Learn the Manuscript Submission Basics

I've been in the publishing market for many years writing for the magazines as well as books. I assume that writers understand the basics of how to prepare their manuscript for submission to a literary agent or editor. To me it is something I do out of routine.

In recent weeks, I've reviewed some proposals from writers who have missed some of these basics. I want to take a few words to cover some simple guidelines in this area. If you've been published many times, then I hope these basics will be good reminders. If you've never been published, then I hope that you will follow these basics because it will make your submission much more acceptable and increase the possibility that it will be read (which is the first step to getting a positive response).

Just imagine that you are the editor or agent. You are going through your physical mail or email. You open something and from a glance see that it is in the wrong format. You either delete it or mark it for rejection—and often ignore the idea.

Select a Serif Typeface

Everyone has the ability to use an unusual typeface for your manuscript. I have dozens of choices on my computer. When I am going to submit to a magazine, book publisher or editor, I do not use them. You do not want the publishing professional to focus on your typeface and say, “Boy, that is different.” Then they hit delete or reject. Instead you want this person to focus on the merits of your idea and your pitch. If you use a “different” typeface then you pull the focus into something which should be invisible.

Wikipedia has a good basic definition of san-serif type. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then look at the link. You may have not noticed but the majority of books are using serif typefaces because reading studies have repeatedly shown that it's easier to read than a san serif typeface. You want your submission to be easy to read—especially to editors and agents.

I encourage you to select a typeface like New Times Roman or Georgia—anything normal. If you select something else, you will stick out—like a sore thumb—not likely your intention.

Double space

Like the typeface, a manuscript which is double spaced is easier to read—whether in paper format (printed) or on the screen. If the person receiving your submission has to double space your manuscript before they will read it (which I often do), then that is one more barrier that you've put up to the professional. It is one more risk for that person to delete it or reject it.

Write A Specific Person

I receive these packages on a regular basis. The outside is addressed with my name on it—yet when I pull out the submission, it is like the sender forgot my name. Instead they use the generic, “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Editor.”

With any type of submission, you are looking to start or build a relationship. If you use these generic salutations, it shows your lack of effort. You need to research ahead of time and address a specific person with your submission. It will help you fit in and not stand out in a negative fashion

Make It Perfect —Before Sending

I know you are eager to get your submission out into the market. Yet I encourage you to make it perfect—before sending it—whether on email or in the physical mail. Set it aside—even for an hour or better yet 24 hours. Then return to it with a fresh perspective and read it aloud. The ear is less forgiving than the eye and you will be able to see the errors in your submission. You do not want the publishing professional to be focused on your typos or poor grammar. Instead you want them to focus on your idea and pitch.

First impressions count when it comes to your manuscript. It is critical that you continue to submit and send out your material. Yet when you do it, give yourself the best possible opportunity for the person receiving to say, “Yes.” I hope these basics help you to have more acceptance in the days ahead.

Connect with Your Audience

I see it all the time. Whether I meet the individuals in person or whether they send me their pitch in the mail or on email, they are writers with a big vision for their book.

Some of them whisper their title with the greatest reluctance because they don't want anyone else to know it. Others expound with enthusiasm about the unique twist of their story or their focus or how they are reaching an untapped market.

Yet when I ask about their connection to this untapped audience their faces go blank. They have no connections to their readers or they have a very limited connection.

It is terrific to have a vision for your book and your publishing life. It's also OK that you have no connection to the market. Every author has to begin at some time to begin building this connection. My advice: don't wait for a publisher. Don't wait until your book gets into print. Begin today. The sooner you begin the sooner you will attract your readers and audience.

I can hear the objections already: “My book is for everyone.” Or “I don't have the resources (time or money is often at the heart of it).”

One basic and foundational principle in the writing world is that your writing isn't for everyone. Take some time to define your target reader. What do they read? Where do they shop? What types of books do they purchase? As you are more specific, you will be able to write and target the right reader for your books.

As a next step, begin building your connections to your target audience. It does not matter whether anyone knows you or about your writing. You need to consistently work to reach your readers.

Here are five resources to stimulate you to move forward and and assist you in this process:

1. You have one of the easiest methods already—whether you know it or not: Email. Are you regularly communicating to your target readers through an electronic newsletter?

No one begins a newsletter with a large audience but you grow it slowly and steadily. It doesn't matter whether you have been published or not. You can begin a free newsletter and use this newsletter to connect with the audience about your subject. I have the Right-Writing News and recently sent out the 50th issue of this newsletter. Notice when you subscribe you get some free Ebooks—but also you gain access to all of my back issues (a rich resource of teaching materials when you subscribe).

You can use a tool like Constant Contact to begin your newsletter. The link gives you a free 60–day trial.

Another resource to learn about the power of email is to take my 21 Day Email Success Tips course. It is free and will help you learn more about this resource that you need to be using. This course comes from Internet Guru Jimmy D. Brown and is full of valuable advice for every author.

2. I have a free 43 page Ebook called Platform Building Ideas for Every Author. I suggest you get this Ebook, read it and apply the ideas in it to building connections with your audience. This ebook is packed with resources and information.

3. Another way to connect with your audience is to consistently grow your following on Twitter. There are millions of people on this social network. You can attract like-minded followers and even automate some of the contents of your twitter feed. I have detailed how to take these steps in this FREE two-page handout on social media. Pick up this handout, follow the links and take action on the information to build your audience.

4. Get a copy of The Link Building Tycoon. I'm selling this inexpensive resource because I want you to learn the value of building a list and using it on a consistent basis. I also launched a version of this product on Amazon's Kindle. I recommend you get this valuable teaching and apply it to connect with your audience.

5. A great way to build your audience is to launch a targeted blog. To help you monetize and profit from your passion about a topic, I have The 31–Day Guide to Blogging for Bucks.

It does not take a lot of money to connect with your audience. You do need to take consistent action and look for new avenues to connect with them. As you increase your market presence, you become known as an expert in your area. It only builds your opportunities to speak and hold teleseminars and other venues such as guest blogging.

You can reach your audience. Make a commitment to do something today—and every day.

A Simple Idea to Sell Books

I'm always looking for simple ideas which will help me sell more books. I find ideas in different books and articles. The foundation for most book sales are building relationships—whether in person or online. The author has to take a proactive stance to actively be on the lookout for different innovations and opportunities to sell their book.

Unfortunately many authors try and delegate this responsibility to others. Then when their book doesn't sell they blame anyone and everyone—except themselves. In Jack Canfield's The Success Principles, the first principle says, “Take 100% Responsibility for Your Life.” This principle also applies to authors who want to sell books.

Recently I read a fascinating article on John Kremer's site from David Koop called Book Marketing Makeover: Creative Marketing Nets Real Results. You can click the link and read the article but I want to point out several things that I learned from this article.

First, David Koop wrote about a topic where he has tremendous passion: beating cancer. It's a memoir called Cancer, It's a Good Thing I Got It! and a topic that many people want to know about his experience.

Also in the first paragraph, Koop reveals that he's tried many different marketing ideas for his book. It's important for every author to try different techniques. As you try these techniques, I encourage you to keep track of the results. When something works well, then do more of that particular technique. It is different for each book and each author. From my years in publishing, I know there is no magic bullet in the area of selling books. If there was such a magic bullet or consistent formula, then every publisher would use it every time. It does not exist.

Also Koop has created a business card then uses two cards when he pays a bill or pays with a meal in a restaurant. Also he gives the cards to everyone he meets when he travels. He is an evangelist for his book and telling everyone face to face about his book.

In addition, he carries his book so he is prepared to sell it if someone wants a copy.

As I read the article, I had a question, “What words are on his business card that get people to respond and order the book?” This information wasn't in his article. I went to Koop's website, wrote him a note and asked him to see the card.

In his shopping cart, Koop has created a coupon code. People love discounts and using coupons. The back of his card says, “Save 20% on book – enter coupon code “I met him.” The simple idea was brilliant and gets response.

To show you the card, I scanned the front and the back so

I can include it with this entry.

To sell more books:

*Be watching what other authors are doing

*Incorporate ideas that work into your own book marketing

I've got several different business cards but none of my cards include the coupon idea. It looks to me like a simple idea worth trying. If you do it and it works for you, let me know. I'd love to hear your comments and experiences.

Use Speaking to Increase Your Book Sales

In many ways they seem opposite ends of the spectrum: writing and speaking. When they've tested writers and editors, the results have shown the bulk of these people are introverts. They aren't the life of the party. Instead they prefer to communicate with their keyboard or pen and paper.

Yet repeatedly I find the truth in what my friend Alex Mandossian teaches: the money in books is not in the book itself but it is in explaining the book.

One of the ways you give your book exposure and “explain” the book is through public speaking. As I've written in the past, someone has to hear about your product at least seven times before they decide to purchase it. A key part of this repeat exposure comes through speaking.

In the weeks ahead, I have a number of opportunities to speak and teach at different types of meetings. I maintain my speaking schedule at this link and continue to add new events.

Would you like to make 2012 a breakthrough year for your speaking?

I'm always looking for new resources to help you be more successful with selling your books and your writing. One of those areas could be speaking.

Last week, I learned about the Speaker Expert Teleseminar series which begins on Tuesday, January 31. If you hear the speakers during the live recording, then it is FREE but if you want to hear them on your own schedule then you can get the paid version to receive the recordings and the transcripts from the calls.

It looks like every Tuesday night for the next few weeks, the Speaker Expert Teleseminar series has a terrific line-up of teachers and topics.

Build A Body of Work

I want to return to a basic of writing—any type of writing. Whatever you write, are you writing consistently? Are you continuing to work at building relationships with the gatekeepers (magazine editors, online editors, book editors, literary agents and other professional writers). I know it is basic but consistent writing and working at this business is critical. It rarely comes easy or quickly to any of us. In fact, we often fight the discipline and consistency of writing.

Occasionally someone will look at the volume of my own writing and exclaim, “How do you do it?” It’s just like eating an elephant, one bite at a time. As writers, we write one sentence then one page at a time. Over seven years ago, we moved to Arizona and I sorted through a lot of materials in this process and threw away unnecessary papers. I kept my magazine clips—and there are literally boxes of them. Some days I’m amazed that I’ve written over 60 books and the first one. When I Grow Up was published in 1992. In these years, I’ve been able to build a body of work. The concept of consistency and building a body of work may be new to you.

Years ago on the way to a writer’s conference, I chatted with a literary agent. I was just beginning my writing work and he encouraged me to continue building a body of work. It’s not a single book or a single magazine article but the sum of your work in publishing that eventually makes an impact. What are you doing to build a body of work? Are you writing consistently? Are you growing in your understanding of the publishing business? I confess that I learn new terms and new aspects constantly.

Some days I don’t feel like cranking out some words but I do it. As I’ve traveled the country and worked with different writers. I know some writers are inspirational writers. They only write when they feel the story in their fingers and put it on paper. Others are journeymen and professional writers. They pound the keys day in and day out—whether they feel like it or not. I fall into that latter category (most of the time). It’s helped my consistent writing.

As a young journalist training in news editorial, one summer, I interned on the Peru Tribune, a small town newspaper in Peru, Indiana. I’m fairly certain anyone I knew isn’t at the newspaper any longer. We had no computers and the typesetting was done with a Linotype machine in the back of the building. We had our story meetings at 7:30 a.m where the managing editor talked with the reporters about the stories to be written that day. In that short meeting we received our particular assigned stories, then hit it with the full knowledge of our 11 a.m. copy deadline. Our stories went quickly through the editor and appeared in the printed afternoon paper at 3 p.m. We had no time to sharpen our pencils or hem and haw about writer’s block. We had a deadline to meet—which we met day after day.

I’m committed to writing consistently. I want to keep my fingers on the keyboard and keep them moving to write articles, chapters for books and book proposals. I’m committed to building a body of work. It might not pay off immediately but in the long run, I know consistency counts.

Make Your Best First Impression

You are enthused about your book idea and are eager to explain it to an editor or literary agent who can champion your cause and get your book published. It's been my privilege to listen to many authors pitch their book ideas at a writer's conference or in a written proposal or on the phone.

I've heard some great presentations where the author has practiced their words or refined their written words so it flows and is pointed at the perfect target. These writers are determined to make a good first impression with their idea and find someone to champion their cause. Whether they have verbalized it or not, they understand that they only get one chance to make a good first impression and they came prepared.

Also I've seen the writers who have blown their opportunity. They've stumbled with their oral presentation or the gem of their idea is over on page 10 or 20 (which will not be read by most agents because they quit after the second page). They've missed it and many of them are not even aware of what they have missed.

Over the years, I've been inside of some of the top New York literary agencies. While it may not seem like it to the novice writer, I can tell you that each of these publishing professionals are actively looking for the next bestseller. They want to find the idea which will burst on the scene and capture the imagination of the reading public. That deep-seated desire drives them to carefully listen to authors when they pitch their idea or to read hundreds of query letters and proposals.

Are you finding this agent who can champion your cause? Are you crafting the best possible book proposal to capture their attention? You will learn valuable information from going through the book proposal creation process—no matter what happens with your book idea. I can tell you the value of this process because I've written numerous book proposals. Not all of these proposals have been published but with each one, I learned some valuable skills in the creation and polishing process.

To help you in this process, I'm going to include several resources in this post. First my 12 lesson Write A Book Proposal course includes my latest teaching in this area. It is step-by-step teaching and on autoresponders so it comes automatically week after week.

Also I have a free teleseminar on proposal creation where I will be answering your questions on February 2^nd. Right now you can download my free Ebook, Book Proposal Basics when you ask a question.

Finally last month I did an interview with Felice Gerwitz on her BlogTalk Radio program Information in a Nutshell. We spoke for about 30 minutes on book proposal creation. I edited through this program. You can right click and “save as” at this link. I encourage you to download the program to your computer and hear it. Or as another way to hear it, you can use this button:

First impressions are important when you pitch your book idea. Make sure you give yourself the best possible opportunity for success with an excellent proposal.

Train Without Leaving Home

Travel can be a hassle. I know first hand since almost every month I am on the road traveling to a different event. Especially since September 11th, 2001, just getting through the airport is more complex—much less all the other elements in travel.

Despite the hassle, I'm still excited about the live events and how important they are for every writer. Over the years, I’ve written many times about the importance of a writer’s conference. There are many key insights, training and relationships that I’ve formed at these events. I have a number of events scheduled for 2012 as you can see at: http://terrylinks.com/sked I encourage you to check the link from time to time because I update it on a regular basis.

I also understand the importance of constant learning outside of conferences. In the next few weeks, I’ve created a couple of events. They require no travel and you can gain this important teaching in the comfort of your home listening to it on the telephone or on the Internet through the webcast. If at all possible, I encourage you to listen to them live. Pull out a tablet and write down the important ideas which you learn. It will be different for each person. I often find several key action items which come from each of these sections—whether I'm hosting them or attending them. I provide these resources as a key way you to grow in your skills as a writer.

January 24, 2012

Ask Rick Frishman FREE Teleseminar Of the many people I know in the publishing community, one of the key experts is Rick Frishman. Just follow this link and read his bio. The founder of Author 101 University, Rick is also a publisher.

I encourage you to ask Rick any question about why you should attend a writers conference or anything in the marketing and publicity area where he has specialized. Rick is the author of numerous books and if you register for this FREE event, then you will receive immediate access to Rick's Ebook, The Top 20 Tips for Aspiring Authors. This Ebook is loaded with valuable insights for every writer. Follow the link to register and get the details. Join Us For A Live 70-minute Teleseminar Tuesday, January 24, 2012 (8 p.m. EST/ 5 p.m. PST). If you can't attend during the live event, go ahead and register because everyone who registers will receive the replay information. Then you can download it to your computer or iPod and listen to it at your convenience.

February 2, 2012

Ask About Book Proposals FREE Teleseminar One of my passions is to teach people how to make the best possible pitch to an editor or literary agent. Over seven years ago, I wrote Book Proposals That Sell which continues to help people.

During this event, I will be answering your question about book proposal creation and marketing. When you register for this event you will receive a free copy of my Ebook, Book Proposal Basics. Follow the link to register and get the details. Join Us For A Live 70-Minute Teleseminar Thursday, February 2, 2012 (8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST). If you can't attend during the live event, go ahead and register because everyone who registers will receive the replay information. Then you can download it to your computer or iPod and listen to it at your convenience.

I will continue to bring these valuable training events to you on a regular basis. Each one provides valuable insights. I hope to speak with you soon.