So you want to write a book

With my book Freedom For a Day coming out the week of October 19th, I can say I have learned so much about the Publishing process over the last 9 months. Sure I thought I will write my book, and then get it published! A statement that rolls off the tongue with ease, however the real life part of this was quite an education.

Not being one who likes to do something average, I started to research all over who I should contact and where should I start. Now I am not sure if I should say I fell upon great data, or if it simply found me. When I got an email for a second time about a Book Marketing event in Los Angles California put on by Mark Victor Hansen (co-Author of Chicken Soup for the Soul) I thought Okay,anybody who has gone from rags to selling over 140 million books might be a good source of information. This so called “Mega Event” that I booked a flight to the conference . Filling my mind with data for 3 days was the best first step I could have taken. On the first day, I learned that Hansen was the host, and spoke many times each day, but was really not the main feature. What he had done was gathered top notch people from many industries that are associated with book writing (Publishers, Authors, Speakers, Public Relations people,) the list goes on and on. These people were ones who made it big, not average in their respective fields by any measure.

For 3 days I wrote so many notes, I think it was the first time I ever totally filled a notebook. Below is the overview of the process and 3 main ways I have learned you can publish a book, along with what I consider are the pros and cons to each.

1) Sell your book (before or after it is written) to a Publishing Company. Pro: you have people who specialize in this that help you every step of the way. You get upfront monies most likely, and get royalties as you go along. They also take care of getting your book out to the marketplace and into the bookstores. CON: because of so many changes to the Publishing Industry and the economic struggles they are having you must already have a platform (large following or high demand for you book) in order for them to be interested. They also take a large share of the proceeds (less money for you) and take most times from 12-18 months to get the book completed and to market. Another thing to keep in mind is, if the book does not make it in the first 6-9 months they will probably walk away from it. The Publisher also may want you to make changes with your book you are not comfortable with.

2) Self Publish (write, edit, and get it printed) Pro:you have total control of your book project, do not have to bang on doors trying to get someone to publish it, can get the book completed and to the market so much faster, and when you sell it you keep obviously much more of the money for yourself. Con: not knowing what the best choices are potentially for your book, and when you should be making them. For instance, who will design the cover, what printer do you use, what price is best for your book, what is an ISBN code and how do I get one ( I can go on and on here). You are 100% in charge of marketing your book, you have to get it to the bookstores and general public.

3) Option 3 is what I will call the next one. Imagine some people in the industry who saw the changes that were happening and knew how to use technology available in today’s world got together and created a middle of the road type of option, you pay them a flat fee for the process from start to finish. PRO: You get their expertise and guidance; they take care of the entire process from submitted book to printed product. They market your book to over 15,000 websites, millions of direct email addresses, get your book into book stores potentially, market it on their own site, and can get your book to market faster than a regular Publisher. You also keep a larger amount of the proceeds of each sale they make. CON: You have an upfront cost that you would not have with a regular publisher;these are young companies and new way, and they do not have the same ability to get your book into the “big bookstores” like a true publisher can.

All 3 are good ways to get your book from your mind or computer to the real world, it is just a matter of which works best for you in your life? After my 9 months of travels all over the United States doing research I have collected great data as to who is tops in each industry, if you are interested in any of the three options listed above, I am happy to email additional information that can help you. The world is waiting for your words.
James.Goddard.com or Jim@FreedomForaDay.com