The Waiting Game: What to Do During the Editing Process

After many of your own revisions, you finally submitted your manuscript to a professional editor. Now you don’t know what to do with yourself! My colleague, Tanya Brockett of Hallagen Ink, and I, the Founder and Creative Director of PathBinder Publishing, know you worked hard writing that book, but this is no time to slack off. There is still much yet to do! We compiled a list of actions you can take while your book is in the editing and design phase.

If you are seeking the traditional route, we will provide a follow-up article to address actions specific to you. But for those who are working with hybrid publishers or are publishing independently, you will want to pay close attention here.

While your book is going through the editing mill, the following will prepare you for a successful book launch:

·      Write your author bio—As stated in Heather Hummel’s HuffPost article titled “10 Tips on How to Write an Author Bio,” many authors cringe at the idea of writing their author bio, let alone the three versions most authors will need. For ideas on writing your best author bio, read the 10 Tips by clicking here.

·      Take your author photo—Along with the importance of an author bio comes the relevance of your author photo. Heather Hummel also provides information on author photos in her HuffPost article titled “The Relevance of a Professional Author Photo.” Take the time to hire a professional and read other tips by clicking here.

·      Write and edit your book description—Create a juicy description for your book that will hook readers. This description will be used across various platforms in marketing your book, such as your back cover, Amazon book page, website, and speaker introductions (for book signings, readings, and more). Use keywords that capture attention and keep the word count down (250 words or less).

·      Write your book marketing strategy—You wrote your book to share it with the world, so spend time researching and writing down the best ways to do that. Every author (regardless of publisher) is expected to market her book and share it with her networks. You can refer to old standby resources like John Kremer’s 1001 Ways to Market Your Book (http://www.TanyaLoves.me/1001ways) or connect with bloggers like Carla King at AuthorFriendly.com or Jane Friedman at https://www.janefriedman.com/best-book-marketing-advice-2017/. Plan to include: a press release, e-mail messages to your list, review copies to top bloggers, lining up speaking/book signing engagements, and writing blog posts with/about your book’s content.

·      Decide on book trim size—There are standard trim sizes for each genre of book. For example, a popular trim size for trade paperbacks is 5” x 8” to 6” x 9”. Novels and memoirs tend to be 5.5” x 8.5” and manuals/workbooks are generally 8” x 10” or traditional letter-sized. As an independent publisher, use your own discretion, but industry standards exist for a reason. Also, your print source may determine what is possible for you—many only offer standard print sizes due to certain production and distribution limitations.

·      Work with your cover designer—Readers do judge a book by its cover, so hire a cover designer to write your back cover copy, identify design elements (color palettes/photos/illustrations/images), and layout a marketable book cover. For additional guidance, see Tanya’s blog post at http://www.TanyaLoves.me/backcover. Don’t forget to have your editor proof the cover before production.

·      Boost your social media presence—Whether you are media savvy and or not, it is in your best interest to start engaging with followers on social media. Instead of creating everything from scratch, you can post “sound bites” from your book to prepare readers for its arrival. Create a spreadsheet to schedule your posts. Start gearing up on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (if professionally related), and perhaps Twitter. Post consistently (at least twice weekly).

·      Create or update your website with a book pre-order form—An author website will help you to market your book and engage readers. Even if you are publishing through Createspace and will have your book on Amazon with an Author Central Page, you still need to have an author website. This site should include at least a home page with your book cover and description with link to purchase, about the author page, a press/media page, and a contact page. Other ideas can be found in the Bestseller Launch Planner at http://www.TanyaLoves.me/booklaunch.

·      Secure ISBNs and LCCN/PCIP—Your book’s ISBN is a unique, numerical identifier for your book (like a social security number for media). It is acquired in the US through Bowker (www.myidentifiers.com) and you need one for each format of book you produce (e.g., print, e-book, and audio). Learn more about ISBNs at www.TanyaLoves.me/ISBN. LCCNs and PCIP data help librarians to catalog your book (and learn about it to buy it!). The LCCN is a unique identifier by the Library of Congress for cataloging, and the CIP data creates bibliographic data for books likely to be widely distributed in US libraries. See https://www.loc.gov/publish/ for more information.

·      Prepare for copyright submission (await edited draft before submission)

·      Create list of reviewers for blurbs (bloggers, etc., prepare to send uncorrected proof or ARCs)

And you thought you were done when you submitted your manuscript to your editor! While some of these items cross over with traditional publishing, there are some items that are unique to each situation. Stay tuned for our next article with tips on preparing for the traditionally published route. Still looking for help? Click here for more in depth author guidance.

Questions? Leave questions in the comments and let us know how you’re doing!

Heather Hummel is the founder and creative director of PathBinder Publishing, where it is our belief that every author’s book represents an accumulation of an author’s experiences and wisdom that is meant to be shared. Additionally, Heather is a ghostwriter who has penned dozens of books for clients. Connect with Heather at www.HeatherHummelAuthor.com or www.PathBinderPulbishing.com and on Facebook.

Tanya Brockett gives authors, experts, and entrepreneurs the confidence to write and edit a quality, bestseller-ready book that their readers will love while empowering authors to live a life they love. She is a speaker, editor, writer, and mentor to awesome clients around the world. Connect with Tanya on LinkedIn (/TanyaBrockett), on Facebook (/HallagenInk), and through her website at www.HallagenInk.com.

Ghostwriting: Q&A with Ghostwriter Heather Hummel

"So, what exactly does a ghostwriter do?"

That question has been asked of me repeatedly during my over decade long career as a ghostwriter. Some already have guesses or an idea of what the career entails, while others have not a clue. Therefore, when David Wogahn approached me about including a chapter in his eBook titled Successful eBook Publishing: The Complete How-to Guide for Creating and Launching Your Amazon Kindle eBook, I jumped at the chance. The following is an excerpt from his book, a Q&A with yours truly that takes the mystique out of ghostwriting.



For the Time or Writing Challenged

Let's face it, as much as we recognize the value of being called an author and basking in the expert status it conveys not all of us have the time or skills to write a book. In these situations it makes sense to work with a ghostwriter--someone with the skills and qualifications to write on your behalf.

For this topic I sought out the advice of my friend Heather Hummel, a ghostwriter and successful author in her own right. Heather has worked with a number of professionals to help them either write their book or shape what they already have into a book. As an author she also brings a strong sense of marketing and what it takes to produce something commercially viable.

David Wogahn: What is ghostwriting?

Heather Hummel: In my role as a novelist, the characters in my fictional Journals from the Heart series come into my head and tell me how it's going to be! They show up in my mind and take me along each step of their journey...in other words, my protagonists own me while I write their novel!

But, my role as a ghostwriter is quite different. I wear a different pen for each client. Despite what might be envisioned, being a ghostwriter does not mean hiding away behind the scenes pounding words out for a client. It's a very interactive approach that requires give and take on both sides. That means I adapt my technique to match the client's needs.

Some clients are able to write and simply need editing and coaching on the direction of their book, others need help writing, but know the direction of their book. Clients hire me for my expertise in writing, formula and format of a manuscript. But, I still need a gist of their story, their message and purpose. It truly becomes such a collaborative effort that by time the first draft is complete, I have to step aside and touch base with Heather Hummel again.

DW: What is the hardest part about ghostwriting?

Heather Hummel: The number one challenge is writing in the client's voice. This means leaving any personal agenda (i.e. ego) aside while stepping into their shoes, learning their voice, their message, and their agenda for delivering it. In fact, one of my first paid writing gigs was for Albemarle Family magazine in 2005. I went on to write over a dozen feature articles for them, and even though I hadn't been married, let alone birthed any kids, I was the top writer for this family focused magazine.

DW: How did you get started?

Heather Hummel: The ghostwriting project that landed me an agent and a book deal, essentially launching my career, was Gracefully: Looking and Being Your Best at Any Age (McGraw-Hill, 2008), co-written with Valerie Ramsey (my mother), who became a model at the age of 63. It's often assumed that it was easy for me to write from my mother's voice. But it's not that simple, especially when penning a self-help book. The key is to constantly think about the reader and what they would get out of the message. In this case it was to seek new challenges at any age while staying healthy in body, mind and spirit. As the ghostwriter, I interviewed nutritionists, healthy aging experts and a Pilates instructor.

DW: How or does a ghostwriter receive writing credit? Heather Hummel: There are varying levels of ghostwriting--from pure ghost where no one knows you wrote it (this is often the case with politicians) to "with" credit to "coauthor." In Gracefully's case, I received public recognition as coauthor "with Heather Hummel" acknowledgment on the book's cover. Each has its advantages and can be negotiated in different ways. Some clients might benefit from their association with an award winning coauthor because the coauthor may have their own following. Other clients may not wish to publicize they did not actually write the book themselves. This is usually to protect their personal or corporate branding. In cases such as these, where a ghostwriter doesn't receive public credit, they can negotiate higher royalties and pay in trade for nondisclosure. It's the old adage...do you want the fame or the fortune?

DW: What should someone expect to pay a ghostwriter?

Heather Hummel: The ghostwriter's fee depends on the type of project, the advance [upfront financial payment from the publisher], and whether or not they receive royalties and a portion of the advance. Some ghostwriters, such as myself, charge a flat fee of $100 per page. This includes all of the time spent researching, performing relevant interviews, writing, and editing. For a book, a general fee would range between $20,000 and $75,000 if no royalties or percentage of advance. However, there are so many ways to negotiate different options, that there really is no "average fee." Since royalties and advances vary greatly per book and client, it's always a risk for the ghostwriter to write based solely on these two factors. This is why I've gone to a flat fee or per page fee.

DW: Are there ghostwriter "associations"? How do you find a ghostwriter?

Heather Hummel:

Association of Ghostwriters

International Association of Ghostwriters

And, of course you can visit my own website at www.HeatherHummelAuthor.com


*Originally published in Successful eBook Publishing: The Complete How-to Guide for Creating and Launching Your Amazon Kindle eBook; by David Wogahn

What Compels an Agent to Sign an Author? Q&A With Literary Agents Jeff Kleinman and Michelle Brower (Part III of III)

In this Part III of the series from my interview with literary agents Jeff Kleinman and Michelle Brower of Folio Literary Management; they continue to shed light on the industry by discussing what compels them to sign an author and how willing they are to edit. 

Q: What compelled you to make offers to the last authors you signed?


Michelle Brower
Photo Credit: Folio Literary Management
Michelle: I have two very different examples of authors who came to me, and they are both really great in their own ways. One author I signed earlier this year came through my slush pile. Her novel is literary women's fiction, and we are in the process of selling it now. The great part is that we didn't know each other at all. She really was a blind submission. The one thing that made me sign her was that the quality of her novel really drew me in. It worked in terms of pacing and plot, and it had a really interesting concept. All of those pieces came together and made me pull it out of the slush pile, read it and decide to offer on it. She has a career, but being a novelist is what she always wanted to do, and now we are making it happen. I really love when that happens because I do think there are a lot of very talented writers out there who aren't living in New York or attending the same parties or know colleagues who referred them to me or who don't have that kind of connectedness to the industry; and yet, they are good writers who have an excellent book. I hope to be the person who helps get them out there into the world.

The other example, which is a very different way of going about landing an agent, occurred while I was working with an author who published her first novel with a major publisher 10 years ago. It didn't do very well and her agent has since left the industry. She wrote a new novel and hired a freelance editor for it, and that editor contacted me and suggested I read it. I read it. I loved it. I offered representation and found out that there were seven other agents who also offered her representation! So, I had to really, really fight for her to choose me. I fought very hard, and so I'm very, very excited about that one as well. She wrote a great book, and as I said earlier, that's the heart of what is really important.

Having connections is better than a platform because, honestly, when one of my authors recommends a friend who's in their writing group, I pay attention, even if they're not always for me. There's something about having somebody I already know, like, and whose work I respect pass me something to look at.

For self-published books, I don't know that it takes an immediate platform, but what it takes is a lot of engagement, especially community engagement. We certainly encourage all of our authors to be on Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads and Instagram. It's really important to actually connect with a reading community, and for self-published authors that's pretty much the best and only way they can get the word out about their book.

I have definitely picked up authors who have been self-published because I've seen that they've managed to find an audience without anyone's help. Then I read their book, and I can see where I can actually be of help to that author. That's when it works.

Q: Do you edit clients' work?

Jeff Kleinman
Photo Credit: Folio Literary Management
Jeff: I have been known to sit down with an author, develop the concept with characters and an outline, and then they send me three chapters at a time. That kind of incredible micro-level attention, however, is only the case for clients I already represent. For example, I was reading a revised version of a novel, and while reading it I got lightheaded, my fingers went numb, and I was hyperventilating! It was amazing. But, about halfway through it disintegrated. We had a long discussion about it, and he is now sitting down and reworking the outline. So, yes, I will work incredibly hands-on, but almost only ever for someone I have a relationship with.

Ultimately, an author needs to submit the best manuscript they can possibly deliver. The worst that can happen is when I pass on a submission, and I tell the author that I liked everything except X, Y and Z. and they respond with, "Gosh, I was afraid of that." Or "I hoped you wouldn't notice." Believe me, we notice. So, although we are willing to work with people, we want to work with people who are ready to be worked with.

Q:If you had one message for Indie authors, what would it be?
 
Michelle: We are not here to be mean to them. We are not here to keep them out. We are here to let in the books we think can work with. We are gatekeepers, but it's not because we don't like an author, and it's not because we don't think their work is good or that we don't think it has an audience. We just don't know how to find that specific audience. We're not out to say no to authors, we actually want to say yes. But, if you look back at the numbers I gave you about my slush pile (see Part II) we just can't. There are a lot of Indie authors who want to stay Indie. I think that's a great choice for many of them. However, some want to use the fact that they found their audience as a way to break into traditional publishing. I think both of those scenarios can work.

Jeff: The reality is, it's a brave new world of publishing, and agents are only one part of it.

Thank you to Jeff and Michelle for sharing their industry expertise, views, and stories!

Read Part I of the series
Read Part II of the series
Follow Heather Hummel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HeatherHummel
This post originally appeared on the Huffington Post. 

Review: MY TEMPORARY LIFE by Martin Crosbie

 "Each storyline weaves together to make a literary cloth that you are likely to wear in your mind for years to come."

I don’t write book reviews that recap the story. The book description serves that purpose. I rather prefer to share my reaction to the book and how it grabbed or didn’t grab me. This one was a grabber. It’s been a long time since a book has touched me as deeply as My Temporary Life: Book One of the My Temporary Life Trilogy did. The irony was that I chose to read this particular book in order to be in a literary world far removed from the reality of daily life. Surely a storyline about a young lad growing up in Scotland would be about as far removed from my life as a forty-seven year old writer living in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Well, indeed, it was far removed from my own life. But, still the author, Martin Crosbie, found a way to subtly, and at times not so subtly, lure me into Malcolm’s world in such a way that made me think a lot about my own. And that’s just part of what makes this such a fabulous read. Crosbie’s writing style is engaging and crisp. Each word is purposeful. Each character is developed in a way that the book wouldn’t be complete without them. Each storyline weaves together to make a literary cloth that you are likely to wear in your mind for years to come.

The premise is about doing the right thing, and if you don’t do the right thing, how you may or may not move on with regrets. Starting with tough decisions as a young teenager right through is adult years, Malcolm is faced with having to do (or choose not to do) the right thing in some pretty intense situations. Malcolm is not the only one faced with the painful reality of retreating versus reacting, and in each case, it makes you think, what would I have done? Crosbie does a wonderful job of developing Malcolm’s relationship with each and every character, be them friend or foe. Through this, Malcolm’s character and personality are defined brilliantly.

This book is an enriching one that appeals to a wide range of demographics. No matter where you live, whether you’re male or female, whether you like coming of age, get captivated by suspense or are a sucker for a love story, this book has it all. But most of all, this is a book that will change the way you think, and perhaps even the way you act.

With over 130,000 downloads of My Temporary Life: Book One of the My Temporary Life Trilogy , there will be a bunch of us readers anxiously awaiting his second novel, My Name Is Hardly-Book Two of the My Temporary Life Trilogy .

This review is posted as a standing ovation with 5 Stars on:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads.

Visit Martin Crosbie’s website.