Frank talk for authors
who are
more than just curious...
OUR
FAMOUS AUTHOR QUESTIONNAIRE
WHAT
TO EXPECT WHEN YOU HIRE A LITERARY COLLABORATOR
SO
YOU THINK YOU'VE WRITTEN THE LATEST BLOCKBUSTER...
Maybe
everybody you know has told you that you "have a
book in you"...after all, everyone has a book in
them, right? So why not you? Or maybe you have
already written your book, and are absolutely certain
it's going to be a bestseller, because your target
market is...the whole world! Or maybe you have a
great concept but no money, and you're looking for
someone who will help you write your book for a
promise of a share in future profits.
We're not
here to dash anyone's dreams. On the contrary, we
became literary collaborators for the sole purpose of
helping people realize their dreams of creating a
book. But these dreams absolutely have to be based on
reality, and that is why we have provided a series of
"reality checks" for authors and
prospective authors.
Let's look
at the scenarios above. The old saying that
"everyone has a book in them" may be
true...but the reality is that it has to be a book
someone will actually want to read. We're not being
smart-alecky here, just honest. And our Author Questionnaire, as well as our
"Blockbuster or Bust" page, will
help you take an honest look at your work.
As for the
conviction that your book is going to be a
bestseller, we certainly encourage optimism, but the
first thing you must do is determine your target
market...and when doing this, "the world"
is not enough. (Hmmm...that would make a good movie
title.) You need to be much more specific than
"the world" or "everyone" when
figuring out who your target audience is. Even
perennial bestselling author Stephen King has a
target audience! Determining your target audience is
just one of the things you'll do when you answer our Author Questionnaire.
And if you
are looking for someone who will work on spec —
that is, for a share of future profits — good
luck. Almost no professional
literary collaborator will do this (any more than a
plastic surgeon will perform work in exchange for a
promise that the patient will pay when she becomes a
supermodel). For this and other potential
eye-openers, see our "Reality Check~What To
Expect" page.
If you are
serious about your book, follow these links...and
don't be afraid! If the information here doesn't
scare you away, it will
make you stronger.
Our exclusive
Author Questionnaire: This
questionnaire will help you determine how ready
your book — and you — are for
publication. It's a free mini-seminar and
obstacle course, all in one!
Reality
Check~What To Expect: Maybe we're not
the book partners for you. Then again, maybe we
are. In any case, here are seven points to
remember if you're really
serious about your book.
Blockbuster or
Bust?: Think
you just might have the next blockbuster,
Readers' Digest book selection, or TV-movie (or
even big-screen) story? Well, hold on a minute,
and read this.
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