Get a 6 Figure Book Advance
by Susan Harrow
Published on this site: June 23rd, 2005 - See
more articles from this month...
It's the dream of 81% of the population to write a book. No matter
how many times people tell you how difficult it is to do, nearly
everyone wants to do it. There hangs a certain romance around writers.
I think it's a kind of nostalgia or grieving for some forgotten
part of ourselves. We long to return to a place where magic and
imagination are revered.
Others may just want the quick glory or fast buck they associate
with being an author. But whatever you want, getting a 6-figure
book advance is possible if you have the skill, drive and know-how.
Here are five tips to get you started on achieving the dream of
becoming a well-paid, respected author.
- Know the Industry
Educate yourself on how the publishing industry works. Unlike
the old days when publishers were looking to cultivate long-term
relationships with authors who would be in their stable, today
their top priority is just to sell books.
When I was traveling in Mexico this year I met a woman whose husband
has been a bestselling author for twenty years in England. He
has had the same agent and publisher for those same twenty years.
Every time he came out with a new book his publishers expected
it to be "number one" on the English equivalent of the
New York Times bestseller list. They worked with him to make it
so. In America the bottom line is king. You must be able to substantiate
your claim that your book will fly off the shelves, without any
help from the publisher.
- Prove There is a Market for Your Book
In today's world you need to show that your book will sell to
one large audience, or many smaller niche audiences. Quantify
each audience with statistics that show that they buy books on
that subject. It's not enough to say that this audience would
be interested in your topic. You must be able to prove beyond
a doubt with your well-researched facts that your readers are
a book buying audience.
- Develop a Platform
This is the most important aspect of your proposal after you've
proven that there is a pressing need for your book and that book
buying audiences will scoop it up. A platform is simply YOUR ability
to sell books to the audience that you have said will buy-from
you.
It's all about the numbers. How many people are on your e-zine
list? How many people do you speak to every month? How many people
buy your products and services now? Do you have big name corporations
or organizations that will buy your books in bulk? Do you have
a regular column, or write for publications? Are you frequently
seen in the media? If you don't have an impressive platform you
don't get a 6-figure advance.
- Map out a Marketing Plan to Promote Your Book.
Your plan should include everything from speaking engagements,
online marketing, licensing, and media placements. It must be
realistic and do-able. In other words you can't say that you'll
speak to organizations of 1000 people or more if you've never
done it.
What do publishers hate most?
When you say that you're right for Oprah. Unless you've already
been a guest and taped the show please NEVER say this if you don't
want your reputation instantly sullied.
Instead show how you will build on your past publicity. If hosts
or producers say that they want you back for another segment because
you did such a good job the first time, say it. But if you haven't
done much media to date, don't fret.
You can begin today and get a substantial number of profiles,
features, and comments in the media in a few months by joining
PRLeads,a service which delivers reporters queries (the stories
they need experts for) daily to your email box. Go here and sign
up today at: http://tinyurl.com/2hy8l
- Get Endorsements
Big names sell products in a big way. Getting known names of celebrities,
best-selling authors, actors, athletes, well- known experts in
your field, media personalities, any famous name that has glitter
gives you the kind of credibility that can't be bought.
One of my clients, who got a number of New York Times bestselling
authors to write about him, accomplished three things with his
endorsements. Each person who wrote about him told a different
story about why he would be a winning author. The first one lauded
him as a highly successful professional. The second stated that
my client's book filled a gap that her book failed to address.
The third demonstrated that the people my client was trying to
reach were an avid book buying market hungry for his type of book-as
they had bought hers.
These meaningful endorsements effectively helped him get his
6-figure advance. (And he got media coached by me before he
met the editors at the big New York Publishing houses who
then bid on his book at auction).
Don't just get endorsements saying you're terrific. Make your
endorsements do double duty by helping you prove there is a market
and that you're the one they want to buy from. This is the type
of information that makes you stand out from the other 150,000
authors who are published every year, most of whom never earn
back their advance. Don't be one of them. Instead, follow this
advice and you'll be well on your way to earning a 6 figure book
advance. Good luck!
Do you dream of making big money for your book idea... even before
you write it... (even if it's your first book.) Want to be paid
$100-$975,000 or more for your book? Let me show you how. You'll
discover how to land a top literary agent and sign that coveted
6 figure deal. Get more fr.e.e tips here: http://www.prsecrets.com/sixfigurebookproposal.html
Susan Harrow, CEO of PRSecrets.com and BookedOnOprah.com,
is a top media coach, marketing strategist and author of Sell
Yourself Without Selling Your Soul (HarperCollins), The Ultimate
Guide to Getting Booked on Oprah , and Get a 6- Figure Book
Advance.Clients include Fortune 500 CEOs, bestselling authors
and entrepreneurs who have appeared on Oprah, 60 Minutes,
NPR, and in TIME, USA Today, Parade, People, O, NY Times,
WSJ, and Inc.
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