This message can never be said enough.
If you're thinking of submitting to a publisher, research publishers online to
find out which are the best fit for your project. (See www.publishers.ca for Canadian
publishers.) They will also have submission guidelines on each Website.
Most publishers will not accept email proposals, unless you have already
developed a relationship. In order to get noticed and stand above the 6,000 to
8,000 pitches the larger publishers receive every year, just doing the due
diligence as to researching and taking the time to pen a good proposal will set
you on the upper rungs of the slush pile ladder. Never send a manuscript until
asked.
You also need some serious editing, using the Chicago Manual of Style.
Publishers don't care you wrote a book. They want to know why they should
invest their hard-earned dollars to produce it and if you are going to take
ownership -- meaning help sell the project. Include a marketing plan in your
proposal and make all the words sing off the page. You'll need to
"sell" the story as to why the reader should read it and the
publisher should publish it.
The other option is to self-publish. But again, it's still about marketing and
it starts with a well-edited product and a professional looking design.
This is never what many people want to hear, but it's the facts of publishing.
Compare it to walking onto an MGM movie set and convincing Steven Spielberg you
should be in his next movie when you haven't acted before or read his script.
It's all about presentation and doing the homework. Or maybe you prefer
auditioning for a position of replacement guitarist to back up Eddie Van Halen
and you’ve never held a pick in your hand, let alone a Peavey or a Gibson. What
do you think your chances will be? It will be the same with publishing.
www.freelancepublishing.net
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About Bookpublishing101
• Authored, edited, ghosted, and project managed over 90 books for authors, publishers, and companies that produce books to market their business, including annual reports
• National Hockey League and professional sports reporter for over 15 years
• Author and Publisher of
▪ Inside the NHL Dream (A behind the scenes look at the NHL, ISBN 978-0-9730237-0-1)
▪ Positive Sports: Professional athletes and mentoring youth
(ISBN 978-0-9730237-3-2)
▪ Future Prospects (A behind the scenes look at major junior hockey,
ISBN 978-0-9730237-4-9)
▪ Creating a Legacy for Local Sports: The Calgary Booster Club (The Calgary Booster Club was the catalyst for bringing Calgary the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, ISBN 978-0-9730237-2-5)
▪ Loyalty, Intensity, and Passion (A behind the scenes look at the National Lacrosse League, ISBN 978-0-9730237-5-6)
▪ NHL Dream Unlocked (ISBN 978-0-9730237-7-0 in progress)
• Author of Self-Publishing 101, publisher Self-Counsel Press (2005)
• Publish a monthly e-newsletter Inside Publishing
• Teach book publishing workshops
• Independent Publishers Association of Canada Vice President
• Supporting Member of Canadian Publishing Association
• Supplier Member of Canadian Association of Professional Speakers
• Member of Canadian Association of Journalists
• Sat on the City of Calgary Sports Policy Steering Committee
• First woman to headman a football conference in Canada (President of the Prairie Football Conference)
• Public Relations Director for Edmonton Trappers Baseball Club, working closely with the California Angels
• Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games, Hockey Committee, Media Liaison
• Canadian Junior Football League, Director of Public Relations and Marketing
• Calgary Colts Junior Football Club, President, Assistant General Manager
• Mentor, Alberta Mentor Foundation for Youth, recognized as Volunteer Mentor of the Year for 2001-2002
• Received the inaugural Garry and Kathy Sawatzky Mentor Award in 2003