Writing and Publishing Your Book

Tips from a Writer-Editor

Dorothy HearstAuthor

Promise of the Wolves & Secrets of the Wolves

Dorothy Hearst BlogPaws 2012

Writing & Publishing Your Book

• Writing The Book– Developing Your Idea– Getting Started– Making it Good

• Selling Your Book– About Agents– About the Proposal– About You

• After You Get to Yes– Care and Feeding of Publishers– Marketing While Writing

6/22/2012

Dorothy Hearst BlogPaws 2012

WritingDeveloping Your Idea #1

Non-Narrative Nonfiction

• Something Has to Matter

• What is Unique About Your Book

• Is It Enough for a Book– Ask Yourself “So What?”

6/22/2012

Dorothy Hearst BlogPaws 2012

WritingDeveloping Your Idea #2

Fiction & Narrative Nonfiction

• Something Has to Matter

• Nurture Your Idea

• Deepen Your Idea– Ask so what, how, what next?

6/22/2012

Dorothy Hearst BlogPaws 2012

WritingGetting Started

• Overcoming Fear and Shame

• Write No Matter What

• Write Really Bad Stuff

6/22/2012

Dorothy Hearst BlogPaws 2012

WritingMake it Good

• Revise, Revise, Revise

• Do Your Homework

• Read & Learn

• Keep Developing Your Craft

6/22/2012

Dorothy Hearst BlogPaws 2012

Selling Your BookAbout Agents

• Do You Need An Agent?

• How to Find an Agent (or Publisher)

6/22/2012

Dorothy Hearst BlogPaws 2012

Selling Your BookThe Proposal

• The Elevator Pitch

• The Proposal– Audience– Need – Purpose (How you will meet the need)– What is Unique?

6/22/2012

Dorothy Hearst BlogPaws 2012

Selling Your BookAbout You

• Platform

• Know Your Market

• Be the Author They Want to Sign

6/22/2012

Dorothy Hearst BlogPaws 2012

Once You Get to “Yes”

The Care & Feeding of PublishersGetting what you want (or at least what you need)

• Be Nice. To Everyone

• Be Assertive & Confident (but nice)

• Think of the relationship as a partnership

• Marketing While Writing6/22/2012