(DGIwire)– Climb Mount Everest, travel the world, and write a best-selling book: three common yet seemingly unattainable “bucket list” items. Which one of these most closely resembles your goals? If you’re not an athlete in top shape or don’t have the extravagant funds or time to travel extensively, perhaps writing a book has crossed your mind –and is in the realm of reality.
But what kind of book to write? Perhaps you have a penchant for storytelling and dream of writing a novel. On the other hand, you may have an amazing personal story you want to immortalize as a memoir. Or, as a professional or business owner you may want to increase your credibility and reputation by writing an industry book. No matter what your literary aspirations might be, there are necessary steps you must take to ensure your book not only gets written, but also catches the attention of a wide audience. In fact, a recent article on the Huffington Post detailed several vital tips for writing and publishing that first book:
- Read, read, read, and then read some more! The best writers tend to be voracious readers because they are familiar with the nuances of the English language. Whether you prefer classics, mysteries and thrillers, biographies, or the newspaper, all writers should constantly read.
- Have a good (and ideally, unique) idea and be able to communicate it concisely.
- Research. Things change quickly in publishing, so it’s important to stay abreast of new developments, new agents, and which writers are receiving the most buzz.
- Pick the path that’s right for you. There are many ways to publish these days, and no single route is necessarily better than another. Whether you self-publish or go with a trade or independent or academic press, it’s important to find the best fit for your specific topic and circumstances.
- Understand the job of a literary agent. While having a good literary agent is ideal, it’s not always necessary – and sometimes having a bad agent can be worse than having none at all. Most trade presses do not accept unsolicited manuscripts, but that’s not necessarily the case for other types of publishers.
- Be true to yourself. Above all, never compromise your moral or artistic integrity, or unique literary voice, for anyone. And don’t take any advice at face value. Do your research; consult books, organizations, and individuals; compare suggestions, but in the end, decide for yourself.
“In today’s saturated literary world, it may seem as if every story has already been told, but that should not discourage you,” says Judy Katz, prolific book collaborator and founder ofGhostbooksters.com “Nobody has your unique voice or worldview. Honing in on what makes you stand out from the crowd is the true key to literary success.”
And Ms. Katz should know. To date she has ghostwritten or edited an incredible 35 books. Some of these she guided through the self-publishing and marketing process; others were sold to publishers through literary agents.
“My passion is helping would-be authors determine what story they want to tell, and then, with hands-on interviewing and writing, help them tell it,” Katz explains. “Navigating the dark forest of the publishing industry is difficult, but it becomes a lot easier if you have a solid, well-written manuscript, first and foremost.”
If the idea of becoming an author resonates with you, isn’t it time to take the first step—google “ghostwriting services” or similar phrases, and see if you can find the right partner for your book project!