How to Create a Book

1. How to Create a Book Steps to Writing a Novel By: Mallory Kaufman

2. Why? • To better appreciate books • We don’t realize all of the work it takes for a writer to create a novel • In case you were interested

3. Steps to writing a novel

4. #1. Read • Become familiar with different types of writing styles: fiction, non-fiction, time periods, poetry, classics, and literature of other cultures. • Read as much as you can, so that you can get a better idea of what you want to write.

5. #2. What are your Values • It is important to examine your motives so you can go about writing your book more effectively • What kind of book do you want to write? • Do you want to improve the world? • Are you trying to write a popular book? • Are you trying to write a book that you can be proud of? • Do you crave attention? • Would you be satisfied with a small but informed audience? • What do you want, Fame? Money? Respect? • What do you believe in?

6. #3. Learn about Publishing • Intern or do some volunteer reading for a publishing company • Talk to people in the industry • Try and work at a bookstore • The more you know about how the system works the better chance you have of succeeding in it. • Research exactly how publishing works

7. Publishing • The main goal of anyone who wants to publish a book is to land a literary agent, before spending years writing something nobody wants to read. • The literary world is a very closed community and the people who approve publication accept books only through very specific channels • Agents • An agent is a separate individual who performs much of this filtering process. You most certainly don't want to send a manuscript directly to a publishing house. • They won't read it. They consider pieces only if they come recommended by an agent. • Agents read manuscripts, or ideas for manuscripts (known as queries and proposals), and decide whether a project has promise. If it does, the agent signs a contract with the author, promising to use best efforts to get the idea sold to a publishing house, in exchange for around 15% of the deal. • Editors at publishing houses would much rather deal only with agents who have a good track record for presenting quality ideas, so agents can be very choosy about who they sign. • There are some small independent publishers who will read your manuscript if it is the subject matter they mostly deal with • So the main goal for most will be landing an agent • If an agent likes your manuscript you need to have a proposal ready, so they can send that to a Publisher

8. #4. Do Market Research • Will your book be unpublishable? • Find out how your genre is covered in the market • Visit libraries and bookstores, find out if it has it already been done • Non-fiction runs the risk of being out dated or out of print

9. #5. Write, Write, Write • You can’t publish a book on a chapter and a proposal • At this point you will need to write your book. • Make sure to at least get your thoughts down • Try and finish it to the end, even if it is unpolished, that way you at least have your thoughts down • “The most common cause of failure in writing is dropping out.”

10. #6. Oh, and Rewrite • Your first draft will not be good, face it, they never are • At this point, since you are writing an important novel you need to put the manuscript aside • Do things like changing the point of view, or moving the first 2 chapters to the middle to try and experiment with the book • Before submitting your manuscript for publication, some writers advise getting feedback from people you trust • When in doubt revise • **Remember that your first couple pages will make or break you, if you don’t capture the editors attention there, you never will. Give those pages special attention

11. #7. More Market Research • At this point you find an agent • Do some research to find some publishers who might be interested in the kind of book you have written • See which agents and editors the authors of similar or competing books thank in their acknowledgments

12. #8. Query • A good query is short. • The key is finding an agent that is interested in the types of books similar to the one you have written, that way they will give it an honest read. • An agent is key, however, some independent publishers may consider and publish your unagented manuscript. • Your query will explain who you are, what the book is (on general terms), and what your potential market is • Agents don’t want to read a 300 page manuscript • A query letter is essentially a short summary of your idea, who you are, and why you are qualified to write this project.

13. #9. Submit • If the publisher or agent responds favorably to your query send the manuscript with a brief cover letter explaining why you think the publisher or agent is right for the manuscript.

14. #10. Follow Up • After 2-6 months you show follow up with a request for a progress report • The response you get can tell you a lot about whether there is enthusiasm for your manuscript • If you're serious the main thing is not to give up

15. So now you wrote your book

16. Aspects of your book • Once you have written your book and signed a book contract there are many different areas of your book that you may not know about

17. Editing • If you plan on filling the positions of author, editor, proof-reader and publisher of your novel, you should have a couple of objective readers go over your manuscript. • Professional organizations such as The Writers Union can provide these services

18. Designers/Illustrations • Book Designers are individuals who create book covers that will capture the eye of the purchaser and encourage sales. • It is key to appeal to a consumer’s senses, a good Book Designer is important to have for a successful novel

19. Promotion • Areas of promotion to consider: catalogues or promotional flyers, brochures, mailing lists (libraries, media, bookstores), readings, book signings, mailing sample/review copies, trade fairs, publicity, press releases and print adds

20. Distribution • Generally, distributors will take 55-65% of the cover price • Make sure your pricing has taken this into account

21. You’re Done! • Now that you have written your book, gotten it published, and put all necessary finishing touches on it, all you have to do is sit back and watch your book to become a best seller!