A-ha!

Questions From A Future Author

Post by George Kittredge

Last week I received an email from my son asking a number of questions about book publishing. Chris works in Washington, D.C. at the Institute For Education And The Arts as well as provides some PR and marketing expertise for Gemstar Pro, an up and coming music studio.

It seems that the owner of studio is in the process of writing a book about creating, building and managing a music studio business. He is writing the book to share his experiences and wants to market his book to all of those musically inclined entrepreneurs interested in starting a music production company.

With the manuscript nearing completion, he is beginning to think about publishing. And not unlike other first-time authors (including myself when I was writing my book), he has more questions than answers at this point. He shared his questions with Chris, who sent them on to me with a request that maybe I could provide some answers.

Unfortunately, this post would be much too long for me to post both the list of questions and my responding answers to Chris. But I thought the questions he sent me had some real merit - and I wanted to share them with you. For anyone currently writing a book and beginning to think about publishing options, the following is a great list of questions to begin considering.

The answers to these questions can provide some great direction in your publishing journey. Here's the list.

What are the various methods of publishing and what is the best value?

Are there specific software or tools that should be employed in order to publish?

How early should you start engaging a potential publisher?

What are the various pieces (i.e. editing, formatting, design, distribution, etc.)that go into publishing, and what are critical?

Is distribution tied to publishing?

What are some processes that most people, who have never published, not aware of?

What is the most important aspect of this entire process (i.e. good cover, type of font, etc.)?

Perhaps in future posts, we can talk about each question individually. Your comments are invited. However, I would like to share with you my answer to the Chris's last question.

"Think of a book as being similar to a published piece of music. What is more important? The CD cover? The quality of the music? Marketing? I think you will agree that all aspects are important. But if you asked me to select one, I would say finding the publisher that is right for you is the most important. It can make all the difference in the word and make publishing your book an enjoyable Process."

"One other thing. Ask yourself these questions. "Why am I writing and publishing this book? Is it to make money? Is it to fulfill a lifelong ambition? Is it to enhance your career? Is it to become famous? Is it to establish greater credibility/" Your answers may help you pick the right publisher."

How Do You Write A Book? My Story

Post by George Kittredge

How do you write a book, especially when you have never written one before? Here’s my story.

For years I have suggested to many of my colleagues and friends that they aught to write a book. I have a number of friends with extraordinary, creative minds. They would be perfect candidates for writing an entertaining fiction. And others who have particular expertise, interest and experience in areas such as business, the arts and travel seemed to me to be authors in waiting. So I encouraged all of them to pursue something that they had never done before. Write a book.

Curiously, I had never encouraged myself to do the same thing.

That was until a little over two years ago. I was doing some volunteer counseling for a business-oriented, not-for-profit organization when one of organization’s leaders asked if I would be a presenter at an upcoming seminar/workshop they were planning. The workshop was to be attended by approximately 30 business owners. They wanted me to offer some ideas and tips drawing on my sales and marketing experience about how to promote a business and attract clients.

I agreed to submit an outline of what I would talk about. The understanding was that if they liked my outline, I would do the workshop.

As the workshop date approached and with me scheduled to be one of the presenters, I began to seriously think about what I was going to say. It had to be entertaining, interactive and provide each of the audience members with some lasting value. So I had to have more than just an outline.

In the weeks that followed I began to write down ideas addressing each of the topics in my outline - at first just phrases and thoughts, and later paragraphs. One of the first things I realized was that ideas can strike you at the strangest times. (Did you ever try to write something on a clipboard while negotiating a corner on a ride-on mower in third gear?)

Over the next few months, my one-page seminar agenda was turning into a book. And as this book began to unfold, it also began to take on a life of its own. I found myself, at times, working on four or five chapters at a time. There were some months where I did not write anything at all. Then I would pick it up again and write as the ideas came to me. Most importantly, I did not try to force ideas. When I was inspired, I wrote. When I was not, I did not.

As I completed one chapter after another (with lots of re-writing), my goal became just to finish the book. I’ve met a number of people who have started books, then put them on a back burner where they still remain. Finishing this project became important to me.

Early in 2005, I made a resolution to myself that if I was going to complete the book (and it looked like I was), then I was going to get it published. I figured that if I had spent all this time writing a book, at least I should give other people a chance to read it. Besides, it is kind of neat to be able to say that you are a published author.

I discovered that with today’s technology, publishing has become much more author-friendly. It makes no difference whether your book is the next best-selling novel or winds up as gifts to your family and friends. Anyone who has the desire to write can become a member in good standing in the universal author’s club. And you don’t need to print 2000 copies to warehouse in your garage either.

Thanks to the good folks at WMEBooks, my book was published and released this past August. The book is now part of seminars and workshops that I still do. And I have to tell you, it’s a lot of fun to have other professionals read you book and offer their reviews and opinions. So far, people have been very kind.

In a later post, I will share with you a mistake I made when it came to publishing my book and how I corrected it.

It took me two years (on and off) to write my book. Will I write another? I don’t know. But I do know that I will encourage anyone who has even the faintest desire to write a book to do so. I think they find it as personally rewarding as I did.