How To: write and publish a book? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

NoSoup · 07-13-2005, 09:14 PM

Well, after giving it some thought, I am considering writing a book more and more. Seems like a neat thing to do, the only problem is, I have no idea where to begin.

I imagine it starts somewhere with actually writing the book, but have no idea where to proceed from there. Where would I find out if someone would publish it. Any recommendations as to who to send it to or how to make it appeal to the publisher?

Also, any idea how one gets paid? Is it strictly royalties, or is there an initial payment made? If so, any idea how much?

Please feel free to post any hints/tips/nuggets of knowledge here - I am completely in the dark.

For anyone interested, it will likely be a book on personal finance....

j8ear · 07-15-2005, 10:50 AM

Writing is all about practice, in my experience.

Write all the time, write about everything you can imagine, and let people read what you write to give you feedback...this is how your writing will improve.

Also, writing a book for the purpose of getting it published sounds like a loosing proposition to me. You should be writing a book because you love to write and love having people read what you write. This is how a successful and publishable book is created.

As far as payment goes only proven best selling authors, celebraties, and politicians (psuedo-celebs) get 'paid' to write a book. In fact what they are paid for is the right to have a book appear to be written by them. The occasional actual author celebrity surfaces, but most are ghost written.

It is unlikely that a non-celebrity, untested writer will be paid to write a book.

As far as I know, first manuscripts usually have the rights to publish paid for, but usually royalties or advances are reserved for proven authors.

As far as finding a publisher, you've got to send them out. Pick your genre, style, and subject matters, and seek out the publishing houses that specialize in these, and let them read your stuff. Not that complicated.

Everything comes down to how good of a writer you are...and as with just about everything practice makes perfect.

Got anything you'd like to share?

I'd love to read something you wrote.

-bear

maleficent · 07-15-2005, 11:27 AM

What you really want to focus on is your audience.. while your financial advice that you've given here is sound.. walk into any bookstore.. there are 100's of books offereing the same type of advice... what sets you apart? Who do you want this book to be for?

While you are in the bookstore, check out the existing publishers of those books and send a copy of your idea to them...

Another option is to use one of the bazillion vanity or self publishers out there... where you can send in your work - it will be typeset and printed and bound for you... most of them will give you an ISBN number (so it's more professional than using Kinkos - it's not cheap doing it that way but it gets your book out there)

NoSoup · 07-15-2005, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maleficent

What you really want to focus on is your audience.. while your financial advice that you've given here is sound.. walk into any bookstore.. there are 100's of books offereing the same type of advice... what sets you apart? Who do you want this book to be for?

Agreed, 100%.

The audience I am looking to appeal to is not the typical audience that most financial books are geared towards. My target audience will be late teens to mid twenties, but I imagine would be helpful to those that aren't all that financially savvy.

There are a ridiculous amount of financial books out there - however, the majority specify in a particular aspect of finances, be it stocks, real estate, savings, ect. My book will have be a comprehensive overview of all of those things, as well as many more topics. In addition, most financial books are rather... dry... and difficult to stay interested in. Although we have yet to see if I can accomplish otherwise, that is the goal.

To be honest, I'm not really all that concerned with how much I get paid (if at all) - just curious as to how it worked. I suppose my only hope is I don't need to spend money to get published - If I made a dollar I'd be fine with it.

I'm not kidding myself, I don't think I am going to become a huge best-selling author or anything of the type, but I think it'd be neat to have (even a small) positive impact on people's lives that I have never met. If I make a few bucks on the way, that would be even better

Thanks for the ideas - keep them coming

keyshawn · 07-17-2005, 11:43 AM

NoSoup - Great idea !

As a member of your core demographic [18 y.o. male, college-bound] I'm trying to figure out the world of finances [no one really taught me how, beyond the very basics by my parents] and investing, and don't know where to even to turn to for help.

While listening to NPR a month or two ago, I remember hearing a story on self-publishing and how it's actually increased quite a bit, with the internet.

*digs up the link on the NPR archive*

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=4699387

I recall hearing another story about the national "writing" week, or something like that, but I couldn't find the link for that.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/
I did some more searching on google and on the NPR site, with the other story - http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=4184192

Good luck, and let us know how your endevours going !
keyshawn

07-13-2005, 09:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
NoSoup Non-Rookie Location: Green Bay, WI	How To: write and publish a book? Well, after giving it some thought, I am considering writing a book more and more. Seems like a neat thing to do, the only problem is, I have no idea where to begin. I imagine it starts somewhere with actually writing the book, but have no idea where to proceed from there. Where would I find out if someone would publish it. Any recommendations as to who to send it to or how to make it appeal to the publisher? Also, any idea how one gets paid? Is it strictly royalties, or is there an initial payment made? If so, any idea how much? Please feel free to post any hints/tips/nuggets of knowledge here - I am completely in the dark. For anyone interested, it will likely be a book on personal finance.... __________________ I have an aura of reliability and good judgement. Just in case you were wondering...

07-15-2005, 10:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
j8ear Gentlemen Farmer Location: Middle of nowhere, Jersey	Writing is all about practice, in my experience. Write all the time, write about everything you can imagine, and let people read what you write to give you feedback...this is how your writing will improve. Also, writing a book for the purpose of getting it published sounds like a loosing proposition to me. You should be writing a book because you love to write and love having people read what you write. This is how a successful and publishable book is created. As far as payment goes only proven best selling authors, celebraties, and politicians (psuedo-celebs) get 'paid' to write a book. In fact what they are paid for is the right to have a book appear to be written by them. The occasional actual author celebrity surfaces, but most are ghost written. It is unlikely that a non-celebrity, untested writer will be paid to write a book. As far as I know, first manuscripts usually have the rights to publish paid for, but usually royalties or advances are reserved for proven authors. As far as finding a publisher, you've got to send them out. Pick your genre, style, and subject matters, and seek out the publishing houses that specialize in these, and let them read your stuff. Not that complicated. Everything comes down to how good of a writer you are...and as with just about everything practice makes perfect. Got anything you'd like to share? I'd love to read something you wrote. -bear __________________ It's alot easier to ask for forgiveness then it is to ask for permission.

07-15-2005, 11:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	What you really want to focus on is your audience.. while your financial advice that you've given here is sound.. walk into any bookstore.. there are 100's of books offereing the same type of advice... what sets you apart? Who do you want this book to be for? While you are in the bookstore, check out the existing publishers of those books and send a copy of your idea to them... Another option is to use one of the bazillion vanity or self publishers out there... where you can send in your work - it will be typeset and printed and bound for you... most of them will give you an ISBN number (so it's more professional than using Kinkos - it's not cheap doing it that way but it gets your book out there) __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

07-17-2005, 11:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
keyshawn Psycho	NoSoup - Great idea ! As a member of your core demographic [18 y.o. male, college-bound] I'm trying to figure out the world of finances [no one really taught me how, beyond the very basics by my parents] and investing, and don't know where to even to turn to for help. While listening to NPR a month or two ago, I remember hearing a story on self-publishing and how it's actually increased quite a bit, with the internet. digs up the link on the NPR archive http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=4699387 I recall hearing another story about the national "writing" week, or something like that, but I couldn't find the link for that. http://www.nanowrimo.org/ I did some more searching on google and on the NPR site, with the other story - http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=4184192 Good luck, and let us know how your endevours going ! keyshawn __________________ currently reading: currently playing :