Publisher's Synopsis
Newspapers and magazine sales may be on the decline, but one area of print still continues to thrive. U.S. book publishers brought in $40.32 billion in revenue in 2008 â_" including Internet and electronic format sales â_" according to the Book Industry Group. This is great news for potential authors eager to share their story, but with more than 195,000 new titles published each year, getting a slice of this ever-growing market may seem daunting, especially if you are new to this industry. The Complete Guide to Writing & Publishing Your First Novel is your key to getting a slice of this ever-growing industry. In the first part of the book, you will learn how to master the written word with time-saving tools to hone your writing. You will learn how to create (and stick to) a timeline and deadline, whether writing is your full- or part-time job. You will learn how to pinpoint your target audience and how to best structure your research, create and develop characters, and flush out the deeper meaning of your novel. You will understand how to develop a strong sense of time and place for your novel, develop themes and plots to carry throughout your text, and work in subplots. Once your novelâ_Ts first draft is complete, you will learn how to revise and perfect your story, which includes how to let someone else read and critique your work. The second part of this book presents you with the savvy skills needed to conquer the business side of the publishing industry. You will learn about the different avenues of publishing, including traditional, subsidy, print on demand, and self-publishing, as well as which one best suits your particular writing style and personality. This book can help your write a must-read query letter and pitch so your work gets noticed by an agent or publisher. You will learn if you need a literary agent, what they do, how to find and hire one, and what to do if you get multiple â_" or no â_" offers. Finally, you will also learn how to effectively market your book to prospective readers with traditional methods, such as press releases and book tours, and then with social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Webinars, and blogs. There is even an entire chapter dedicated solely to marketing on Amazon â_" whose revenues skyrocketed 42 percent in the first quarter of 2010 â_" and how to get your novel in that coveted No. 1 spot. Veteran authors, publishers, and literary agents alike have been interviewed for this book, and their experiences are cataloged here, showing their strategies on how a novel is successfully published. Whether you have romance, horror, or history on your mind, The Complete Guide to Writing & Publishing Your First Novel should have a permanent place on your nightstand.
