn’t wise to use
fancy borders or cutesy graphics. You’re writing a business
proposal. Make sure it looks like one. On the second page of
your proposal, provide a short table of contents for the book
proposal itself. List each of the following sections along with
their corresponding page numbers: Summary, About The Author,
Audience, Competition, Publicity & Promotional Opportunities,
Outline, and Sample Chapters. Some will say the Outline and
Sample Chapter sections are optional, but remember, you’re
trying to sell a book. Providing the publisher with a sample of
your writing, especially if you’re a first-time author, might
well mean the difference between acceptance and rejection.

Element #2: Summary: In the Summary section of your proposal,
provide a brief overview of the proposed book. Try to envision
the blurb that will appear on the back cover of your final
product. Make that blurb the opening paragraph. Show the editor
you can hook him/her on your proposal from the very first
sentence, and you’ll convince them of your ability to hook a
potential reader as well. Elaborate on the contents of your
query letter by addressing the following subjects: the content,
the audience, and the author. What is the premise of your book?
What does it promise its reader? Who is the market for the book?
How large is that market? And, finally, why are you the best
person to write this book at this time?

Element #3: About The Author: In the About The Author section of
your proposal, go into greater detail about yourself. In
general, it’s best to use third person. But it’s okay to use
first person if you feel more comfortable doing so. Why are you
the best qualified person to write this book? What are your
credentials? Are you an expert in the field? Has your previous
work been published (not just in books, but newspapers,
magazines, ezines, etc.)? Are you a prolific public speaker? If
so, how many speeches do you give each year? To what types of
audiences do you speak? Do you have media experience or media
contacts? If so, let the editor know. If you have limited
experience in any or all of these fields, say so. Be honest and
direct. Experience helps, but lack of experience itself will not
lead to rejection. Misrepresenting yourself will. Never include
information about your personal life unless it is essential to
your ability to sell the book.

Element #4: Audience: In the Audience section of your proposal,
clearly define the market for your book. First, identify the
demographic segment you hope to target. Examples of demographic
characteristics are gender, age, political ideology, religion,
nationality, education level, economic status, etc. Be specific.
Research the size of the audience and back up your claims with
real numbers. Avoid broad claims such as “everyone will love
this book,” and instead use such statements as “4.5 million
college-educated Christian men between the ages of 21 and 29
will be drawn to this book because of its unique…” At this
point, define the psychographics of your audience. What is the
motivation of this demographic to buy your book? What unmet
needs and wants do they harbor that your book is sure to
satisfy? In short, make certain your Audience section clearly
indicates 1) who will buy your book, and 2) why they will buy it.

Element #5: Competition: In the Competition section of your
proposal, provide examples of well-known published books similar
to yours (or, if your book covers a new niche in a popular
subject, list those books that target a similar audience). It’s
always best to cite bestsellers. If you can track down the sales
figures for these books, provide the number of copies each title
sold. The larger the sales figures, the more you strengthen your
case that a large market exists for your subject matter. Once
you’ve established that a large market exists, explain why your
book will be different. In what way will you position your book
in order to differentiate it from its peers? Do any demographic
trends aid your case for continued demand in this market? State
explicitly why your book is unique and why the market is ripe
for its release. However, be wary of a bold statement such as
“nothing like my book has ever been written before”. You may
have uncovered a unique angle for your subject, but in all
likelihood, you haven’t invented a new genre or field of study.

Element #6: Publicity and Promotional Opportunities: In this
section of your proposal, outline the promotional avenues open
to your book. If you’ve already established that a market
exists, this section will be the make it or break it section of
your proposal. The publisher must know how you intend to reach
the audience you’ve identified. Do specific groups exist with a
high likelihood of being receptive to your book? Good examples
are the audience members of a specific radio or television show,
readers of specific magazines or newsletters, book clubs,
non-profit organizations, or trade groups. Identify the groups
relevant to your book and point out the vehicles a publisher can
use to reach those groups in a cost-effective manner. Do you
have media connections or experience? Potential exposure on
nationally syndicated radio and television shows is the best way
to capture a publisher’s attention. Booking the author on such
shows is free, and the resulting sales can be astronomical. So
publishers are always looking for authors with a media platform.
Do you have one? What angle or hook can you provide a producer
or editor that will land you a coveted interview or feature
story? If you develop a strong enough hook, you might land a
book contract based on this aspect of your proposal alone.

Element #7: Outline: For this section of your proposal, provide
a list of the proposed chapter titles, along with a brief
overview of the contents therein.

Element #8: Sample Chapters: In this section of your proposal,
simply attach the first two or three chapters of your proposed
manuscript. Providing sample chapters is essential for a
first-time author. If your chapters are of high quality, they
give the publisher confidence you can produce a publishable
manuscript in a timely manner.

Element #9: Presentation: The presentation of your book proposal
is as instrumental to its success as the content. Make sure to
proofread zealously. If you think you’ve finished, proofread it
again. Read, correct, and rewrite your proposal at least twenty
times so as to be confident that it’s the best it can possibly
be. When it comes time to print the final draft, the body of the
proposal should be double-spaced and printed in black ink on
clean white paper using a LaserJet printer. Finally, just as
with any business document, send your book proposal via FedEx.
This will create the immediate impression you are a professional
who will be businesslike in his day-to-day dealings with the
publisher.

Once you’ve incorporated these nine elements into your book
proposal, you will be left with a finished product worthy of
commanding the respect of any editor. But in order to create a
true blockbuster book proposal, make sure to… Define the
book’s concept. Identify the book’s audience. And outline
exactly how to reach that audience. Do these three things well,
and you’re certain to obtain a book contract. So don’t waste any
time. Get to work on your blockbuster book proposal today!