You Can't Write a Book In 90 Minutes

I just received an email from someone telling me all about her new book. Seems she wrote it in 90 minutes. Hmmm...... sounded too good to be true so I thought I'd better check it out.

This was the process that was used:

1. The author was interviewed for 90 minutes about her topic.
2. The interview was transcribed and typeset so it looked like a book.
3. Early readers are invited to read the draft, make corrections or comments, and then get a mention in the acknowledgements section- all for a hefty fee.
4. Next, the corrected transcript is printed up and the new author is free to market it.

It's pretty easy to see the flaws in this plan.

Today's buying public is not willing to put up with junk. How much useful information can be in a book that is just a recorded 90 minute chat?

Savvy consumers will not want to pay for the privilege of reading a draft ebook, full of errors and become a substitute editor.

Would you keep a junky book that has so little content or would you return it to Amazon and request a refund? Do you honestly think 10,000 people would want to purchase such a book?
Unprofessional books like this give all self published books a bad name.

Please do not fall prey to such schemes. Write your book so that is will help your readers will good content, professional wordsmithing, and a quality publishing job.

Create a book that you can be proud of and it will help you build your business. Take sloppy short cuts, pay no attention to quality, and your book will damage your reputation in your marketplace.

Grandma said, "If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well."

She was right, especially when it comes to a business building book.

Your friend in the book business,

Lynne


Lynne Klippel
lynne@lynneklippel.com
BusinessBuildingBooks.com

View full newsletter edition at Book Bites.

3 Types of Editors and Why You May Need Each One

The world of publishing can be confusing for beginners. It seems at times that there is a whole new lingo to learn.... and some of it is pretty confusing.

Take the term editor for example. Many first time authors are confused by the term editor, especially when they don't know that there are a least three different kinds of editors, all doing separate functions.

Let me clear up the mystery for you.

A developmental editor works with the author during the writing of the book. The goal of this kind of editor is to help shape the book into an understandable document and provide ideas, inspiration, support and structure to the author. Other terms for developmental editor include book shepherd, book coach, or writing consultant. (This is one of the things I do)

A copy editor works on the book after it is finished. The role of the copy editor is to polish up the writing, ensuring that the message is clear and the grammar is correct. Copy editing happens before book layout. No worthwhile book is published without a copy edit. Copy editing ensures that your book looks professional and represents you well in the marketplace.

A proof editor concentrates on reviewing the manuscript one last time after it has been typeset. The primary goal of the proof editor is to catch any funky layout problems like a single sentence on a page or missing headers/footers. Minor corrections like missing words or extra spacing can also be spotted and corrected by the proof editor.

Do you need all 3 kinds of editing?

That question depends on you and your writing expertise. Everyone needs a copy edit to ensure grammatical correctness and a clear message. Many typesetters will include a proof edit as part of their service. A developmental editor is useful when you feel stuck or don't know how to put your book together.

One caveat: If your book has embarrassing errors-like misspelling foreword or using pubic instead of public, you will sabotage your marketing efforts. Investing time and money in good editing is an investment that will reap you many rewards, not limited to just great book sales. The peace of mind is invaluable!

Your friend in the book business,
Lynne

Lynne Klippel
lynne@lynneklippel.com
BusinessBuildingBooks.com

View full newsletter edition at Book Bites.

Is Your Book a 'Twinkie'?

Have you read any books that left you feeling cheated at the end?

When I buy a book that looks pretty on the outside but is filled with nothing but fluff, I call it a 'twinkie'. In fact, there are quite a few books on the market today that I consider twinkies.

There are some common characteristics of twinkie books, including:

• Very large font faces and many blank pages.
• Too many stories about the greatness of the author or his business.
• Reviews on Amazon that say things like, "Nothing new here" or urge you to buy another book instead.
• Feel like a sales letter instead of a book.

No one wants to write a twinkie book. I believe most people who write these light-weight books are simply in too much of a hurry to produce a book. Being overly concerned with speed can sometimes make you overlook substance.

To keep your book from reading like a twinkie:

• Focus on service not sales. Seek to share knowledge and educate in your Book.
• Have a clear picture of your ideal reader and her needs before you start writing your book.
• Create a robust book outline before writing and ensure that you are providing plenty of great information.
• Use personal stories wisely. Stories make a book more interesting and fun to read. However, care must be taken to select stories that illustrate a point and entertain.
• Don't be a tease. Readers will feel cheated if the whole purpose of your book is to make them buy something else from you to get the information they need. Educate in your book and help people implement in your follow-up products.

When I was a kid, I loved Twinkie Brand snack cakes. Today, they are too airy and full of empty calories for me. They don't have enough substance to satisfy me.

Make sure your readers don't say the same about your book!

Your friend in the book business,
Lynne

Lynne Klippel
lynne@lynneklippel.com
BusinessBuildingBooks.com

View full newsletter edition at Book Bites.