Define Your Publishing Objective

Written By: Bill Walker - Jan• 04•11

Many aspiring novelists, begin the writing process without really thinking about what his/her publishing objectives are. They don’t think about questions such as: Why do I want to write a book in the first place? How will this book be published? For whom am I writing this book? Who is my target market? Do I want to make money from the sales of this book? How am I going to market my book?

These are questions that should be answered prior to writing your book. Here are a few things to consider:

What are your goals and objectives?

  • Why do you want to publish a book? (What is your Big “Why”?)
  • Is this a hobby or do you want to earn a living as a writer?
  • Are you going to print just a few copies for friends and family or do you want worldwide distribution?
  • Do you want to become a household name?
  • Who is your target market?
  • Are you passionate about your writing?

How do you envision your writing career?

  • Hobby – A favorite leisure time activity or occupation.
  • Job – A paid or unpaid position of employment.
  • Career – A life’s work or journey.

The way you view your writing career will guide you as you define your publishing objective. If writing is just a hobby then traditional publishing is probably not for you. An inexpensive self-publishing method is probably best. If your goal is to make a living as an author great care needs to be taken with your work. Developing a strong marketing plan will be vital to your success. Go after traditional publishing if you can. If that method doesn’t work then independently publish your book. Take your book through the same steps a traditional publisher would. The biggest difference between the two is that with independent publishing you, the author, take on all the financial risk but if your book is successful, you will reap all the financial rewards.

If your goal is to earn your living as a published author it is extremely important to treat your writing as a job. Life happens and it’s easy to fill your time with things that will keep you busy. Don’t let that happen. Schedule time to write. Then when it’s time to write, write!

Treat your writing as a business

  • As an author you are an entrepreneur.
  • As an entrepreneur you need to treat your writing as a business.
  • As a business, have you written your mission statement and vision statement, developed a marketing plan, set a budget?

There has never been a better time to be a writer. The internet makes it easy to connect with your fans anywhere in the world. The world of publishing is changing and this change has resulted in a tremendous opportunity for writers that take control of their careers.

I’m going to end with a quote about the future of publishing:

“Let’s be clear. Everybody who writes is going to publish what they write. This is not one of those things that is debatable anymore…And it doesn’t really matter whether you think this is a good thing or a bad thing for the world of books and publishing – it is going to happen regardless of what any of us thinks”

- The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing – p. 27- quoting John Feldcamp, Pres. of Xlibris Corp.

The process of getting published is time consuming and often frustrating as well as extremely exciting. Defining your publishing objectives from the start will give you guidance as you write and publish your book. Your fans are waiting.

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Words

Written By: Andrea Roth - Dec• 30•10

Yes, you read right – “Words” is the name of this little essay.

Although used on a daily basis, words are the main beam of communicating, other than having vocal cords and body signs.  I like words.  Always have.  So much so that I play word games in my head.  For instance, once a word enters my vortex, I will dissect it into many other words.

Take the word “independence” for example.  Inside that one word there are others such as in, id, end, depend, pin, pen, pie, pine, etc.  You get the idea.  I compare this mind-game to playing a lone game of Scrabble, a fashionable yet old board game of words.  A most joyous game to me!

Before becoming a published author, I created manuscripts for many college classes; however, my biggest and best feat was being a pen-pal.  Composition of numerous letters day-after-day as a child enlightened my existing writing capabilities.  That was fun, writing to friends that I met but once a year at summer camp.  It was more fun to have my mail box fed in turn, with their responses.

With the topic of words in mind, I appreciate new words, those that are not used on a daily basis, especially words that I have never seen before.  Words such  as deglutition, bloviate, manque, anent, pleiad, etc.  This list is endless and could become as fat as a voluminous dictionary!

Sharing such verbiage with you, I must let you know that I have not completely read any dictionary.  Long ago I read as far as the ‘d’ alphabet.  Just because I could.  However, such a task soon became tedious and was put aside.

Since that long-ago time, authors have enlightened me through their works with the use of unfamiliar words.  Habitually, I will dog-ear a page to enable myself to look up that word and its usage in a sentence.  This has been most interesting – to me.  This is not an importunate endeavor.  Amphigories are acceptable.

Off the topic for a moment, I have met more than one person whom are “numbers people.”  What I do with words in my mind, they do with numbers.  Peripeteia perhaps?  Go figure!  I am certainly not laconic!

Enjoy!  A. K. Buckroth
www.mydiabeticsoul.com
www.simplieindie.com

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15 Commandments for Writers

Written By: Bill Walker - Dec• 22•10

Focus on Your Writing

The Sacramento Suburban Writers Club wants to help you write and publish your book.  As such I thought this list of 15 Commandments for Writers would be a great early post on the club’s website. I have posted these on my website and at the time did not know who the original author was, but now I do. Wes (former club president) sent me a link to Amazon where the book can be purchased. They are from a book about Mystery writing. Each one is followed by a short paragraph explaining more details. The book is You Can Write a Mystery by Gillian Roberts.

As you set your writing goals for the new year (2011), stop and think about this list of commandments for writers.  Which one(s) do you need to work on?

  1. Thou shalt think like a professional, starting now.
  2. Thou shalt begin and keep going till you’re through.
  3. Thou shalt take your efforts and desires seriously.
  4. Thou shalt call it work.
  5. Thou shalt write for yourself, not the market.
  6. Thou shalt not wait for visits from the muse.
  7. Thou shalt not ask whether you are good enough.
  8. Thou shalt not intimidate yourself by comparing your writing with a published and polished work.
  9. Thou shalt not worry whether your idea is new enough.
  10. Thou shalt not talk your idea away.
  11. Thou shalt not self-censor at all during the first draft.
  12. Thou shalt not risk writer’s paralysis by looking for the precise word or being afraid of sounding dumb.
  13. Thou shalt not believe that if writing is hard, you must be no good.
  14. Thou shalt not set yourself up for failure with impossible goals.
  15. Thou shalt not believe in writer’s block.

I hope you find these useful as you write your next book.  There has never been a better time to pursue your dream to be a published. Your fans are waiting to read your next book.

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Hello Sacramento Writers

Written By: Bill Walker - Dec• 22•10

This is the new home of the Sacramento Suburban Writers Club. We want this website to be useful and provide lots of great information. If you would like to contribute an article to this website please send me an email to bill@sactowriters.com.

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