How to Write a Book and Succeed: Why Do Books Fail?
Every year in the US, more than 80,000 new books are presented to readers. Only a few make it to best-seller lists.
Most fail.
The majority of these books that do not make it to the bookstore, best-seller lists or back for a second printing for seven reasons. Would you like to "bullet proof" your book? Review these tips before going press with your published book.
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Confusion. Are you clear on the genre, the point of view, the thesis? Books have categories, or genres, and too often emerging authors do not study the genre that they're targeting OR they change genres while writing. This doesn't mean one needs to be a copycat, rather by reading in the genre to be targeted one becomes familiar with length, structure and concept. Go to a bricks and mortar bookstore and find the section where your book would be. Check the competition. What do they have you don't? And vice versa? What "added value" does your book provide? Memorize these facts. You'll need them to sell your book.
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Lack of original insight. It's been said, "There's nothing new under the sun." However, smart authors create twists to make the "old stuff" fresh. What's your twist? Don't know? Find out, get help, talk to others who know about originality and marketing.
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Poor or ineffective research. If you're in doubt about the authenticity of anything in your book, whether it's fiction or nonfiction, double check. Readers demand truth; the public is leery of unsubstantiated claims.
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Insufficient self-editing. You really can do most of the polishing yourself. Put your book away to cool. Then keeping a copy, ruthlessly edit out anything that doesn't strongly support your book. Hint: Look for redundancy or repetition. Readers don't need to be told things twice. That last sentence was an example of sneaky redundancy. If you're not a native English speaker or want some insight? Hire a reputable content or copy editor.
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Hook less beginning or lackluster end. Readers are fair and will give you about ten minutes time reading your book to prove that they should spend money on it. However, every think in the book and especially the chapter beginnings must hook the reader. This takes skill with nonfiction and fiction. The end must fulfill the promises you've proposed in the text and support your thesis. It must be done in a creative, fresh way.
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Bad mechanics. If you need to brush up on grammar or the mechanics of manuscript preparation, do it before sending out review copies. Hire a professional even if you have a degree in English from Harvard. After reading a manuscript twice or twenty times, the eye skips over mistakes. As a much published writer and ghost, I admit to typo and grammar blindness. It's an embarrassing "condition" once the book is published. Don't let it happen to you.
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Lack of perseverance. Publishing and writing are not for wimps. The hard work starts when the boxes of books arrive. Hire a PR pro, or you do it yourself. How? Write articles based on the premise of your nonfiction book to get exposure, lure book buyers and generate income. For fiction, create "events" by teaching hopeful writers about the technical side of your genre. A signing shouts you're selling the book (which is true), but an event is an activity. Then the attendee buys your book. Get that "elevator" speech down, explain your book in 25 words or less, and get comfy whipping business cards out and extending your hand. Ask for business; ask people to buy your book. The worst that can happen? If you're going to stop being a publisher or a writer when you hear the word "no," move on over. There are hundreds of others who want to take your place. I call this "literary Darwinism" and I'll be first in line to take your place.
The list of best-selling books that were rejected again and again is shocking. Here is a baker's dozen:
- Dubliners by James Joyce
- Mash by Richard Hooker
- Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison by Charles Shaw
- Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific by Raft by Thor Heyerdahl
- Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
- The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
- Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Hansen and Canfield
- Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis
- The Peter Principle by Laurence Peter
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling
- Peter Rabbit series, Beatrix Potter
- 60-Second Shiatzu, Eva Shaw
 About Eva Shaw
Eva Shaw (www.evashaw.com) is the ghost/author of 70 books. Her do-it-herself publicity has captured readers the countries leading newspapers and TV talk shows. She teaches writing at 1200 colleges and universities, speaks at conferences and has a new DVD "Write Your Book in 20 Minutes" that is available at Writerific: www.writeriffic.com.
Reach her at 866-244-9047
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