So, on most weeks I send out helpful advice about writing, getting published and selling more books…

Well . . . today is a bit different.

I want to pull back the curtain a little bit and share something more personal.

Here goes…

I was recently out celebrating my 40th birthday (old, I know!). As the celebrations progressed I was asked, “Do you like your birthday?” I smiled at the question. This particular group of friends didn’t know (yet) about the strong feelings I have about my birthday. This got me thinking about how I should share some of this with you.

You will see why as you read further.

All my closest friends know that I think of my birthday as my own personal New Year (well it is in January). I always celebrate my birthday, even if I don’t like how fast life is going and how quickly I am getting older.

I think of it as a time of letting go, changing and expansion.

I think about my past year and what I want to change, do and accomplish in my new year, personally and professionally. My friends laugh with me and at me, they celebrate with me and they may not always admit it . . . but I think I get them to think about their “New Year” also.

Here are just a few examples of past goals . . .

• Places to travel (We returned to Malta after an absence that was too long.)
• Losing some weight (Still going well!)
• Trying a new sport (Didn’t work, I like soccer too much.)
• Working less, more family time.
• Better planning (I am now a Getting Things Done advocate.)
• Write more (I had two books out last year.)

. . . and the list goes on.

Some big goals and some small, but all with the intention of creating something new.

Anyway, since this year WAS a “big number” year, it felt hugely different.

I’ve found myself having BIG paradigm shifts in my life and the way I look at the business.

You may be asking, “Gary, why are you telling us this now?”

What I didn’t tell you is that I made this year about YOU!

I’m serious.

As many of you have noticed, I am revamping the way we do business (book proposal course) and am focusing on what YOU have told me over the years that you would like to see us offer or address. Hence, the blog, the weekly newsletter, the free book proposal course, the live chat, the one-to-one help I have been providing and many, many phone and Skype calls..

There’s still more to come! I am always interested to know what you wish for me to provide, so keep the ideas coming!

But…(the infamous “But”)…

There is one REALLY BIG request you have made that I’ve been holding back on– for YEARS, despite many of your pleadings and outcries.

I’m contemplating changing my mind and giving you what you’ve been asking for since, like, the beginning of time.

But I’m nervous because it means sharing with you more of myself and BubbleCow than I have in the past.

And I’m also going to need your help.

Anyway, that REALLY BIG request is . . . . (stay tuned until next time)

–Gary Smailes

P.S. I’ll be back with more details in a couple of days. But until then, tell me in the comments where you’re headed this year. Any goals for your personal “New Year”? Does anyone else do this nonsense?

In 2001, when I was first looking to get published, the idea of writing a book proposal was frankly pretty scary.

In fact, I did what most writers seem to do, that’s knock together a crappy book proposal that turns out to be a rejection magnet.

However, I was lucky.

I was, at the time, working with the writer Terry Deary. He opened my eyes to what makes a winning book proposal.

But this was only the start…

I then spent years talking to writers, agents and publishers about what was needed in a good query letter and synopsis.

The result is that I now have more than 20 books in print, with publishers both big and small.

So what was the secret?

Well, as with all things, there was no ONE secret. However, below is a few key points.

• The query letter is really a sales document.
• Get your genre wrong and you are doomed.
• The synopsis must show plot, characters and narrative structure.

FREE course

I wanted to share my success with other writers, so I decided to write a course that would explain all the secrets I had discovered.

It started life as a simple blog post, then expanded into a five day email course and has finally become a 19 lesson extravaganza.

So if you want to join up for my masterpiece, the click the button below.

Don’t forget it’s all free.

Start Today – It’s Free

Pressbooks have created an online tool that allows you to add your text, book cover and book details, then, with the push of a button, produce a digital version of your book.

All for free!

As it stands you can produce:

• epub,
• print-ready PDF,
• InDesign-ready XML,
• Online HTML version.

Kevin Metzger has put together a series of videos that have become the ‘unofficial guide’ to Pressbooks.

You can sign up for a free Pressbooks account here.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Pressbooks

Lesson 2: Dashboard And Functionality

Lesson 3a: Front Matter, Chapters And Parts

I have previously outlined the technique I have used to write query letters that resulted in me getting more than 20 books published.

However, a number of writers have asked for a Query Letter Template that they can use as a guideline for writing their own query letters.

So far I have resisted since there is no ONE way to write a query letter. However, below is the outline of the four paragraph approach that we teach at BubbleCow.

Please read this post called How To Write A Query Letter before using this template.

Query Letter Template

Dear [put the name of the agent here. Avoid using general terms such as sir/madam. Do your research and find the name of the agent that will love your book.]

[Elevator pitch -- A couple of lines that capture the essence of the book. This is a concise and targeted summary of the book in just a couple of sentences. e.g. Using the Three Little Pigs story the first paragraph would be... With his brothers already devoured by a serial killer known only as The Big Bad Wolf, the third pig fights for his life with just a pile of bricks between him and certain death.]

My book is called [your book's title in italics]. It is complete and consists of [word count e.g. 40,000 words]. My book fits firmly into [your book's genre - pick one genre only]. Readers of my book would also read [list three books that are in the same genre as your book and would be read by readers of your book. This will show that you understand the genre and will reassure the agent that your book is in a genre that they represent].

[This is a very brief description of your book's plot. The key is to keep it short. For the Three Little Pigs we get... Set in the fairy tale land of medieval Europe, this tale sees three pigs leaving home to make their way in the world. However, their coming-of-age is overshadowed by the presence of the serial killer known as The Big Bad Wolf. The first pig opts to build a house of straw, but it offers little protection from the Wolf. The second pig tries sticks, but with the same results and he ends up as the Wolf’s second victim. The third pig develops a plan that involves a brick house, a chimney and a pot of boiling water – but will it be enough?]

[The last paragraph is your biography. It should be short but include the following: 1. Any published books 2. Your writing experience 3. A bit about you 4. Anything unusual that may set you aside from the crowd.]

In fact, the thought leaders in the digital publishing space are already predicting that two types of approaches to ebooks will guide what happens in the next few years.

• Social Reading – This is the idea that bringing together other readers will improve the reading experience.
• Online Publishing Tools – Here the key concept is that books will be created online and then ‘ported’ to the relevant reader. The idea being that content is separate from the way it is delivered (container). This free online book will explain this in more detail.

So, putting my money where my mouth is, here’s three companies I feel will do well in the coming years…

PressBooks

PressBooks is an online tool that allows writers to add their text and then produce an ebook ready for publication. The system is very simple and currently produces epub, pdf and more. It is also free.

Small Demons

Small Demons is a new concept and is best described as follows:

It all begins here. Suppose someone took every meaningful detail from all the books you love. Every song mentioned, every person, every food or place or movie title. And what if they did that for all the books everyone else loves, too. The ones you’ve never heard of. Suddenly you’ve got a whole world of seemingly random people, places and things, all gathered in one place.

Together they create something vast, wonderful and entirely new. A Storyverse. A place where details touch, overlap and lead you further. To new music to listen to. New movies to watch. Places to visit. People to know. And of course, new books to read. Getting started is simple. Just choose a book. See where it takes you.

Readmill

At its core, Readmill is a system that allows readers to read and comment on books. It then takes these comments and uses them to build a bigger conversation. It is currently only available as an iPad app but they have big plans…

This is Readmill from Readmill on Vimeo.

It is often a difficult leap from being a creative writer to becoming a successful,
working writer. While every journey and approach is unique, there are certain
key principles that will serve you well.

Here, freelance writer Derek Thompson, offers a few tips he has picked up
along the way.

1. Have a starting rate.

When you choose freelancing as a means of earning an income, you need to
have a baseline. That can vary, of course, depending on the client and what’s
required. But be very clear at the outset what you’re prepared to work for – it
makes negotiation a lot less painful because…

2. Almost everything is negotiable.

The timescale, the scope of the job and even the specifics of the requirements
– all these are subject to change. This can work to your advantage as well.
The ad may say ‘local writers only’, but that doesn’t stop you making a pitch if
you really believe you can convince the client that you’re the best person for
the job. Although…

3. The client is ALWAYS right, even when it doesn’t feel that way.

They can change their mind, cancel the project, dangle carrots in the far
distance and promise you the moon. They can be frustrating, contradictory,
flaky or never satisfied. But it helps to remember they are the client and you’re
being hired for a job. The professional thing to do is grin and bear it (even a
tiny grin counts) until the project is completed; then collect your payment and
politely walk away. Because…

4. You’re only as good as your reputation.

Your CV or resume may serve to illustrate your credentials and experience,
but personal recommendation will serve you well in the long run. Everyone
remembers the plumber or carpenter who arrived on time, finished the job
to the agreed spec and tidied up after themselves. Who wouldn’t want to
recommend someone like that?! So it is with freelancers – every client is a
walking, talking advertisement. So be very sure that what’s on the billboard is
good for your business.

5. Practice good time management.

As a project manager, I never forget that all projects are a balance between
Time / Cost / Quality and Scope.

If the price is fixed then your time needs to be fixed as well, or you very
quickly start to both see your hourly rate and the viability of the project
eroded. When you’re working on a project, don’t answer personal emails or
allow yourself to get distracted. It’s a business so treat it like one. However…

6. Accept that there will be unproductive time.

And a personal thanks to Geoff Thorndyke here. Geoff – a tutor on a
business course I attended – believes that you should expect half an hour
of unproductive time (i.e. unpaid) to every productive hour. Setting up,
researching, clarifying by email or phone and those last minute revisions you
hoped not to see. These are all nibblers of time and nibblers that expect to
dine for free. It’s part and parcel of freelancing so the sensible thing to do is
factor that in to your hourly or project rate.

7. Everything is more useful than you think it is.

Every piece of writing is a combination of facts, circumstance, imagination
and creative ability. It’d be a shame to waste all that on just one piece of work.
Everything you produce has the potential to become many different pieces
and you can accomplish that in several ways:
- Be clear which rights you are offering, both electronic and print.
- Approach the same piece from a different angle.
- Look at syndication options.
- Can a serious piece be rewritten with humor and vice versa?

8. Paypal is the freelancer’s friend.

It’s quick, convenient, secure and accepted around the globe. It’s not perfect
of course – the wait for eCheques can seem like forever. And don’t not forget
to factor in Paypal’s commission when you work out your fees. Overall, it’s a
great way to do business.

9. Work is where you find it.

Be discerning. The $1 an article brigade seem to have taken over the Net,

but that isn’t the case. Move on and search more intelligently. Check out
writing forums, online communities and magazines. There is work out there
for the intrepid freelancer, although you may have to spend some of that
unproductive time I mentioned.

10. Cultivate your successes.

Every time you complete a client’s requirement successfully, you have
made a valuable contact for future work – either for them or through their
recommendation. And every success is another notch on your CV (or
resume), increasing your repertoire, your confidence, your range of clients
and, ultimately, your earning power.

Derek Thompson is a freelance writer with clients in the US, UK and Canada,
and he is available for hire!
www.professional-writer.co.uk
www.alongthewritelines.blogspot.com

Here’s what they found:

• The average (mean) annual earnings of a writer: £16,531
• The typical (median) earnings of a writer: £4,000
• 60% of people who saw themselves as ‘professional authors’ required a second source of income
• The average (mean) annual earnings of a writer (25-34): £14,564
• The typical (median) earnings of a writer (25-34): £5,000
• The average (mean) annual earnings of a writer (35-44): £24,533
• The typical (median) earnings of a writer (35-44): £18,000
• The average (mean) annual earnings of a writer (45-54): £35,958
• The typical (median) earnings of a writer (45-54): £14,250
• The genres that earned the most money (highest to lowest): TV writing, Theatre/film writing, Audio, internet and other, Books – fiction, Books – academic/educational, Books – children’s fiction, Newspapers/magazines and Books – non-fiction.

Source: What are Words Worth? The ALCS commissioned research carried out by Bournemouth University.

The book trailer’s ability to communicate the essence of a book in a short and entertaining manner can be a real boost to sales.

In this article BubbleCow writer Laura Elliott explains how you can make your own book trailer without breaking the bank. Her tips will also show that even the least tech savvy writer can construct a video that will promote their book.

The Birth Of a Book Trailer

I knew I needed a book trailer to help promote my newly released debut YA novel Winnemucca. First of all, I love movies. Heck, I lived in Los Angeles for twenty-four years. And, I worked in the entertainment industry. I knew the power of the trailer. Plus, how much fun would making my own trailer be?

But still, I didn’t know how to make one. Hmmm. I’d incorporated videos in my designs for years at E! Entertainment Television and at The Los Angeles Times. But they were provided to me by amazing teams of award winning videographers. And the photos I worked with were shot by Pulitzer Prize winning photographers. Who did I think I was trying to do this all on my own?

Well, that’s the best part. We aren’t on our own! Writers are some of the most generous people. And so I kept my eye open for trailers that I loved. Enter the wonderful writer Rebecca Rasmussen [@birdsisters] author of The Bird Sisters published by Crown/Random House. I was surprised to find out she made her own trailer. Rebecca was very generous with her support and advise. Thanks Rebecca!

So after a load of conversations I managed to conjure up a recipe for a book trailer:

• iMovie application.
• A killer soundtrack.
• stock videos.
• stock photography.

and WaaaaLaaa! You have your book trailer.

A Recipe For a Book Trailer

iMovie is a very easy application to work with. It’s drag and drop so no worries there. And it comes with every Mac.

A killer soundtrack is so important. I don’t mind book trailers where the author reads their work. There is something very pure about that. But, like I said, I love movies. Music that evokes your story is compelling and can draw a viewer into the trailer in a unique way. I used www.productiontrax.com. Most of the audio clips are very reasonable priced. [I splurged on this and purchased sound for $60 because I loved it and am a music junkie.]

Stock Videos. I’ve seen a lot of trailers that try to tell the story with static images and scrolling or rolling text. It’s a great effect. But, the medium is meant for video. And, if you don’t have any that you’ve shot yourself, stock video sites are great ways to add some punch to your trailer. Sites I like include istockphoto.com and pond5.com. Both have great selections and great ways to save multiple videos for your consideration so if you are busy, like who isn’t, you can come back later and make your final cut. Again, most videos are very reasonably priced, but watch it, some aren’t. And don’t worry if your video has a soundtrack with it. iMovie let’s you separate the audio channel out and you can use whatever audio you want with any video. My average purchase for a video was $15.

Stock Photography. I use the same sites I recommended above to find images for book covers and for book trailers. Again, stock photography is reasonably priced. But be sure you check prices.

As always, have a budget in mind and stick to it, mine was under $90. It’s really important to get the word out about your book, but what’s more important is how much fun you have doing it!

The Book Trailer

Winnemucca is a young-adult small-town fairy tale about a teenage girl’s enchanted road trip to her true self no matter who or what tries to stop her. One mistake will change Ginny’s life forever. One answer will set her free.

I’m thrilled that my debut YA fantasy Winnemucca was just released on Amazon.com. One edition is digitally signed by me with a donation to The Wounded Warriors project, in honor of my nephew. You can check out my books here: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004KFSC92

Over To You

Did I miss anything? Do you have any tips or tricks from making your own videos? If you have anything to add to this article, or even just want to share your own video, then please add it to the comments below…

At BubbleCow, we have always helped writers using our copy editing service to prepare their books for submission to agents and publishers. It is part of the service.

In recent months I have found myself increasingly using Google+ hangouts to help writers to solve their book proposal problems.

This gave me an idea…

Why not help more writers by adding a free online seminar to our book proposal service?

So…

Our Book Proposal Service now consists of the following:

• Access to our 20,000 word online guide called ‘How To Write A Book Proposal’.
• A pdf version of this course, which you can download (we can do this in epub if there is demand).
• A free 30 minute seminar (via Google+) in which I address your book proposal problems.
• A personal assessment (by me) of your final query letter.

This is still pretty experimental, though I am convinced it will add huge value.

We will only be offering the service, in this format, on a trial basis.

When I asked around the office, and chatted to a few writers, it was suggested that the cost of the service should be around the $150/£100 mark — but I am not convinced.

Therefore I have pulled rank. For the trial run the cost will be just… $40/£25.

I will run the first seminar later this week.

But here’s the catch…

Google+ hangouts are limited to ten places.

So… to keep it fair. This offer is open to the first 10 people to get in touch.

If you are keen to get involved, pop your email in the box below.

Here’s eleven reasons writers might just be right after all…

1. Madeline L’Engle’s book, A Wrinkle in Time, was turned down 29 times before she found a publisher.
2. C.S. Lewis received over 800 rejections before he sold a single piece of writing.
3. Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind was rejected by 25 publishers.
4. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was rejected 121 times.
5. Johathan Livingston Seagull was rejected 40 times.
6. Louis L’Amour was rejected over 200 times before he sold any of his writing.
7. The San Francisco Examiner turned down Rudyard Kipling’s submission in 1889 with the note, “I am sorry, Mr. Kipling, but you just do not know how to use the English language.”
8. An editor once told F. Scott Fitzgerald, “You’d have a decent book if you’d get rid of that Gatsby Character.”
9. The Dr. Seuss book, And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street, was rejected for being “too different from other juveniles on the market to warrant selling.”
10. George Orwell’s Animal Farm was rejected with the comment, “It’s impossible to sell animal stories in the USA.”
11. The manuscript for The Diary of Anne Frank received the editorial comment, “This girl doesn’t, it seems to me, have a special perception or feeling which would lift that book above the curiosity level.”

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