48 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A ROAD MAP FOR TURNING YOUR DREAMS INTO PRINT, July 21, 2005
This review is from: Book Proposals That Sell: 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS (Paperback)
You've got an idea that you're bursting to put into words. You think you may even have a book in you. You talk about it with your friends and family, and they tell you it sounds amazing. Now what?
Weeks pass. Months go by. Maybe even years. That idea just won't go away! So, finally you sit down at your computer and begin typing it out. You become engrossed in your topic -- swamped in research, personal anecdotes, and fresh twists on age-old issues. You're convinced every publisher will be clamoring for your book.
Unfortunately, if you send your masterpiece out without a bodyguard (an agent), it may end up in a tottering pile of manuscripts in the corner of an editor's office. Or worse -- it may not even make it to his desk because a first reader deemed it inappropriate for the publishing house.
Never fear. That's where Terry Whalin's book will save you the months and years of heartache as you turn your passion into print. He explains, "Many writers focus only on the creative aspects of writing a book and getting it published, but the executives inside a publishing house are business people who want to sell books and turn a profit at the end of the day. It's a delicate balance between creating the best possible product and assuring that each product has the best opportunity to sell into the market and reach the target audience."
BOOK PROPOSALS THAT SELL is your road map for bypassing the long, winding route that gets you nowhere and shows you the shortcuts for learning what publishers are really looking for. The author explains that more than 80% of nonfiction books are first sold as proposals. How can you capture an editor's interest? Where should you start?
The 21 secrets in this book will teach you what really goes on behind the closed doors of an editorial meeting. And they obviously work -- since Terry Whalin has published over 60 nonfiction books and also works as an acquisitions editor. His personal web of stories spun from a career in the publishing world make the book a dynamic read. And it's fun to learn about all the goofy stuff people do to try to get their foot in the door. (Yes, you get all the nitty-gritty details...Like the one about the writer who wanted to know if she could have a response over the weekend!)
What makes this book truly worth the money is that it's only a springboard into the topic of book publishing. It's filled with up-to-date websites that will further your education. Want to see a sample proposal that sold for six figures? It's in there. Want to see a list of agents, hear which conferences are the best, or learn about book marketing? Having this book will save you hours of surfing the web because you'll receive the author's list of the very best sites.
If you're planning a trip to a new place, you wouldn't dream of going without a map. And writing a book is a journey with the destination of getting your ideas into the minds of your readers. Whalin says, "With good writing skills and using the secrets in this book, you can beat the odds and get a contract." I'm sure the sequel will contain success stories from those who followed the author's advice!
--Reviewed by Heather Lynn Ivester
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16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Secrets from an Insider, December 12, 2005
This review is from: Book Proposals That Sell: 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS (Paperback)
Before you even think about writing a book, you need to read Terry's book. Finally, in helpful detail, we have an insider explaining what goes on in those mysterious caverns called publishing offices. Terry teaches you how to write a book that will pass the scrutiny of those guarding the publishing house gates and eventually reach the golden status of "published." He introduces his book with some insight into non-fiction trends in publishing, then launches into the twenty-one "secrets" that comprise a winning book proposal. From sharpening a book's topic and identifying an audience, to defining marketing plans and putting together a winning proposal package, he gives helpful, inspiring advice. His thorough treatment offers a comprehensive education in the business side of book writing that you'd never get from a conference or course. It's a paperback mentor you can't pass by.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More Valuable Than I Anticipated!, September 9, 2006
This review is from: Book Proposals That Sell: 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS (Paperback)
I haven't been impressed with books on book proposals in the past. They've all seemed to come with cookie-cutter ideas, simple forms, and little depth. But Book Proposals That Sell has impressed my socks off!
Not only does Whalin share his expertise in the field of writing book proposals--he's written more than 60 himself--but he gives readers an insider's glance into the world of book publishing; which is quite valuable!
Knowing how to write a great book is only half the battle. If you don't impress the publishing houses with your proposal your book will sit on your computer or in your garage collecting dust. You'll never see a dime for your hard work and you'll probably give up writing altogether.
But thanks to Book Proposals That Sell you have the opportunity to not only learn how to write a great book proposal but to understand what publishers want, how they make their decisions, and what you can do to better your chances of getting a publishing contract. There's even a sample book proposal that sold for six figures!
If you're serious about making a living as a book author or you simply want to be a one-time wonder, you need a copy of Book Proposals That Sell.
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