WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO WRITE A BOOK?

10/2004 Ramiro Burr

Delivered 10/12/2003 and 10/16/2004 at the Edward James Olmos Latino Book Festival, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas

Marcela Landres: check out Ramiro Burr's interview with experienced publishing agent and book editor Marcela Landres on 6/7/2003 on the topic of other tips on getting published

I.                  HOW TO FIND A VIABLE TOPIC

II.              TAKE INVENTORY: HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

III.           PREPARE A BOOK PROPOSAL: A HARD BUT ESSENTIAL STEP THAT WILL ELIMINATE HEADACHES DOWN THE ROAD

IV.           DO YOU NEED A LITERARY AGENT?

V.              REALIZE THAT A CONTRACT IS JUST THE BEGINNING

VI.            SUMMARY: BURR’S FIVE STEPS TO WRITING A BOOK

VII.        HOW TO FIND A VIABLE TOPIC

a.      What do you mean by “viable”?

                                                i.      An original idea: Identify need, find out what people are wanting that isn’t on the market

                                                ii.      A new take on an old idea: Figure out new angle with respect to books on similar/same subject

                                                iii.      Big enough audience to support the book: Determine markets region, academia, schools, industry, popular

                                                iv.      Ensure that you have the experience/credentials to write it

VIII.    TAKE INVENTORY: HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

a.     Talent: Are you a good enough writer, researcher?

b.     Dedication: do you have the drive, the yearning?

c.     Expertise: Do you have specialized knowledge?

d.     Management: Skills at budgeting time, resources and work schedules

e.     Going beyond: Willingness to promote book at every possible outlet

f.      Tools: Office space, reference books, computers

g.     Organization: Developing filing systems, procedures, checklists

IX.            PREPARE A BOOK PROPOSAL: A HARD BUT ESSENTIAL STEP THAT WILL ELIMINATE HEADACHES DOWN THE ROAD

a.      Cover letter

b.     Title page

c.     Concept statement

d.     Book overview

e.      Suggested back cover text and catalog soundbite

f.       The authors

g.     The market

h.     The competition

i.        Production details

j.        Promotion

k.     Book table of contents

l.        Chapter summaries

m.   Sample Chapters

n.     Appendix (any related articles on the authors, subject matter, or the need that will bolster the proposal)

o.     Reference: Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write: How To Get A Contract And An Advance Before Writing Your Book by Elizabeth Lyon.

X.              DO YOU NEED A LITERARY AGENT?

a.      When are you ready for an agent? You are ready when you have a clear and unique book idea and can demonstrate your ability to write about the subject, meet deadlines, and follow through with the critical work of promotion and publicity. It helps great if you have the bare essentials of a thorough, well-thought-out, and detailed book proposal that covers all the basics such as promotions, marketing, competition, chapter summaries, and production details.

b.     Why do you need an agent? Publishers assume that material submitted by an agent has been screened and is much more likely to fit their needs. The most influential editors in publishing houses want to get ahead and prefer to look at submissions from trustworthy agents. Unagented work sent directly to the publisher is generally routed to harried junior editor who must sort through reams of substandard material.

c.     What do agents look for in a writer?

                                                 i.      Writing ability—Clarity and directness

                                                 ii.      Dedication and determination – The ability to commit to a project and the determination to do whatever it takes to see it through properly.

                                               iii.      Curiosity and follow-through—The ability to look past the topic’s surface to find the real pearls in the subject matter, and then to follow it to its logical conclusion.

                                                iv.      Grasp of good narrative structure

                                                v.      Market Sense—The ability to determine whether there’s really a market for an idea, how large the market is, and what it will take to reach it.

                                                vi.      Originality and creativity

                                                vii.      Willingness to hustle/promote

                                               viii.      Professional letterhead, good paper

XI.           REALIZE THAT A CONTRACT IS JUST THE BEGINNING

a.     Does getting signed mean you’re successful? No, it just means you've been able to convince a publisher to take a CHANCE on you. This is just the beginning of a very long road, this is your opportunity to back up all your claims that you are good, talented, and will sell lots of books.

XII.        SUMMARY: BURR’S FIVE STEPS TO WRITING A BOOK

a.     Identify a viable idea

b.     Determine if you have what it takes

c.     Be willing to sacrifice time and effort for that critical first step: book proposal.

d.     If you land the contract, be willing to commit to finishing the project, no matter what it takes.

e.     Realize that after you deliver the manuscript, your job is not over. This is just the beginning of another important aspect that will determine the book’s success or failure: the 24/7 work of promoting and marketing the book.

Best of luck!

Ramiro Burr musicreporter@gmail.com