Writing a book? Forget publishers and agents: test your idea online, get readers and make money.

I love the idea of testing your projects online before you go the traditional publishing route, and I was fascinated to read that the founder and CEO of new self help site First 30 Days follows this model too.

Self-Help Site First30Days.com Launches With $5 Million from Hearst and Dick Parsons reports: “First 30 Days is starting on the Web, but it could easily expand into other media such as books and TV. In May, HarperOne will be publishing The First 30 Days by de Bonvoisin. And she plans many more books. ‘The idea in my head,’ she says, ‘was to start it as a book series. Dick Parsons said start it online. With books, I have no relationship with you.’ If she can make First 30 Days the first place people go to when they need help with life’s transition points, it could easily become more than a 30-day habit.”

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Publishing has changed. Today you’ve got many book-publication choices.

You can:

1. Find a traditional publisher (send out book proposals, get an agent, make a sale, get an advance… etc);

2. Self-publish (you have many choices here - Print on Demand, electronic publishing as PDF etc);

3. Self-publish online, using your book to gain online advertising revenue (blog your book).

Traditional book publication: it’s a long journey

To work with a publisher, you’ll need to send out query letters and/or a book proposal. A query is a letter or a few pages briefly describing your text, why it is unique, characteristics of your target market and how you can help market the book.

Most top-tier publishers don’t accept unsolicited manuscripts, so you’ll need get an agent to convince them to read yours. If they request that you forward your entire manuscript, you have one foot in the door. Be prepared to send more than one query and don’t expect a response next week.

There are writer’s guides that serve as excellent resources to find publishers who specialize in your particular genre.

These guides list the percentage of new authors published as well as the percentage of sales they pay. You may find pay rates ranging from 5-10% of sales. Some pay on wholesale sales and others on the retail amount. Do the math. Perhaps your book will retail for $14.95 and the publisher will pay 6% on retail. This means you will earn 90 cents per book sold. Of course don’t forget that the publisher is doing all the printing, distributing, and marketing of your text.

Fast-track book publication - self publishing

Another route you may want to consider is self publishing. You will be responsible for all the printing, distributing and marketing costs involved, but you will also get to retain all the profits. There are book printing companies as well as companies that specialize in assisting the self-publisher through every step along the way.

You can also opt to self publish online. This is the easiest option. However, you do need to learn the basics of online publication: how to buy a domain name, get your material uploaded to your server, and get advertisers.

Which form of publication is best for you?

In 2008, it’s completely up to you. I know several authors who’ve self published and have turned down traditional publishers who approached them.

Traditional publishing gives you prestige, but it’s far from your only option.

Write YOUR Way to Riches - Write A Book

Your life will change, when you’re a published author - writing books is the perfect home business. As an author, you’ll have successful home-based business which delivers great rewards. It’s a dream job with a perfect lifestyle.

You can write books anywhere, in your home office, or while you travel to any country in the world. Your morning commute is the steps from your bedroom to your home office - no annoying boss, no office politics.

The rewards can be huge.
Get started writing your way to riches today.

One book doesn’t make a career. Telling yourself that “I’m writing a book” may even stifle your career.

Why? Because:

As an author, you have no control over the fate of an individual book

From idea to print is a long road, usually around three years, and once you’ve answered your final author queries from your editor and the book is into the publication process, you have no control.

Much hinges on pre-publication orders, for example, because if there are no copies of your book in the bookstores, people can’t buy it.

Publishing is a slow business

Everything in publishing takes time. Your editor and agent can take months to respond to proposals you send them.

Acquisition editors need to present your proposal to their colleagues before you’re offered a contract…

I could give you a dozen more reasons telling yourself that “I’m writing a book” may stifle your career, but I hope you get the idea.

Since everything in publishing moves at a glacial pace, you need to write - not wonder about the fate of any particular project. Your goal should be to write several proposals each year, and at least a couple of books.

When you do this, you’ll be less stressed, and you’ll get multi-book contracts, because you’ve got other books you’re writing.

So rather than focus on a single book project as if it’s your entire career, think in terms of writing several books each year. The more you write, the more you’ll make a career of writing.

Write more - the key to your writing success

Yes, you can write more - even if you’re a world-class procrastinator.

Did you know that when you write more, your writing improves? Many of my writing students experience this. They find that when they write more, writing is easier for them - they’re not dominated by their inner editor.

My new writing class, “Write More And Make More Money From Your Writing: Develop A Fast, Fun Productive Writing Process” is based on lessons I developed for my private coaching students to help them to write more, improve their writing, and make more money writing.

If you’re struggling with your writing, the class will help. The techniques you’ll learn in class with help you write fiction, nonfiction, and copy for business.

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