![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Around eighty percent of nonfiction books today are written by "experts," that is people who have a) earned credentials in the field they're writing about, b) germinated information via articles, live presentations or other media, or c) had extraordinary, unique or memorably told life experiences relevant to their topic.
For an autobiographical work, such as a memoir, an author needn't have any special expertise-she is the foremost authority on her own life. For a how-to or self-help book, however, the first thing mainstream publishers want to know is, "Does the author have a platform?"
Among the multiple definitions of "platform" in Merriam Webster's 10th edition are 1) a place from which to speak, 2) a set of principles, and 3) a vehicle for carrying things. All these are important to an author's platform. The good news is, in the six to eighteen months it will take most authors to write either their book proposal or their entire book, they can develop a platform.
Here are some things editors look for in a platform:
- publications in the field demonstrating your expertise
- a mailing list
- pamphlets, tapes or other media carrying messages related to those in your book
- teaching or leading experience on the topic of your book
- a column
- a unique point of view with demonstrable appeal
- regular speaking engagements
- courses taught at a local venue
- a well-designed website
The section of the nonfiction proposal entitled Author's Bio or Author's Credentials details the information about the author's platform. Many aspiring authors I work with, at least initially, grossly underrepresent themselves in this section.
SOLUTION 1: WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE-THEN SWITCH HATS! Assume that you probably already have more of a platform than you know. Instead of beginning by writing your bio in paragraph form, put on your Scribe hat and make a list-yes, that's right, a long, tedious, unsexy list-of everything you've done that seems even remotely related to your book.
Once you've made your boring list, switch hats. You're now a Publishing Consultant looking over your client's resume. How are you going to make her shine? Simple-you're going to take everything even remotely relevant to the book and change into a language that will make publishers perk up their ears. How do you know what will make publishers perk up their ears?
Switch hats again. You're an Acquisitions Editor at a major publishing house sitting behind a desk, asking yourself, which of these 163 proposals that arrived this week is worth risking my reputation, bank account and job to publish? Then put your Publishing Consultant hat back on, and do your translation-but don't forget about that anxious editor.
Here's an example:
Bob Jones, who's writing a book on personal accounting and finance for the masses, picks a phrase from his Scribe list, "Instructor at Coleridge Community College for twelve years." With his Publishing Consultant hat on, he rewrites this phrase to read "translated high-level accounting concepts into laypeople's language to over 3,000 adults of various backgrounds over twelve years."
Moving right along, Bob changes "facilitated students home accounting practices, enabling them to pay bills and prepare taxes with greater efficiency" to "Over these twelve years, the author developed a series of steps, called the Number Crunch Shuffle. Students consistently report that the Number Crunch Shuffle helps them overcome their fear of numbers, streamlines their home accounting process and cuts their bill and tax preparation time in half.
guerilla tip: Bob didn't really call these steps the "Number Crunch Shuffle" at the time he taught them at Coleridge Community College. He got help developing this tag for the technique around which his book is built. However, he did develop the method itself while teaching those 3,000 students.
guerilla insight: There's plenty of reality to work with. Take what's there and describe it in new and exciting ways. Find a gem that makes your book special and give it an attention-grabbing name.
You are welcome to reprint this article any time, anywhere with no further permission, and no payment, provided the following is included at the end or beginning:
Author Jill Nagle is founder and principal of GetPublished, http://www.GetPublished.com, which provides coaching, consulting, ghostwriting, classes and do-it-yourself products to emerging and published authors. Her most recent book is How to Find An Agent Who Can Sell Your Book for Top Dollar http://www.FindTheRightAgent.com.
Do you know what a query letter is? If so,... Read More
In the words of Aristotle, "happiness is self contentedness helping... Read More
Beginning writers often tend to think of a book as... Read More
Do you suffer from writer's block? Is there a pending... Read More
If you want to be a writer, then you must... Read More
Nike's ad has taken on new meaning for me of... Read More
Congratulations on writing your first book. That is quite an... Read More
Have you ever started a creative writing project with great... Read More
The rejection letter says: "Your story, on the surface, appears... Read More
Have you ever considered writing a book? If so, maybe... Read More
Way back in your early school years, you were probably... Read More
So many clients come to me as a book or... Read More
Business etiquette is fundamentally concerned with building relationships founded upon... Read More
Tips for your writing journeySo, you'd like to be a... Read More
If your writing muscle isn't in shape, writing a novel... Read More
What a wonderful resource the Internet is!Students find information to... Read More
"If you're like me, than I'm sure you're pretty familiar... Read More
You have a new website, or a new business, or... Read More
The principle for writing good screenplays begins with good idea... Read More
Each author has special editing needs. To save yourself time... Read More
Writing is hard work, and like all hard work, one... Read More
Around eighty percent of nonfiction books today are written by... Read More
Peter Abrahams is the author of thirteen novels, including "The... Read More
If you become a writer for any publication, private business,... Read More
1) Convince yourself you want to do something else. If... Read More
"This is just brilliant. The whole interview is incredible? I'm?... Read More
On the first day of a bright and shiny new... Read More
The writing community is a strong one, with many new... Read More
My Dad has this old joke that goes, "What's the... Read More
If you haven't realized the success you wanted last year,... Read More
Don't they drive you nuts?You can visit all the rules... Read More
No user manual? Surely you jest!It may seem comical, but... Read More
As writers, we initially tend to be either more cerebral... Read More
My bookcase take up one whole wall in the family... Read More
You can learn a lot about what it takes to... Read More
Take out a white piece of paper and place it... Read More
1. Use Logic: Check for External PressuresAre you under physical... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?What a plot is and what a... Read More
1) Convince yourself you want to do something else. If... Read More
Did you know that your back cover information is, after... Read More
I do on occasion run out of ideas for my... Read More
Freelance writer STANLEY BURKHARDT has a passion for animals. He... Read More
How to Come Up with Fresh Story Ideas When Your... Read More
If you dream of turning your book into a best... Read More
Obtaining the skills for writing good business correpondence is important;... Read More
Not long ago, I took stock of my unrealized desire... Read More
The first and final rule of quality writing is this:... Read More
Way back in your early school years, you were probably... Read More
Any article, report or book which is bought or sold... Read More
There are a lot of tapes and books and CD... Read More
Writing Writing |