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WritersReaders.com Calendar
August 28, 2008
Audio Message from Jerry
Important dates, new and interesting topics, including a schedule of events that writers need to know to achieve success.
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What Writers Need to Know
Fall Classes at Phoenix College
WRITE YOUR NOVEL AT PHOENIX COLLEGE:
Start the adventure of a lifetime with Planning and Structuring the Novel. This three-credit course is the foundation of a series of three courses covering the stages of writing -- planning, writing, revising . It is taught by local author Connie Flynn. A combination online/classroom course, it meets five times during the semester and begins Tuesday, August 26 with a classroom meeting. If you've ever dreamed of writing a novel, start today. Register online at my.Maricopa.edu or telephone 602-285-7777. If you have questions or need help call the Phoenix College English department at 602-285-7347 or email crwpapers@cox.net.
DRAFT YOUR NOVEL IN 30 DAYS:
Imagine completing your novel, something many dream of but most rarely do. And also getting college credit for it. This 30-day class is a marathon writing challenge not for the weak of heart. It begins with a campus meeting on Saturday, October 25. The remainder of the course happens online. The actual challenge begins November 1 going through November 30, concurrent with National Novel Writing Month. Register online at www.phoenixcollege.edu or telephone 602-285-7777. If you have questions or need help call the Phoenix College English department at 602-285-7347 or email crwpapers@cox.net.
OTHER CREATIVE WRITING COURSES:
These courses offer everything from chick-lit to to non-fiction to screenwriting as well as traditional creative writing disciplines. For more information, go to www.phoenixcollege.com or call 602-285-7777.
JOURNALING taught by Sue Meyn, LPC
INTRO TO CREATIVE WRITING (2) taught by Jed Allen and Jimmy Berlin
INTRO TO POETRY taught by published poet Hershmann John
INTRO TO WRITING FICTION taught by Carol Test
INTRO TO WRITING NONFICTION taught by Tina Belanger
INTRODUCTION TO SCREENWRITING taught by Mark Visquesney
INTRO TO WRITING CHICK-LIT NON-FICTION (to be assigned)
INTERMEDIATE SCREENWRITING taught by Mark Visquesney
COMBATING THE DEADLY WRITING SINS taught by local mystery writer Betty Webb.
Submission Guidelines
Submission Guidelines for
Query, Synopsis, Sample pages and Manuscript
All Requested Documents to be submitted via Email to
jerry@writersreaders.com
Query letter:
Please submit a one-page, single spaced query which includes:
* The genre of your manuscript
* The approximate word count of your manuscript
* Range of your intended audience: children [age range], Young Adult, Adult
* Any publishing credits you may have personally, or connected to the manuscript
* Any personal or academic information pertinent to the manuscript at hand
* Your marketing plan or outline would be helpful
~ Also include a synopsis and five sample pages (instructions follow).
Synopsis:
* No more than 2 single-spaced pages clearly defining the manuscript content.
Sample Pages:
* We also require the first five double-spaced pages of your manuscript (please follow the standard formatting guidelines below). Or, link us to your website should those pages be available there.
Please allow two to four weeks for a response, or request for more material.
Sales Program for Independent Authors & Writers
This program is a unique and exciting opportunity for Independent Authors to access the book shelves of the traditional bookselling marketplace. Manuscripts and previously published books will be considered for this new program.
As with any publishing venture, books must be considered for publication, regardless of whether they were previously in print. The sale of your book in this new program is only possible if these books and manuscripts pass an editorial critique. A team of professional acquisition editors will be screening for quality of writing and editing and write a complete critique for the author. Only the very best Independent books and manuscripts will be eligible for the national sales program.
Once the manuscript or book has been chosen, these titles will be published, sold, marketed, and distributed nationally. This program will be successful under the professional expertise of acquisition editors and the guidance of the program director Jerry D. Simmons.
For consideration of your manuscript or book follow the guidelines described under the title "Submission Guidelines."
The purpose of this program is to provide “the best of the best” of Independent books access to the marketplace on a national level. Questions or inquiries should be directed to Jerry via email jerry@writersreaders.com.
FAQ - Sales Program
Q: Why are we being asked to pay for an editorial critique?
A: One of the requirements of the sales program is that these books be of sound editorial quality. This is not my requirement but that of the retail booksellers. Because this program is seeking writing from the Independent marketplace, we have to prove the quality of the writing before any of these booksellers will allow access to their stores on a national basis.
Q: What does the program cost?
A: There is no cost to submitting the query letter and synopsis of your manuscript or book for consideration to the program. If selected, you will be required to pay for an editorial critique and that depends on the size of your manuscript. Their feedback will determine which titles are selected for the program. We have to prove that we are publishing “the best of the best” of the Independent titles and the only way to make this possible is to get the approval of a professional team of recognized acquisition editors.
Q: May I make the assumption that you've now connected with distribution channel that is also a print house as well? If so, and assuming I make the cut, that means I move away from my current publisher to the new company, right?
A: The distribution channel is not connected to a print house. If your title was selected for the program, you would be required to move away from your current publisher. .
Q: My question is regarding the 50%+ discount off retail that's being asked by Ingram, will this be the same with a new publisher? If so, I can live with that - just have to manipulate my retail price so that I continue to make it worth my time to continue writing. None of my books currently have retail price printed on the cover - my choice. Would that have to change?
A: The sales program requires that each chosen author consult with both myself and the distributor to make certain the cover, interior design and price adhere to the conditions of the market. You would be required to make those concessions if you want to gain national distribution.
You would not be able to manipulate your cover price to offset discounts.
Q: When you say query letter, what are you looking for? Is there a standard format that will help your editors maintain consistency?
A: This is not a dumb question, in fact, this is one of the most asked question. There are requirements that can be found on this page, titled "Submission Guidelines."
Q: More of a statement as question but I have distribution through Ingram and Baker & Taylor, why do I need your distribution program?
A: This statement is misleading, having your book(s) listed at Ingram or Baker & Taylor does not mean you have distribution. Both of these big book jobbers are in the business of supplying reorders of current and backlisted titles to retailers, that is their business. When you have your book(s) listed with them, it doesn’t sell books, unless there is demand on the retail end. Once a bookstore or retailer has a customer wanting your title, they can place an order with Ingram for example, then Ingram orders from your publisher, and the book goes through the system to the end consumer who ordered your book in the first place. Distribution means you have the possibility of your book actually occupying shelf space where you as an author can create demand which in turn moves your title through the system based on actual retail sales and not simply a consumer walking in and asking for a copy.
Q: If my books are part of a series, but each book is also stand-alone. Should I submit all that are currently published or just submit the first one?
A: I would submit the best book of the series, and that could possibly be the last book. Query and submit your best book, when published you can always deal with the first few books in a series.
Q: I want to make a few minor word changes to my published book if I’m going to the expense to republish it. Should I mark the changes in the finished book and send it if it is accepted? Would the committee prefer to read a finished book or manuscript?
A: The editors would prefer reading a finsihed manuscript, so if you plan to make changes then do so before you are asked to submit your manuscript.
Q: Are you acting as a promoter in your Program?
A: Right now I am acting as program director, and even though I am responsible for the implementation and execution of the program, I am not the final voice. There is a committee of editors that help in making the decisions on which titles to select for the program. This is a much better method than relying on me to decide. I prefer to work with a group, several heads with experience are better than one.
Q: What would be the benefits of investing into an unknown plan? My book is already published and selling.
A: If you are happy as an author with the sales of your book, there is no benefit. This program is for authors who are interested in national distribution to booksellers. It’s about exposure for the Independent author and book, about increasing your audience, expanding your reach and hopefully selling lots of books in the process.
Q: Who is this marketing expert, is a big question?
A: There are several people who will be involved with the marketing of the book. However, this is not a big budget program so the vast majority of marketing will be to the corporate bookseller which is exactly what the bigger NY publishers do every day. This is not an advertising, promotion, publicity campaign for each book, unfortunately the author will be expected to participate in the marketing, the same as with the big corporate publishers. It’s not a perfect system, and bookselling is far from perfect, but it offers the opportunity that other programs simply do not. This one is designed for the Independent authors of the world.
Q: Haven’t you sold out to the corporate publishing world you left years ago?
A: I’d prefer to look at this as helping the Independent community that I’ve been working with the past three years. This is an opportunity, the timing is right, I want to prove there are great Independently published books that have never had access and exposure like similar mid-list titles from the corporate world. I see this as a need in the market and I’m doing nothing more than trying to fill that need. It’s not perfect and I’d love to offer this cost and risk free, but that doesn’t exist so this is the best possible program available.
Q: Will the book be reprinted with a new cover? If so, who designs it?
A: Most likely, but not necessarily. Certainly the program will require some control and will only make changes if the buyers at the large retailers make the recommendation. What happens in the corporate world is the publishers national account people pre-sell titles to the big corporate headquarters. Sometimes buyers make suggestions on changes and often times the publisher takes this into account because it represents a larger order and thus distribution. This is the way the program will work, books will be pre-sold months ahead of publication and if buyers make recommendations then changes should be made.
Q: Does the author still have copyright of the book and ultimate control?
A: Yes on copyright, the author will always own the rights to their work.
Q: Is a contract signed between author and publisher and what would the terms be?
A: No, you are the publisher in every facet, you will be required to sign a sales agreement outlining benefits and cost, as well as risks and rewards of the program.
Q: Will this publisher accept returns from bookstores or are they following Harpers new policy of no returns?
A: This is a returns program, books will be sold and returns will be accepted.
Q: What if an already POD published book is all set up, edited, formatted and in PDF format? Will the fee be different if the book is all ready to go?
A: Most likely, however each author will be responsible for publishing their own books.
Q: As to royalties, do you have information on percentages and timing of distributions?
A: Each author owns their own title(s) so royalties less the distribution fees will belong to the author.
What happened to the original program you announced last month?
The terms under which the publisher wanted to work were not satisfactory to me and I decided to end discussions and seek another distributor.
Q: Are other people besides you and Author Marketing Experts involved?
A: Yes, many more people, some with whom I have worked in the past in different capacities, all people I trust.
NOTHING BINDING BOOK REVIEW PROGRAM
This is a new fully automated book reivew program that can be found at NothingBinding.com. The goal of this program is to provide a free objective review of Independently published books profiled on NothingBinding.com.
We have taken every precaution to insure the integrity of this book review process. NothingBinding.com will do everything possible to maintain an honest and objective book review program. Authors can submit their titles for review or sign up to become a book reviewer.
Authors must have a complete profile on NothingBinding.com to participate in the program, including personal photo—book description—bio—inspiration—book cover—book excerpt—audio or video preferred but not required.
Book Reviewers are not required to be authors.However, they must sign up at Nothing Bindingcom. Each Book Reviewer has the option of remaining anonymous (if preferred) and would never be required to reveal their name.
This is a non-compensated book review process, reviewers are to remain totally objective and agree not to review titles written by friends, family, or where the reviewer is familiar with the author such as an acquaintance, fellow member of a writers group or colleague. Integrity of the program is critical to success.
Reviewers cannot review their own books and there is no guarantee that their own personal titles be reviewed as compensation for becoming an Independent book reviewer.
For the benefit of our authors and readers book reviewers are required to write a 300 to 500 word narrative review of the book.
If you would like more information, visit NothingBinding.com or click the Contact Jerry link at the bottom of the page and send an email.
TONS OF GREAT INFORMATION
I've gathered some of the best articles from authors and publishing professionals that will provide important information. Here is a list and the link to each.
Business Calculations for New Authors by Marilyn Haight, .
How to Make Your Book Irresistible by Penny C. Sansevieri, .
From Bestselling Author Nicholas Sparks, The Business Side of Publishing, .
Creating The Pitch for Your Book, notes by Patricia L. Brooks, .
If you have an article you would like to share, or a question to ask, want to make a comment, or even suggest another piece of important information, please hit Contact Jerry on the bar at the bottom on this page. Thank you.
If your organization is interested in a speaker who can reveal the secrets of the publishing industry, and provide marketing tips, please contact Jerry directly by phone or email.
