How to Write And Publish a Book in 10 Easy Steps
Beyond Words
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This workshop is designed to help you write and sell your own book by using pre-
created examples and templates for you to work with in class. You are given the
opportunity to apply each day’s lesson to your own manuscript with assigned
homework, but it’s up to you whether or not you wish to take advantage of that
opportunity. Those who do will come away with an outline, a query letter and a pitch
for their individual books. Those who are not working on anything in particular at the
time, however, will receive the exact same benefit of instruction from the workshop,
in the form of their “imaginary” template book.
Day One
STEP ONE: Define your concept
Using a series of guided exercises, you will learn how to identify the core
concept in any book, and how to develop that concept in a way that is
uniquely your own.
STEP TWO: Know your reader
Understanding genre; how publishers decide whether to print your book as a
hardcover or softcover, and how this information can help you increase the
chances of selling your book before you start writing it; giving the reader
what he wants. The cross-over book and the phenomenon of mega-hits like
Harry Potter. Continuing the exercises from the morning, you will take a
single concept and re-define it according to several different genres.
Homework for tonight: Apply the exercises learned in class to your own book,
and write a one-sentence description of your concept that will convey a
sense of who your reader is.
STEP THREE: Outline your book
The three stages of outlining: the overview; the chapter outline; the detailed
outline. The importance of flow and pacing and how an outline can help you
spot trouble before it begins. How to determine a logical progression of
events that keep the reader interested. How to build narrative drive.
Homework for tonight: Beginning with the concept you developed earlier, you
will write an overview outline and a 3 paragraph synopsis for a book.
Day Two
STEP FOUR: Hook your reader
How to write a magnetic first sentence, train yourself to do the
unexpected, build suspense and keep readers turning pages. The secrets
to building tension and why that is such an important tool. How back cover
copy sells books and how you can use the techniques of copy writers to sell
your book before it even hits the stands.
STEP FIVE: Know your Material
How to research almost anything and how to fake it when you can’t; how to
establish yourself as an authority and how to use expertise you may not have
known you had to get attention for your book; how to know when you know
too much; which comes first, the chicken or the egg?– the idea or the
research? The three questions you should ask yourself before including
research and/or documented facts in your book. The rules of citation and
crediting. When is it okay to simply make things up? What kinds of books
require absolutely no research or personal expertise?
STEP SIX Write your book
Developing style; the importance of voice and how to use it. Why your
choice of point of view is essential to your book– even a non-fiction one.
What is the difference between a change of topic and a change of scene?
Between a change of scene and a change of chapter? How to capture and
keep the reader’s attention, and how to make him care about your message.
Writing transitions that flow. Ending and beginning chapters. How to avoid
the three most common mistakes novice writers make. (Preaching,
telegraphing and scene-switching to build suspense)
Tonight’s homework: Write the opening paragraph of your book in at least
two different points of view
Day Three
STEP SEVEN: Edit your book
What is a first draft and how to know when you’ve finished one. When do
you call it “clean copy”? A step by step guide to the process of editing your
own book, what you should look for, what you shouldn’t worry about at this
stage. How to know when to “kill your darling”, as Faulkner said, and how to
know when to plump up chapters. Should you hire someone to proof read
or edit your manuscript? How many drafts make a complete manuscript?
When do you stop?
Today you get to edit the teacher! Using actual manuscript pages, compare
your efforts to the finished result as delivered by a professional editor.
STEP EIGHT: Sell your book
Do you need an agent? Is a traditional New York publisher, a small press or
self-publishing best for you? The pros and cons of publishing your own book
and what you can expect if you do; includes an overview of self-publishing
options and e-books. Whether you choose self-publishing or a more
traditional route, the successful author will eventually need these tools:
1)The dynamite query letter: Using the exercises from Day One, you will
learn how to incorporate your concept, your hook and your unique style into
a one page sales tool that you can use to solicit an agent, a publisher, a
subrights or reprint entity,a distributor, even a film scout.
2)The pitch: This is the one-to-two sentence summary of your book that you
will use to get an agent, that your agent will use to find a publisher, that your
publisher will use to the sales department, and that the sales department will
use to get bookstores to order your book. It doesn’t get more important than
this!
Tonight’s homework: write a one or two sentence pitch for your book, and be
prepared to read it
in class tomorrow.
Day Four
STEP NINE: Publish Your Book
Part One: A detailed overview of the self-publishing process, including
resources and cost comparisons, what you can expect to profit, the break-
even point on various sizes and editions. When is it a good idea for a
previously published author to self- publish her book? What is the
difference between a smart business decision and self-indulgence? And
when does it matter?
Part Two: A detailed examination of the traditional publishing process.
Follow one manuscript from acquisition to publication. What does your
editor, your copy editor, your senior editor, your editor-in-chief actually do?
The standard publishing contract and why your lawyer would never let you
sign it... and why you will. Rights you should fight to keep ,and those you can
safely give away. The role the sales and marketing departments have in
acquiring your book, and what you can expect from them after you’ve signed
on the dotted line. What is an advance, and how it can predict how many
copies your book will sell. How bestsellers are made, and what really
happens when your book is optioned for a movie.
STEP TEN : Market Your Book
What you can expect from your publisher...and what the publisher expects
from you. The role of New York Times reporting bookstores, and the value
of book signings,. Some common strategies for promoting a book: Those that
work, and those that aren’t worth the effort. How to get on t.v., how to write a
press release. Improving your ranking on Amazon.com, and why that
matters. The three most powerful– and inexpensive-- tools for marketing
your book, and the three most common mistakes new writers make.
Your homework: Write your book!
created examples and templates for you to work with in class. You are given the
opportunity to apply each day’s lesson to your own manuscript with assigned
homework, but it’s up to you whether or not you wish to take advantage of that
opportunity. Those who do will come away with an outline, a query letter and a pitch
for their individual books. Those who are not working on anything in particular at the
time, however, will receive the exact same benefit of instruction from the workshop,
in the form of their “imaginary” template book.
Day One
STEP ONE: Define your concept
Using a series of guided exercises, you will learn how to identify the core
concept in any book, and how to develop that concept in a way that is
uniquely your own.
STEP TWO: Know your reader
Understanding genre; how publishers decide whether to print your book as a
hardcover or softcover, and how this information can help you increase the
chances of selling your book before you start writing it; giving the reader
what he wants. The cross-over book and the phenomenon of mega-hits like
Harry Potter. Continuing the exercises from the morning, you will take a
single concept and re-define it according to several different genres.
Homework for tonight: Apply the exercises learned in class to your own book,
and write a one-sentence description of your concept that will convey a
sense of who your reader is.
STEP THREE: Outline your book
The three stages of outlining: the overview; the chapter outline; the detailed
outline. The importance of flow and pacing and how an outline can help you
spot trouble before it begins. How to determine a logical progression of
events that keep the reader interested. How to build narrative drive.
Homework for tonight: Beginning with the concept you developed earlier, you
will write an overview outline and a 3 paragraph synopsis for a book.
Day Two
STEP FOUR: Hook your reader
How to write a magnetic first sentence, train yourself to do the
unexpected, build suspense and keep readers turning pages. The secrets
to building tension and why that is such an important tool. How back cover
copy sells books and how you can use the techniques of copy writers to sell
your book before it even hits the stands.
STEP FIVE: Know your Material
How to research almost anything and how to fake it when you can’t; how to
establish yourself as an authority and how to use expertise you may not have
known you had to get attention for your book; how to know when you know
too much; which comes first, the chicken or the egg?– the idea or the
research? The three questions you should ask yourself before including
research and/or documented facts in your book. The rules of citation and
crediting. When is it okay to simply make things up? What kinds of books
require absolutely no research or personal expertise?
STEP SIX Write your book
Developing style; the importance of voice and how to use it. Why your
choice of point of view is essential to your book– even a non-fiction one.
What is the difference between a change of topic and a change of scene?
Between a change of scene and a change of chapter? How to capture and
keep the reader’s attention, and how to make him care about your message.
Writing transitions that flow. Ending and beginning chapters. How to avoid
the three most common mistakes novice writers make. (Preaching,
telegraphing and scene-switching to build suspense)
Tonight’s homework: Write the opening paragraph of your book in at least
two different points of view
Day Three
STEP SEVEN: Edit your book
What is a first draft and how to know when you’ve finished one. When do
you call it “clean copy”? A step by step guide to the process of editing your
own book, what you should look for, what you shouldn’t worry about at this
stage. How to know when to “kill your darling”, as Faulkner said, and how to
know when to plump up chapters. Should you hire someone to proof read
or edit your manuscript? How many drafts make a complete manuscript?
When do you stop?
Today you get to edit the teacher! Using actual manuscript pages, compare
your efforts to the finished result as delivered by a professional editor.
STEP EIGHT: Sell your book
Do you need an agent? Is a traditional New York publisher, a small press or
self-publishing best for you? The pros and cons of publishing your own book
and what you can expect if you do; includes an overview of self-publishing
options and e-books. Whether you choose self-publishing or a more
traditional route, the successful author will eventually need these tools:
1)The dynamite query letter: Using the exercises from Day One, you will
learn how to incorporate your concept, your hook and your unique style into
a one page sales tool that you can use to solicit an agent, a publisher, a
subrights or reprint entity,a distributor, even a film scout.
2)The pitch: This is the one-to-two sentence summary of your book that you
will use to get an agent, that your agent will use to find a publisher, that your
publisher will use to the sales department, and that the sales department will
use to get bookstores to order your book. It doesn’t get more important than
this!
Tonight’s homework: write a one or two sentence pitch for your book, and be
prepared to read it
in class tomorrow.
Day Four
STEP NINE: Publish Your Book
Part One: A detailed overview of the self-publishing process, including
resources and cost comparisons, what you can expect to profit, the break-
even point on various sizes and editions. When is it a good idea for a
previously published author to self- publish her book? What is the
difference between a smart business decision and self-indulgence? And
when does it matter?
Part Two: A detailed examination of the traditional publishing process.
Follow one manuscript from acquisition to publication. What does your
editor, your copy editor, your senior editor, your editor-in-chief actually do?
The standard publishing contract and why your lawyer would never let you
sign it... and why you will. Rights you should fight to keep ,and those you can
safely give away. The role the sales and marketing departments have in
acquiring your book, and what you can expect from them after you’ve signed
on the dotted line. What is an advance, and how it can predict how many
copies your book will sell. How bestsellers are made, and what really
happens when your book is optioned for a movie.
STEP TEN : Market Your Book
What you can expect from your publisher...and what the publisher expects
from you. The role of New York Times reporting bookstores, and the value
of book signings,. Some common strategies for promoting a book: Those that
work, and those that aren’t worth the effort. How to get on t.v., how to write a
press release. Improving your ranking on Amazon.com, and why that
matters. The three most powerful– and inexpensive-- tools for marketing
your book, and the three most common mistakes new writers make.
Your homework: Write your book!
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Workshop
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Workshop
