Author Basics - The Business of Book Authoring
Even if you're an accomplished writer, it takes more than a few hundred brilliant manuscript pages to become a successful book author. From writing an attention-getting query letter or book proposal, to understanding the clauses of a book contract, to marketing and publicity in the digital age, the business of being a book author is hard work and can be as complex as it is rewarding.
What (Not to) Expect From Being Published: Facts About Being a Book Author
Many people think that being a published author is a guarantee of money, book parties and book tours -- it's a common misconception that the average author can expect those things from his or her publisher. If you aspire to being a published book author, read about what to realistically expect from the publishing experience.
Book Authorship Insights from Write Advisors
Hankering to write book for personal or professional reasons? Read what Bonnie Daneker, CEO of Write Advisors, has to say about the potentially life-changing experience of book publication.
4 Book Publishing Realities — Great Insight from Write Advisor's Bonnie Daneker
Bonnie Daneker, CEO of Write Advisors, gives an in-depth picture of the resources necessary to more effectively write and publish a book and make the dream of book authorship come true.
How to Be A Writer - An Interview with Author Gina Barreca, Part I
Ever wonder how writers work? In Part I of this two-part interview, authoritative, prolific--and brilliantly funny--author Gina Barreca elaborates on the pleasures, practicalities and privileges of being an author. She tells how she got her start, why authors should "be truthful" — and what keeps her going (hint: it has something to do with...
How to Be A Writer - An Interview with Author Gina Barreca, Part II
Ever wonder how writers work? In Part II of this two-part interview, authoritative, prolific--and brilliantly funny--author Gina Barreca elaborates on the pleasures, practicalities and privileges of being an author. She reveals what the profession is really like — and what, for her, is the most amazing thing about being an author.
Book Publishers - Different Types of Book Publishers
From trade book publishers to academic publishers to professional publishers to self-publishing companies, different book markets have different types of publishers. If you're looking to publish a book or to get a job in publishing, you should know about the different types of book publishers.
Book Proposals — About Book Proposals
A book proposal is the sales vehicle by which aspiring non-fiction authors and their agents sell book ideas to the people who are in a position to publish them. Editors and publishers are looking for every assurance that they will make a profit on the books they publish — a book proposal needs to convince them that they will. Read about the...
Writing Good Book Titles - What Makes a Good Book Title
Creating a catchy title for a book helps ensure it will stick in the minds of prospective readers. A good book title, like the book jacket, should be considered a marketing tool for the book.
How to Write A Subtitle
Subtitles make a non-fiction book title stronger. Read how they work.
Good Book Titles - The "Recipe" for a Better Book Title
A good title is a book's first marketing tool. Here's a "recipe" to help you write a better book title.
Good Book Titles - A Case Study for A Better Book Title
A good title can be important to the success of a book. Here's a case study that explores the thinking behind how an accurate (but limited) title became one that broadened the market of a book.
Book Publicity Basics from Your Publisher
One of the advantages of being published by a traditional publisher is that you’ll have the support of the publisher’s in-house publicity department. How much publicity support depends on many factors--but here are the basic elements of a book publicity campaign that an in-house publicity department will likely provide.
Book Marketing - What to Expect from Your Publisher's Book Marketing Department
If you're being published by a traditional publisher, your publisher's in-house marketing department will help the sales department get your book in front of booksellers. Here are the basic elements you can expect your book marketing department to provide.
Book Publicity: Rick Frishman gives an Author 101 Interview About Book Publicity
Author, publisher, and book publicity and marketing expert Rick Frishman has a 30+-year track
record helping authors get published and to get their books promoted. About.com caught up with the busy book-publishing entrepreneur and asked him to share his some of his book publicity wisdom with our readers.
Book Publishing for Authors
Being a book author is a business--and, like any successful enterprise, involves having a good product (your book), a distribution channel (booksellers) and someone to get it there (your publisher's salespeople). You'll also need marketing and publicity efforts to get your book to customer (the readers). Read about the business of book...
Literary Agents: Do You Need a Literary Agent for Your Book?
Do you need a literary agent to get noticed by an established book publisher? Not always--but you want one. Here's why.
How to Get A Literary Agent: Six Steps to Finding an Agent to Represent You
How do you make your book query stand out from the hundreds--maybe thousands--of submissions a literary agent receives each year? Do your homework, be professional, say "thanks" early and often, and use the resources and hints in this article to learn how to get representation for your book.
Vanity Presses vs Self-Publishing Service — Publishing Your Own Book
While vanity presses have long been around, today's print-on-demand and ebook technologies, internet sales channels, and social media marketing make it possible for many more authors to successfully self-publish their own books.
Self-Publishing Your Book: Reasons to Self-Publish Your Book
Today, self-publishing a book has become a widely accessible option for many writers. Whether your self-publishing goals are personal or professional, whether your desire is to reach a large audience or just to make your Mom smile, it makes sense to take stock of your expectations before you self-publish. Then, when you hold your book in your...
The Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP)
Dedicated to both the study and practice of creative writing, since 1967 The Association of Writers & Writing Programs has supported countless students, instructors and literary writing programs.
Book Readers and Book Writers Gravitate to Genres
Book genres are the general thematic areas that help identify certain fiction and authors to their likely readership, as well as to the book publishing marketplace. The most popular of the genres, broadly, are: romance, inspirational, mystery, and science fiction/fantasy.
Writing Children’s Books - An Introduction to Children’s Book Publishing
Children's book publishing generally operates very separately from adult publishing, even within the same publishing house. Books for kids are categorized by age range and are often illustrated. Due to these and other factors, there are unique considerations for those who want a career in the children's publishing industry--whether as an...
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is a non-profit professional organization for writers and illustrators in the fields of children’s and young adult literature, magazines, film, television, and multimedia. Founded in 1971, SCBWI is a powerful advocate for its members, and acts as a network for the exchange of...
Children's Book Awards and Grants from the SCBWI
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators bestows a number of children's book awards and grants each year to writers and illustrators, both published and unpublished. Read about the awards grants from the SCBWI and their accompanying prizes.
The Authors Guild — Advocacy and Benefits for Working Authors
The Authors Guild is the nation's oldest and largest professional society of published book authors. The organization provides advocacy for authors on issues such as copyright, taxation, and freedom of expression; and provides its members with access to legal contract review, health insurance, and other career-enhancing benefits.
Mystery Writers of America (MWA)
Mystery Writers of America (MWA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to those who write mysteries and/or about crime in any form. Membership also includes professionals like publishers, editors, librarians, agents, booksellers and producers who support the genre, as well as aspiring mystery authors.
Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar® Awards
The Edgar® Awards are bestowed each year by the Mystery Writers of America to recognize writing achievements in the literary genre of mystery and crime, as well as achievements outside of the scope of writing that support the mystery genre, such as in publishing or bookselling.
Mystery Writers of America (MWA) 2012 Edgar® Award Honorees
The nominees, winners and other honorees of the 2012 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, awarded by the Mystery Writers of America
The Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award
The Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award honors important contributions to the mystery genre. Read about the award and see the list of past and present MWA Grand Masters.
Romance Novels — About the Romance Fiction Genre
The romance novel market is arguably the largest in book publishing—it's a billion dollar a year industry that boasts a core audience of 29 million regular readers. Read why publishers are in love with romance.
Romance Writers of America® (RWA)
Romance Writers of America® is a non-profit trade association dedicated to the support of romance authors' careers and the advocacy for the popular romance book genre.
RWA Conference — Romance Writers of America® Annual Conference
The annual Romance Writers of America® (RWA) annual conference is an opportunity for current and aspiring romance writers to enhance romance writing, book marketing and other applicable skills, as well as network with their fellow romance writers.
Romance Writers of America® Awards — Coveted Awards for the Romance Industry
Romance Writers of America® (RWA) presents a number of awards each year to romance writers, both published and unpublished, as well as to booksellers, librarians and volunteers who support the romance novel writing industry and the RWA organization.
Romance Writers of America® Awards - 2011 RWA Award Winners
The winners of the 2011 RITA Awards, presented by the Romance Writers of America (RWA)
About the James Beard Foundation Book Awards
The James Beard Foundation Book Awards are among the highest honors for cookbook authors as well as for all food and beverage professionals working in North America. Read about the history, qualifications and voting for the awards.
The National Book Awards
The National Book Awards are annual literary prizes “from writers to writers,” presented each year by the non-profit National Book Foundation in the categories of Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry and Young People's Literature. Additional National Book Awards recognize lifetime contributions to books and literature.
The 2012 James Beard Foundation Book Awards
The annual James Beard Foundation Book Awards are coveted by cookbook authors. Here are the details of the 2012 James Beard Foundation Book Awards.
About the IACP Cookbook Awards
The International Association of Culinary Professionals honor excellence in cookbook publishing with the annual IACP Cookbook Awards. Read about the history of the awards and their submission and judging process.
IACP Cookbook Awards - Categories for the IACP Cookbook Awards
The prestigious annual IACP Cookbook Awards are presented by the International Association of Culinary Professionals in a number of distinct categories. Read about the wide range of IACP Award-eligible cookbooks and food-related book subjects.
2012 IACP Cookbook Awards
Read about all the finalists for the 2012 IACP Cookbook Awards, presented by the International Association of Culinary Professionals