how to get published

Join Us for The Nonfiction Writers Conference 2022

April 13, 2022 by Lisa Tener

Benefits of a Virtual Conference

I have had the privilege of being a presenter for the Nonfiction Writers Conference a couple of times now, and a pro for the ask-a-pro sessions for many years. I enjoy attending as much as presenting and I’ve learned to block out my schedule that week so I can attend as many of the juicy presentations and author chats as possible. I’ve also scheduled time with other pros and gotten excellent advice on book marketing.

It’s my pleasure to introduce to you the CEO of the the Nonfiction Authors Association and the Writers Conference, Stephanie Chandler. I asked Stephanie some burning questions I knew my readers would benefit from, but if I missed anything on your list, please ask it as a comment below the post!

Lisa: Stephanie, thanks for joining me to talk about the Nonfiction Writers Conference, which has been running for 12 years! You’re a pioneer in virtual events. What are some of the benefits of a virtual conference and what does NFWC do to develop the networking side virtually?

Anna Quindlen, Julia Cameron, Nonfiction Writers Conference

Stephanie: Our mission has always been to deliver the value of an in-person writers’ conference without the time and expense of travel. For networking, we host an attendees-only Facebook group and we also have a special session where attendees participate in small groups in Zoom breakout rooms and brainstorm ideas, questions, and challenges. We’re going to have a blast!

The Nonfiction Writers Conference Author Chats

Anna Quindlen, Featured Speaker, Nonfiction Writers Conference — Anna Quindlen

Lisa: I’m excited about that! I’m also stoked about the featured author chats. Anna Quindlen was my mom’s favorite columnist when I was in my teens. Mom shared those columns with me regularly. We loved her novels, too.

Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way inspired me to create a stand up comic character—Medea Leibowitz, a New York psychic. I had never done any comedy but I took a class at Brookline Center for Adult Ed and it was a hoot! We even performed once at the Hong Kong in Harvard Square for our graduation!

So, I’m very excited about the featured guests, who have both had an influence on my creative life. Can you share a bit about how these two writers impacted you and why you’ve chosen them?

Stephanie: I love that you created a stand-up comedy act! I’ve always loved Anna Quindlen’s work. Her books are uplifting and beautifully written. In fact, Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake helped me embrace the joys that come with aging and I’ve recommended it to more people than I can count.

Julia Cameron, Featured Speaker, Nonfiction Writers Conference — Julia Cameron

I read Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way many years ago, but hadn’t really put it into practice. Right before the pandemic started, I happened to take a local class based on the book. We did all kinds of exercises, from pottery to painting to creating our own mini books. That experience, combined with the exercises in the book, unleashed some creative pursuits I didn’t know I needed in my life! I painted my way through the pandemic, and though I’m not a natural artist by any stretch, I am grateful for finding a way to decompress and feel creative at the same time. That book is truly life-changing!

Lisa: Wow, that sounds wonderful!

How to Reach Readers and Sell More Books

Lisa: How to reach readers and sell more books is always an important focus in the Nonfiction Writers Conference. Can you share a few of the speakers and topics that will address that?

Stephanie: We do focus on marketing quite a bit because without it, authors won’t find readers! So I asked Joanne McCall to cover how to host your own podcast tour, and Brian Jud to cover bulk book sales, and Bryan Cohen to cover Amazon ads. We also have Carla King covering how to build your email list, Misty Megia on commanding the stage as a speaker, and Dan Janal on establishing thought leadership with media interviews. Lastly, I’ll cover how to attract and cultivate lifelong fans—a topic I absolutely love teaching.

And For Writers Just Starting Their Book Writing Journey

Lisa: And how about for those just starting the book writing and publishing journey? Which of this year’s topics / speakers might be most relevant for them?

Lisa Tener, Nonfiction Writers Conference 2022

Stephanie: We’re excited to have YOU join us! You’re covering how to choose the right publishing path (traditional, self, or hybrid), which is an essential topic for any writer because there are so many pros and cons on all sides. We also have Cindy Tschosik teaching her book writing process. And one of our most popular sessions is the live Pitch-the-Agents event where 20 attendees will get the chance to give their pitches and potentially sign with an agent!

Lisa: I love the topic of publishing paths. I’ve always been of the mind that choosing a path is so individual–both to the author and the particular book they are publishing; there’s a lot to take in, know and weigh for that decision. Now that I’ve both traditionally published and self-published, I have even more perspective than I did when I only witnessed some of my clients successfully self-publishing.

And the opportunity to pitch agents is priceless!

Nonfiction Writers Conference Ask-A-Pro consultations with industry experts heading.

Pitch an Agent

Lisa: I love the pitch-an-agent opportunity. Can you share any stories about agent representation or book deals coming out of that?

Stephanie: We introduced this live session for the first time last year and at least two of the participants have signed with agents. I’m not sure about book deals yet, but these things take more time than people realize.

Lisa: Yes, they do take time! Signing with an agent is a big step. And an agent may require more work before they pitch to publishers, so that’s not surprising to hear.

How to get the most out of a writers conference

Lisa: What advice do you have for writers/authors to prepare for a writers conference to be sure they get the most out of it?

Stephanie: I love this question! Try to attend live when possible, turn off your phone and be fully present. It’s so easy to login and then let it run in the background while we do other things, but you will potentially miss a lot of value. We carefully select speakers so my expectation is that every single session will be rich in content and engaging. I want you to get the most out of it! We also have live Q&A with the speakers so it’s a wonderful opportunity to get your questions answered.

The Nonfiction Authors Association

Lisa: Two of the options for registering for the Nonfiction Writers Conference come with membership in the Nonfiction Authors Association. Can you share a bit about the benefits of the Nonfiction Authors Association?

Stephanie: Our community began in 2013 and each year we keep adding more benefits. Some of the most popular are the weekly Author Advisor email that includes curated media leads and links to featured content from our archives. We have a TREMENDOUS amount of content for members. From reports and checklists to templates and recorded interviews, you can find the answer to just about any question you have.

We also host monthly mastermind groups on Zoom where members break into small groups and brainstorm ideas together. And we have a private Facebook group, which is one of my favorite places to be. I personally check in several times a week and answer questions, although often times members have already provided answers because the group members are so supportive of each other.

We also have discounts off our classes, book awards, and conference PLUS lots of partner discounts from providers like Lulu.com, Constant Contact, Office Depot, and IngramSpark. The discounts alone can cover the cost of membership.

What Every Authorpreneur Needs to Know

Lisa: You’ve written nine excellent books on publishing, book marketing and running a successful business. What’s the biggest mistake authors make and what’s the most important thing for an “authorpreneur” to know or do?

Stephanie: The biggest mistake is waiting to focus on marketing until after the book is out. This is so common, so those who do are not alone. And the good news is you can start where you are so it’s never really too late!

For an “authorpreneur,” I think it’s important to treat your book like a business. This means getting a business license and business bank account, creating a marketing budget, and looking for ways to build revenue streams around your book. It’s no secret that it’s hard to earn income from book sales, so if that’s your mission, start treating it like a business.

Thank you for this fun interview! I appreciate the opportunity and hope to see many of your blog readers at our upcoming events!

Stephanie Chandler, CEO Nonfiction Writers Conference. — Stephanie Chandler

Stephanie Chandler is the author of several books including The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan and The Nonfiction Book Marketing Plan. She is CEO of the Nonfiction Authors Association, a vibrant educational community for experienced and aspiring writers, and the Nonfiction Writers Conference, events conducted entirely online since 2010. A frequent speaker at business events and on the radio, she has been featured in Entrepreneur, BusinessWeek, and Wired magazine.

How to Get Published by a Traditional Publisher: 7 Ways to Look Your Best

October 19, 2016 by Lisa Tener

How to Get Published: It’s Not Just Your Writing

book writing and publishing coach Lisa Tener — Your book writing coach Lisa Tener

Two journalists friends make a common error.

I get at least two emails a week asking advice on how to get published. Yesterday, I spoke to a colleague who is a journalist, former publicist and former marketing professional and she made a mistake that I see made by at least 80% of aspiring authors.

All she’d done the past year on her book was write the book and then her book proposal.

Platform building: zilcho.

That’s actually a wonderful thing, because I know it means she poured her heart and soul into writing a great book.

But it was funny speaking with her, because she hadn’t even thought about all the PR and marketing she may need to do beforehand.

“Ha. I was thinking I’d do all those things when the book comes out, but it makes sense that publishers would want to see something more solid than a promise.”

Exactly.

So, my friend promised me to take all the brilliant things in her book promotion plan (from her book proposal) and implement most of it now, before approaching publishers. Then, we’ll talk!

She’s asking her son for help with Twitter, journalist friends for blurbs and commitments to spread the word and she promised me to return to her long-neglected blog.

[bctt tweet=”How to Get Beyond a Polite ‘No’ with Publishers ” username=”LisaTener”]

Today, I got another email asking for help with how to get published, this time from a relative who’s an award-winning writer. She just wrote a narrative nonfiction book-length manuscript and had it professionally edited.

Knowing the topic and her writing chops, I’m sure it’s laugh-out-loud funny and brilliant.

So, why is it so hard to get it published? She’s had only one bite out of 20 queries, and so wrote me for advice. That’s when I decided it was time for a post—one for my cousin and anyone interested in how to get published by a traditional publisher—whether you are writing narrative nonfiction (memoir, creative nonfiction, biography, etc.) or a self-help or how-to book.

First, one bite out of 20 queries is not all bad. That tells me there’s interest. As they say in the industry, “The book has legs.” However, I’m fairly confident she can take several steps to improve her chances and they all have to do with platform-building.

Build Your Platform to Make Your Book Attractive to Publishers and Literary Agents

got a publisher — Micaela Karlsen developed a website, set up speaking gigs and built her grassroots network to attract a publishing deal.

If you read my posts regularly, I’m sure you know that platform means the ways you reach people—online and offline—with your message. And you may also know that building your platform is perhaps the most important ingredient in the “how to get published” formula.

Here are some quick and more long-term things you can do to develop the kind of following that publishers and agents are looking for, so your book can get picked up and published:

Update Your Website: Recently, a few of my clients had fairly outdated websites. Before sending out their book proposals I advised them to update their sites for a fresh, professional, branded look, but also for all the things a publisher looks for—the things that help publishers get a clear picture of your platform and online reach. If you’re thinking of a website reboot. Check out my post on What to Put on an Author Website.
Create and Grow a Mailing List: The people on your mailing list should be the people most likely to buy your book. The bigger this list, the more publishers and agents will think there are people ready to buy (not everyone, but certainly a percentage of those on your list). How do you grow your list? With people who are in your target market. Offer a “lead magnet” or “free offer” on your website that is so compelling that folks will be willing to share their first name and email with you.
Carol Lambert’s publisher required a commitment to grow her social media presence before offering a contract.

Connect on Social Media: You don’t have to be super-active on every platform. Pick one or two platforms where you’ll be most likely to find your target readers and get active there. Connect with readers but also those people who influence your readers—bloggers, other authors, tv and radio producers, journalists, etc. Share their great articles and shows, as well as your own.
BLOG: Yes, blogging takes some time and focus but it is one of the best ways to connect with your peeps and develop a relationship. And this relationship isn’t just a one way communication where you spew out information, hoping people like it. Nuh-uh. You get to hear back from them and learn what they’re interested in when you invite comments on your blog. In addition, your blog will help Google and other search engines love you (and send visitors) as well.
Speak: Publishers love to see a significant speaking schedule. It means that you regularly reach your target audience in an intimate way and a setting where they are likely to buy books.
Cara Bradley grew her mailing list by 50%, hired a publicist and began blogging on the Huffington Post in order to make her platform appealing to publishers.

Teach: Seminars, especially through organizations and companies offer a similar excellent opportunity for book sales. In fact, many author/trainers factor book sales into all their corporate trainings. This helps boost book sales and also make sure that participants have a nice takeaway they can use to remember what they learned, dive deeper and share with others. You can teach in person or remotely.
Network: One of my most successful sales strategies has been to identify people who offer excellent programs that my people (authors and aspiring authors) need and which I do not offer. In my case, these are services like book marketing, business marketing and business building. Many times, these people offer affiliate programs and I get a percentage of sales I have generated (of course, it’s important to be up front with your community when you are receiving commissions). Most often, your affiliate partners or JV partners will be happy to promote your services and book in return.

I will say, strategy 7 is one to be careful about. You want to do your due diligence, research all programs the best you can, speak to people who’ve participated or become a participant yourself. Monitor how your folks benefited from or liked the program afterwards. If they had a less than stellar experience, you can give the provider feedback, but err on the side of dropping a program rather than hoping the presenter will change. If an affiliate program could be considered a conflict of interest in certain cases, make sure you don’t receive a commission for those clients.

Use Sustainable Strategies to Grow Your Platform and Get Published

I use the word “Sustainability” often when speaking about platform building. There is nothing more frustrating than throwing money into social media, website, PR and hoping that a big advance or stellar book sales will pay back more than your investment.

The more you have income-producing opportunities already in place, the more any of your efforts can be sustainable from the outset. Your platform building contributes to the bottom line and, in turn, those income producing activities will naturally also result in book sales. This model will make book marketing more enjoyable, less stressful and sustainable.

When I see clients without a sustainability element, they often give up quickly because the activities that can generate book sales end up costing more money than they generate. Even clients who have stuck with it and gotten great PR end up with modest book sales (if they don’t have the sustainability element) compared to those who operate from a sustainable model from the outset.

Of course, these platform building strategies are meaningless without a solid book concept that speaks to a real need within a clear, significant target market and a well written book (or sample chapters). And you’ll want to go through the expected steps to write a book proposal as well. And be sure to download my free report: 10 Tips to a Book Proposal Publishers Will Love.

Be thorough and don’t rush these steps and you will increase your chance of getting your book published by a traditional publisher—and reaching lots of eager readers, as well.

Have any questions or a publishing story to share? Comment below.

10 Tips to a Book Proposal Publishers will Love PDF Cover — Get Your Free Copy

From Blogger to Book Deal: An Interview with Psychology Today Blogger Dr. Craig Malkin

September 21, 2016 by Lisa Tener

Lisa Tener, Craig Malkin — Here I am with Craig Malkin at the Harvard Faculty Club during the paperback launch party of Rethinking Narcissism.

Aspiring Author to Blogger to Book Deal to Author

One of my favorite blogger/authors is Dr. Craig Malkin. When we first met at Harvard Medical School’s CME publishing course, Dr. Malkin had impressive credentials, yet quite a modest reach. Mostly through blogging, he grew his author platform to where a publisher approached him to publish his first book.

Here are Dr. Malkin’s story, advice and tips—for bloggers and those considering the idea.

How to Pitch Your Blog

Lisa: Were you blogging when we first met?

Craig: I wasn’t blogging we first met and I was terrified of it. The thought of sharing my ideas in writing publicly was overwhelming. But you suggested that I simply start and see how it feels. You were right.

Lisa: What was the best advice I gave you when you started blogging?

Craig: Always ask what’s in it for the reader. What can they take away from the article that will help them, but will stay with them as a voice that they can use in everyday life, or insights that can support them going forward.

Lisa: How did you approach Psychology Today and what are some tips for pitching your blog/column?

Craig: First impressions are everything, especially when it comes to pitching.

Spend time on the blog that you submit to Psychology Today or another site as a sample.
Make sure you craft your pitch as much as you can because you want them to read your writing in its very best form.
Make sure it includes something surprising or new, such as a new research finding.
Again, always keep in mind that articles that take off are easy to read, rarely over 800 words, and generally offer some bullet pointed tips or advice.

Blog Titles, Knowing Your Readers and Reaching Them

Lisa: These are excellent tips. One thing I always find challenging are titles. It’s not my forte, but it is a strength of yours. How do you come up with catchy titles?

Craig: I try to keep it short. I brainstorm until I can come up with a 5 to 7 word title the captures the essence of the piece. I also do my best to answer a question the reader has in the title, or ask a question on everyone’s mind. Example: Can a narcissist change? Whenever possible, I try to have numbers in the title. My most recent piece at Psychology Today that’s been trending for a week on the most popular list is called 4 Keys to Leaving a Bad Relationship.

Lisa: I like that idea of answering a question your readers have. What’s your sense of what makes a post go viral?

Craig: You never know what’s going to take off, but some things are more likely to make an article take off: numbers in the title; clear numbered advice; short and to the point.

Lisa: Who is the audience for your blog? What are some of your considerations in order for the blog to resonate for those particular readers?

Craig: My audience on Huffington Post and Psychology Today includes a wide range all the way from the average reader to mental health professionals. So I try to translate important research into clear down-to-earth language and advice.

Lisa: How many people read your blog or a typical post?

Craig: My average for reads is 190,000 per piece. But I have a couple that went viral and have been read by over a million people. I also have a a few that I wrote because I had the idea in me, even though I wasn’t sure it would do well in numbers. Those can be a low as 4,000. So my range is from 4,000 to 1.2 million.

Lisa: Wow, that’s pretty exciting to be reaching—and helping—so many people! Do you have any other measures of blog success you’d like to share?

Craig: Some of those low number pieces got me interviews and clients. They spoke to someone, even if they didn’t go viral. That’s a successful piece, too.

[bctt tweet=”How to Grow Your Blog Readership ” username=”LisaTener”]

Lisa: Absolutely. How did you grow your blog readership?

Craig: I can’t blog very often. Just the reality of my life. So most of the following I’ve built through Twitter and Facebook shares helps my articles take off. I work hard with every piece to deliver something people enjoy. I make my writing breezy, and I think that brings people back.

Lisa: I absolutely agree. You also do a great job of sharing the writing and blog posts of your colleagues, which, in turn, invites more sharing of your posts. There’s often humor in your pieces, word play, a sense of playfulness, in general. What are some of the most important things you’ve learned about blogging?

Craig: Blogging brings other opportunities besides a following. It helps you connect with other communities—you become a part of something larger.

Lisa: What opportunities have come from blogging?

Craig: One piece I wrote went so big a publisher came to me to ask me to write a book about it—the one I just released in paperback, Rethinking Narcissism. I’ve also had many interviews in media outlets like Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Marie Claire, NPR, even Time Magazine, to name just a few—all from pieces I wrote.

Lisa: Any exciting stories you would like to share?

Craig: About that piece the publisher loved. It was called 5 Early Warning Signs You’re with a Narcissist, originally published on the Huffngton Post. It almost didn’t happen. I’d just been rejected by HarperCollins and a number of other publishers who’d expressed interest in the first book I was writing. A lot of excitement and meetings, but ultimately, we couldn’t sell it. I was devastated for a while. I thought, “Why write?”—I have no book. Maybe I’ll take a break.

I remember calling you, talking about how lost I felt, and you encouraged me to take the time I need, “The writing will come when you’re ready.” Then, a week later, my free day rolled around and I had a choice to just relax or write up remaining thoughts I had from an interview I’d done on narcissism. So I wrote the piece—which went massively viral, enough to attract the attention of HarperCollins again.

Dr. Craig Malkin , author of the internationally acclaimed book, Rethinking Narcissism, is a clinical psychologist and Lecturer for Harvard Medical School with two decades of experience helping individuals, couples, and families. His articles, advice, and insights on relationships have appeared in newspapers and magazines such as Time, The New York Times, The Sunday Times, Psychology Today, Women’s Health, Huffington Post and Happen Magazine, as well as countless other popular print and online media outlets. He’s also been a featured multiple times on NPR, CBS Radio, the Oprah Winfrey Network channel, appeared on various local morning shows, and been a guest on many radio stations here and abroad.

“How Can I Get my Self Published Book in the Hands of Traditional Publishers?”

October 20, 2015 by Lisa Tener

New Harbinger contacted the author directly after she self published. In this case, the book fit into the publisher’s niche category and was for a market the publisher specialized in, so they did not require a large number of sales. In fact, they contacted the author within a couple of months of publishing when sales were still just starting.

The email I received a week ago actually read, “How Can I Get my Self Published Book in the Hands of Real Publishers?”

I get a variety of questions like this: Sometimes an author is about to self publish and wants to know how to maximize the chances of attracting a traditional publisher in the future. Other times they are frustrated with their book sales from self-publishing and hope a traditional publisher can boost sales. And, at times, an author has sold a significant number of books and believes a traditional publisher can help take that momentum and bring sales to a new level. Or perhaps they feel a traditional publisher will provide even greater credibility.

So, first of all, let’s clear up the misconception of this particular author who asked, “How Can I Get my Self Published Book in the Hands of Real Publishers?” Self-publishers are also “real.” Some are more professional than others. And you may even want to be your own publisher and work with freelance editors and designers to create your book. I am guessing this particular author got burned by a self-publishing company that either charged too much, did an unprofessional job, or both. My first piece of advice is to work with freelancers to publish your book rather than self publishing companies (which tend to compete on cost and not quality). Look at samples of their work and speak with authors who have worked with them.

Let’s get down to numbers to answer the bigger question of how you can interest a traditional publisher. Once a book is self published, acquisitions editors at traditional publishing houses want to see significant book sales before they will take the book on. While the sales figures vary according to genre, subject and market, the number I have heard most often from agents and publishers is that sales of about 15,000 books will start to get publishers interested. Be aware, however, if your book is for a small market, a publisher may believe you have saturated that market. So, it’s not just about current sales but also potential sales.

Why do publishers generally want to see such a high number of sales? Aren’t they going to make the sales happen? Short answer: no. They want to know that you are out there selling books and that you are likely able to continue to engage in activities that result in book sales: blogging, social media, public speaking, TV and radio interviews, being interviewed or writing for magazines, newspapers or journals, offering webinars, etc. Know this: Even if a traditional publisher picks up your book, you are responsible for the majority of book sales 99% of the time. A traditional publisher is not a “pass” on having to market and promote and sell your book. In fact, you likely will need to hire your own publicist. The publicist at the publishing house will have more books than they can fully support.

There are exceptions to the high sales rule. Generally, if a niche publisher sees a book that works well for an audience they already target and reach, they may be interested even before the book sells in large numbers. Often, this is not a sale generated by the author, but a book the acquisitions editor has discovered on his or her own. This is what happened to Kimber Simpkins, who self published Full: How I Learned to Satisfy My Insatiable Hunger and Feed My Soul. An acquisitions editor at New Harbinger read the book and realized it would be perfect for one of the core audiencesof this niche publisher.

If you are self publishing your book, develop a strong marketing plan and then fulfill that plan to the best of your abilities. That is the best way to get picked up by a traditional publisher after self publishing.

You may ask, then, should I just look for a traditional publisher in the first place if I have not already self published? The answer may be yes. It will likely take longer to publish the book, so this may not be optimal if you are in a hurry to get the book out and use it to support a business or garner speaking gigs, for instance. In addition, you will need a significant author platform and believable marketing and promotion plan to attract publishers. That plan will be part of a bigger document, your book proposal. You can find out how to write a book proposal here. You may also want to hire a book proposal coach.

Let’s say you have great sales numbers–maybe 15,000 books sold–and you have written a book proposal. If you haven’t already hired a book proposal coach or editor, do so to make sure the book proposal is highly polished and convincing. Get their help on your query letter, as well. Your book proposal coach or editor may be able to query some colleagues for you–agents or acquisitions editors they have relationships with. This is something I do for my book proposal clients. In addition, you can query agents or publishers that you find on your own through a search of AgentQuery.com or Writer’s Digest or look at meet agents at writers conferences.

Just make sure your proposal is polished, makes a compelling case in every section of the proposal and is ready to go when you send the query. Nothing can extinguish the flame of interest as quickly as a proposal that takes months to arrive after the initial query. You want to send it the day you hear back from the agent or acquisitions editor.

One final note: Be clear about why you want a traditional publisher. A traditional publisher may help you get greater distribution for your book in bookstores. They can provide some instant credibility for your book. Sometimes they can be a help in book promotion, but often not much. A traditional publisher may also make changes to the book that make it even better or more marketable. Make sure your expectations are realistic. If your book is doing great without a traditional publisher, you may do well to continue that way. It really depends on the specific circumstances.

What questions do you have about how to get published? Ask here as a comment and I am happy to answer.

How to Get Published: 8 Social Media Tips to Get Noticed by Publishers

March 31, 2015 by Lisa Tener

A few months ago, a woman contacted me on LinkedIn, introducing herself as an acquisitions editor at a niche publishing house. In search of new authors, she noticed the backgrounds and book titles of several authors I work with and asked if I might have any book proposals that could be a fit for her house. The timing could not have been better. I had an author in a very niched subject whose book proposal had been sitting with another publishing house that had expressed interest months before. The other seemed interested, but not exactly passionate or in a hurry to make an offer.

After an introduction, my client sent her proposal to this other publisher who loved her book proposal, fast-tracked it with the editorial board and sent an offer within a week. That showed passion for the book and the author is now in contract negotiations.

Yes, publishers are on LinkedIn. They are also on Twitter. They read blogs (as evidenced by Craig Malkin, author of Rethinking Narcissism, whose publisher, HarperWave, contacted him after reading his blog posts on Psychology Today and the Huffington Post). But how do you get acquisitions editors to notice YOU?

Here are 8 Social Media Tips to Get Noticed by Publishers:

1. Actively build your network: The greater your network, the more likely you are to reach a publisher–or anyone. Build your reach by connecting with others in meaningful ways. Be strategic about it and identify those people whom you want to connect with–potential clients, acquisitions editors/publishers, journalists, etc.

2. Write your best: Quality over quantity is key. Dr. Craig Malkin, author of the upcoming book Rethinking Narcissism, is a perfect example of someone who writes informational, relevant, entertaining and very well written posts. This is why his posts went viral in the first place–and one reason the acquisitions editor saw the potential for a book.

3. Know your audience: Rather than write for everyone, identify a clear core audience and write to those people. Use examples and language that will resonate for them. You’ll actually reach more people by being specific than by imagining you are writing for “everyone.” CLICK HERE TO TWEET THIS.

4. Be consistent: The more consistent you are, the better. I aim for 1-2 blog posts a week. The most successful bloggers blog on the same day(s) every week. Frances Caballo, author of Social Media Just for Writers, blogs every Monday and Friday, for instance. Her readers know when to look for her posts and it creates a more consistent and engaged readership.

5. Be generous: Share good posts by colleagues and others. Share posts or tweets by authors in your field or a related field and who are published by the publishers you are looking for. CLICK HERE TO TWEET THIS.

6. Be discerning: Think before you post. Ask yourself what value you are delivering for your readers in any particular post.

7. Use “keywords” in your title: Think about what a person might type in who is looking for the information in your post. Those are your keywords–and a long specific phrase can actually be an effective way to get noticed by search engines like Google. These keywords will help people find you when they are searching for information on your subject.

8. Be social: Share your posts on all the major social media–or at least those where your readership hangs out. Remember that tip #5, Be Generous, is the precursor to success in sharing your own posts.

Speaking of sharing, please share your questions or insights on social media and how to get noticed by publishers by adding your comment below.

How to Write a Book Proposal and Attract the Agent and Publisher of Your Dreams

October 15, 2013 by Lisa Tener

book cover the creativity cure — In the upcoming book proposal class, I’ll share secrets we used with the book proposal for The Creativity Cure that helped the book land a top agent and a 6-figure book deal from Scribner.

“Lisa, I just signed the book contract!”

I heard some version of these seven words three times this summer, as my clients signed with traditional publishers. I also received a phone call just last week from a client who anticipates signing with a large publisher in the next few weeks.

It’s always exciting to know that all the time, work, creativity and love put into a book proposal has met with success.

Another client recently mentioned that she found the books on book proposals confusing—that she wasn’t sure how to apply the information and structure to her particular book. The books do a good job of providing a framework for writing your proposal, but they don’t always provide the nuances that make a proposal stand out, or the hints for how to apply the information to your particular book.

She encouraged me to share the tips and specific instructions I shared with her in a class format. So here it is: “How to Write a Winning Book Proposal to Help You Land the Agent and Publisher of Your Dreams.”

book cover for 6 figure book deal — This book proposal won Harvard Medical School’s publishing course book proposal contest and went on to land the author a top agent who negotiated a six figure book deal with Random House.

I’m only offering this class to my personal community—clients, Bring Your Book to Life Program participants and those who receive my newsletter and connect with me through social media. After all, I’ll be spilling my Book Proposal secrets!

In our two hour class by teleseminar, you’ll learn:

* The nuances of each section of the book proposal–and how to tailor that section for specific types of books

* How to take the strengths of your book and articulate them in a way that excites top agents and publishers

* Tips to take any weaknesses and turn them into strengths (This is absolutely critical in this competitive market!)

* How to think like an agent and an acquisitions editor, so they choose your work over the zillions of other proposals they see

* What you can do if you don’t have much of a platform or following, yet–learn 3 strategies that have worked for me and my clients to get published

* And other secrets that have helped my clients sign 5- and 6-figure book deals with major publishers

* And, oh, there is so much more.

Did I mention you’ll receive the book proposal worksheets I developed for a class I taught at Harvard Medical School’s CME publishing course? These sheets alone will save you hours of time–and help you make a compelling case for your book.

What would it be worth to have the information that can help you land a top agent and, ultimately, a publisher? This class will cost only $97. If you’ve been wondering how to write a compelling book proposal to help you land a top agent and traditional book deal, this is the class for you. Sign up here for How to Write a Winning Book Proposal to Help You Land the Agent and Publisher of Your Dreams.

book consultation — Join me for this valuable teleseminar.

The details:

When: Friday October 25 noon – 2pm ET, 9 am – 11 am PT

Where: Your phone (it’s an interactive teleseminar)

Cost: Only $97

How do I sign up?: Right here: How to Write a Winning Book Proposal: The Class

“Will Lisa answer individual questions on the call?”: Of course. Send your questions in ahead of time or ask on the call.