Product Description

You will learn: How to pick your topic, how to break it down into easy-to-attack projects, how and where to do research, a process that makes writing (almost) easy, how to improve your material, how to manage writing partnerships, how to evaluate your publishing options, as well as how to develop an individualized and workable plan. The authors will show you how to write your book, get the help you need and publish or get it published. With self-paced quizzes and resources. A Writer's Digest Book Club main selection. (From Chapter one) WHY YOU SHOULD WRITE A BOOK Chances are you already know why you should write a book. Maybe the inspiration for your project struck all at once while you were driving the car, taking a shower, feeding the baby or digging in the garden. Or perhaps your idea developed over a period of time, as a series of incidents convinced you that a particular book needed to be written. For Mindy Bingham, inspiration came as she stood at the front desk of the Girls Club of Santa Barbara. Mindy was touched when a single parent, struggling financially, exhausted and disillusioned, arrived to pick up her daughter. Living in poverty and feeling that she had no control over her own life, the woman had tears in her eyes as she asked Mindy, "Why didn't someone tell me what it would be like when I was growing up?" As Mindy turned from the desk, she vowed to do something to help young women take charge of their lives-not just the teenagers in her care but as many young women as she could reach. And she knew the best vehicle for accomplishing her goal would be a book. A book is the only immortality. - Rufus Choate You should write a book because there is something you need to say, or you feel there is something other people need to know. Books are the carriers of ideas and information. They are the key to personal growth and increased satisfaction. Books unlock the mind. When you write a book, you become a part of the elite community that creates our culture and keeps it alive. And there are a lot of people and books in that community. According to a 1997 Wall Street. Journal article, "A staggering 1.3 million book titles are now in print, 140,000 of them first published in 1996 alone. The chapters which follow will tell you how to author your book and get it into print, even if you do not have the time, temperament, talent, training or territory to be a "writer" in the traditional sense of the word. As in many other parts of our lives today, tradition is playing a smaller role in the book business. In the past, books were luxuries available to only a few. Now they are necessities, bought and read by the millions of people who realize the importance of knowledge in a technological world such as ours. As John Naisbitt and Patricia Aburdene said in Megatrends 2000, "In fewer than ten years the growth in information has only quickened." The information boom continues to accelerate, but as the authors point out, "Without a structure, a frame of reference, the vast amount of data that comes your way each day will probably whiz right by you." That's why it is important to be aware of the changes surrounding you. Some of the megatrends mentioned that are influencing our lives include a renaissance in the arts, global lifestyles and cultural nationalism, the religious revival of the new millenium, and the triumph of the individual. For anyone interested in authoring a book, these facts point the way to many new opportunities. Packaged information is becoming increasingly specialized. More and more books are being printed in smaller and smaller quantities. The information in them is going out of date faster, but books are being produced more rapidly by computerized equipment. The new source of power is not money in the hands of a few but information in the hands of many. -John Naisbitt in Megatrends. In general, consumers feel pressed for time so they expect to gain knowledge through shorter and slimmer books. People want to know "how to" and "where to" and they will pay well to find out. This hunger for the written word extends to works of fiction as well. Perhaps because they do not have the time actually to get away, readers reach for a book when they want escape, adventure or romance. IS IT WORTH THE EFFORT? While writing a book is not terribly difficult, it takes time and commitment. You have only 24 hours in each day. Time can be enjoyed, employed, invested or just dribbled away. Often it is simply lost-forever. By investing some of that time in writing a book, you create opportunities that could change your whole life. Authoring a book may be the least expensive way of going into business for yourself. It can give you economic freedom. During the writing process, producing a book may seem like anything but freedom. However, it is a trade-off. You work for the book now. It will work for you later. Your published book can generate income for years while you are away doing something else. Someday, while you are lying on a beach or flying off to London, it will cross your mind that, "I'm getting paid for this!" You will no longer wonder if it was worth the effort. Financial rewards are significant, but there are other payoffs for writing a successful book. Some of them are: * The fulfillment of a dream * The pride of ownership, the satisfaction of knowing it is yours * The strong sense of accomplishment when you finish * Reaching hundreds or thousands of people with your ideas * Changing people's lives, or even the directions of institutions * The good feeling you get whenever you get a letter from a satisfied reader * The recognition of your peers Most authors love the process and the outcome. They also love the pats on the head. If you were to ask them, we think they would agree that, yes, you should write a book. CONTENTS Chapter One WHY YOU SHOULD WRITE A BOOK

Chapter Two CAN YOU AUTHOR A BOOK? Chapter Three WHY DO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK? Chapter Four WHAT KIND OF BOOK DO YOU WANT TO WRITE? Chapter Five IS YOUR TOPIC A WINNER? Chapter Six WHAT WILL YOUR BOOK LOOK LIKE? Chapter Seven GETTING READY TO WRITE. Organization and Research. Chapter Eight TOOLS OF THE TRADE Chapter Nine HOW TO WRITE A BOOK Chapter Ten REVISE AND EDIT, edit, edit... Chapter Eleven THE END IS IN SIGHT. Finishing the Manuscript. Chapter Twelve HOW DO YOU AUTHOR A BOOK WHEN YOU CAN'T WRITE? Chapter Thirteen FINDING AND WORKING WITH A WRITING PARTNER Chapter Fourteen NEGOTIATING AND CONTRACTING WITH COLLABORATORS Chapter Fifteen WRITING AND YOUR PERSONAL LIFE Chapter Sixteen YOUR PUBLISHING OPTIONS Chapter Seventeen SELF-PUBLISHING AFTERWORD APPENDIX Resources INDEX

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24395 in Books
• Published on: 1998-04-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 235 pages

From the Publisher
"The authors use not only text and examples of successful ventures, but a variety of charts and tests to help the reader evaluate self, topic and form, and provide the mechanics of authoring and publishing." - Library Journal "It is intelligently compiled and written and, most important of all, it is responsibly encouraging." - Book Research Quarterly "This book is a useful tool for anyone starting out and a fine reference guide for established writers." - Arizona Authors' Newsletter "Even if you do nothing but read the quotations at the bottom of many of the pages you will receive some entertaining advice and inspiration." - Publishers Digest "If you have never written a book, or if you have written many, this book is a valuable reference. It is a comprehensive little atlas of the book writing process, from choosing a marketable topic, to researching the topic, organizing it, and marketing it." - The Northwest Review of Books "This book is easy to read, full of valuable information that is easy to apply." - Computer Exchange Review "For those of you planning to write that book someday, Is There a Book Inside You? is a must." - Press News Syndicate "The entire book has a practical, fresh, no-nonsense tone and, as always in one of Dan's books, is overflowing with information, including the valuable lists in the appendix." - Marin Self-Publishers News "The book looks at agents and what they can do, the standard publishing houses, vanity publishers, and, of course, just plain doing it yourself. If you want to go the self-publishing route, this book is a valuable tool." -Aviation/Space Writers Association Newsletter "A work that any would-be author needs to read and digest thoroughly. There's no nonsense here, just a head-on, very direct, point-by-point authoritative overview of how a book is written, manufactured and then marketed, using every bit of creative energy possible. Is There a Book Inside You? really tells it like it is, not some fanciful approach, no watered down vague theories or opinions. This book should be required reading for anyone serious about producing a literary project of value. Find this book; it works."- The Coast Book Review Service "Good resource book. You can't go wrong adding any of Poynter's books to your reference library."- Freelance Writer's Report. "A paint-by-the numbers system for writing a book."-Feminist Bookstore News. "It's a down-to-earth "how-to" and a kick in the pants to get you going."- The Whole Earth Catalog "Fresh ideas and innovative approach found nowhere else in other how-to-write books. Well researched and clearly presented."- Great Cookbooks Writing/Reference Give The World a Piece of Your Mind . . . Write Your Book Join the ranks of those who shape our society. Is There a Book Inside You? is your step-by-step plan.

You will learn:

o How to pick your topic

o How to break the topic down into easy-to-attack projects

o How and where to do research

o A process that make writing (almost) easy

o How to improve your material

o How to manage your writing partnerships

o How to evaluate your publishing options

o How to develop an individualized and workable plan Did you know that few books are the work of only one person? Do you think celebrities have time to write? This book will show you the secrets of breaking into print even if you are not a polished writer. You will learn how and where to find help such as:

o Researchers

o Editors

o Peer reviewers

o Clerical support

o Contract writers

o Co-authors

"Is There a Book Inside You? Introduces the science of management to the art of writing." --Jan Nathan, Executive Director Publisher's Marketing Association "This book is a useful tool for anyone starting out and a fine reference guide for established writers." --Authors' Newsletter "Is There a Book Inside You? is important to every writer. Writing books for others is good exercise; it hones your writing skills and keeps your writing mind active and alert while it buys time for your own writing." --Don Bower, Executive Director National Writer's Club The authors: AUTHORBIO: Dan Poynter is the author of 68 books including the best-selling The Self-Publishing Manual. Mindy Bingham is the author of 14 books; Choices, A Teen Woman's Journal for Self-awareness and Personal Planning has sold over 500,000 copies--so far. Let Dan and Mindy show you how to write your book Writer's Digest

Book Club Main Selection

From the Author
DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com The most difficult part of writing a nonfiction book is getting started and the easiest mistake is starting with chapter one. Approached from the beginning, the creation of a book-length manuscript appears to be a long, steep, hard climb. The first secret is to break the project down into easy-to-attack chunks-called chapters in the book writing business and the second is never begin writing with chapter one. Start with the chapter that appears to be the easiest, shortest or most fun-skip around. Many more secrets to book writing are contained in a great new book: Is There a Book Inside You?; A Step-By-Step Plan For Writing Your Book.

The authors, Dan Poynter and Mindy Bingham, offer numerous self-evaluation exercises to help would-be authors determine what kind of book to write, they provide a unique paint-by-the-numbers system for writing a book, and go on to describe several options for getting the book published. The book is illuminated with numerous encouraging success stories and their advice is backed-up with famous relevant quotes at the bottom of nearly every page.

Think you need help? Poynter asks: "You don't really think Lee Iacocca had time to write his two best-selling books do you? All authors get help from editors and proofreaders-some work with co-authors, contract writers or even ghostwriters." The authors provide detailed information on finding, hiring, and working with different types of collaborators.

Is There a Book Inside You? is not just for the neophyte writer. Just as accomplished cooks refer back to their recipe books, seasoned authors will enjoy and profit from Is There a Book Inside You?

Fans of Poynter's 73 earlier books, including The Self-Publishing Manual, will not be surprised to find this new volume delivers a great deal of well-researched information, clearly presented. With her background in self-development books and business management, Mindy Bingham brings fresh ideas and an innovated approach to this topic found no where else in books on 'how to write books'.

About the Author

Mindy Bingham is the author or co-author of 17 self-development and children's books. Choices, A Teen Woman's Guide to Self-awareness and Personal Planning, first published in 1983, has sold over a million copies so far. Challenges, the boys' version, was released in 1984. A teacher's guide, foreign rights and a lot of well-placed book reviews soon followed. With more ideas than time, Mindy learned how to team up with a professional researcher/developer and a professional writer to produce her phenomenally successful books. Mindy is also the 15-year director of the Girls Club of Santa Barbara. Publishing began as a mission, turned into a fund-raiser and became a going business. Now she runs her own publishing company, Academic Innovation, in Santa Barbara.

Dan Poynter fell into publishing. He spent eight years researching a labor of love. Realizing no publisher would be interested in a technical treatise on the parachute, he went directly to a printer and "self-published." The book sold, the orders poured in and he suddenly found he was a publisher himself. Since 1969, he has written and published 74 books on subjects ranging from skydiving to hang gliding to computers and publishing. In the publishing field, he is widely known for his best selling The Self-Publishing Manual, How To Write, Print & Sell Your Own Book. He is a frequent speaker at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, the Maui Writers Conference and many other industry events. Dan runs his own publishing company, Para Publishing, in Santa Barbara.

Mindy and Dan were prompted to write this book because so many of their friends, noting their success, approached them for the secret. Now they are revealing to you the inside story on how to write a book, alone or with help-the good life of being a published author.

Customer Reviews

Dan Poynter is a writing/selling "guru"
If you don't already have a good reason to want to write a book - and let's face it most book lovers at one time or another fancy themselves as budding authors - this book will help you find one!

It is concise and well-thought out. An enjoyable as well as instructional read.

If you are an intending author, Amazon's powerful search functions will lead you to other similar and complementary books to help build your skills as a writer and improve your knowledge of the publishing industry.

These aspects are both "must knows" if you are truly serious of reaching your goal as a published author.

Every writers dream.
If you are a writer or think you are a writer, this is a book you should have in your library. It helps jump start the creative processes and lets you know all that you need to know about getting started and what channels to follow.
If you dream of writing... buy this book and follow that dream, after all what do you have to lose?

Good resource for those getting into self publishing
Good resource, as are all Dan Poynter's books, if you're looking for a starting point for getting into self publishing. It covers the basics, but also moves on to information about collaborating with another writer or expert, which is the reason I was interested in the book. Offers some sample contracts and guidelines. Elaine Williams, author "A Journey Well Taken: Life After Loss."