Step Away from the Green Biro ...
Stewart Ferris took the cash earned busking round Europe after studying English at University to publish his first book. Singing Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel hits as he toured with friend and partner Alastair Williams allowed them to found Summersdale Media Group on their return to the UK, turning their rucksacks full of coins into a multi-million pound business successfully publishing books, e-books, DVDs and producing television programmes.
Summersdale publishes non-fiction books, and Stewart’s own books have covered everything from ‘How to be a Writer’ to ‘The Key to the Da Vinci Code’. The current list includes the inspired ‘More Pets with Tourettes’ – that’s the hound’s Christmas present sorted out. As well as writing fiction, film and TV scripts, Stewart has published over 500 books, and rejected 10,000 authors so he’s uniquely placed to suggest the top ten Do’s and Don’ts for aspiring authors:
DO Behave professionally. Above all, this is what came out of our conversation. Publishers want to work with someone pleasant, industrious and with a good sense of self-promotion. If you were thinking of tying your manuscript with a pretty ribbon to set it apart from the slush pile, or addressing the envelope in green biro to make it stand out, I’d think again. As Stewart said, if you see an author has been published by several houses, it’s a fair bet they are difficult to work with. Aim to foster a long and successful business relationship with your publisher. Make a good impression from the outset – check their submission guidelines and give them exactly what they ask for – no more, no less.
DO Build a strong Brand. The top authors are brand names – they have USP’s (unique selling points). What makes you and your work stand out? Hit that message home every chance you get. This is what lifts the Stars out of the realm of jobbing writers.
DO Get yourself and your name known – send out press releases, talk to local radio and TV stations. One of Stewart’s biggest success stories is Geoff Thompson, who has gone from being a brickie by day and bouncer by night to BAFTA winning screenwriter with the movie ‘Clubbed’ coming soon. Geoff rang Stewart (not normally a tactic recommended), and sent impressive press cuttings along with his first handwritten manuscript (again not the double spaced clearly typed m/s usually requested). Geoff had ingeniously told the local press about his new book – even though it was yet to find a publisher. Stewart’s instinct told him that with that kind of sense of self-promotion Geoff would be a big success, and twenty five books later he certainly made the right decision.
DO Be pro-active with your publisher. If they have to choose between two titles, and one of the authors has offered to buy 1000 copies of their own book to distribute themselves which one do you think they will choose? Publishers' decisions are based not only on how good the work is, but how much business sense the book makes.
DO Develop a strong web presence. Blogging is excellent (apparently there are even publishing houses specialising in blogs). Stewart views sites like Authonomy as valuable online book groups. Self publishing sites like Xlibris and Lulu are great for writers whose work may otherwise struggle to find a market. Stewart recommends building added value into your website or blog – free downloads or tasters of your work. He told me about an interesting new feature where AdSense can be built into downloadable work, helping to bring some return to the authors.
DON’T Think you can have it all. If you are really serious about your writing, Stewart says ‘you deliberately have to upset the balance’. Months, even years of gentle procrastination and ‘research’ can go into a book, but the actual writing process can be amazingly quick and intense. Stewart echoed the sentiment of those of you who enjoy NaNoWriMo. During the crucial period of writing, allow nothing to distract you. The book has to be at the forefront of your mind, so beseech or bribe your friends and family to buy yourself the time and focus you need. Stewart has even rented a remote cottage in France to concentrate on getting the first draft of a manuscript out over the course of a long weekend.
DON’T Ignore e-books, even if you are a committed bookaholic like me. As Stewart said, ‘real’ books will never disappear because ‘you can’t furnish a room, or give an e-book as a gift’. However if you are researching a topic, you can search an e-book to flag up every time a character or name pops up. News to me, and very interesting.
DON’T Put off writing. Read ‘How To …’ books, join writer’s circles, talk to other authors but at the end of the day Writers Write. Stewart sympathises ‘Writing can be agony at the start, but then a momentum builds and it is a joy.’ Once you have your first draft, (interestingly Stewart hand wrote his novel ‘The Sphinx Scrolls’ as did I), this is just the beginning. Transcribing your book to computer can be the second draft. Only once you are sure that every word counts should you start to think about sending it off to a publisher.
DON’T Behave like a diva. Even if you get to the point where your book is being published, Stewart points out that each title may only get a week of undivided attention from the marketing people. You need to make it count, and be as helpful as possible. Writing, publishing, is a business like any other and it’s a small world. Write the best copy you can, behave in a professional manner – and don’t forget to say thank you for all the fish.
TODAY’S PROMPT: Think about Brand You. What makes you and your work special? What is your USP? If you had to market yourself, what would make people sit up and take notice. If you have a finished manuscript, or your blog is getting awards, why not sit down and write a press release – tell your local paper, tell the world!
Summersdale publishes non-fiction books, and Stewart’s own books have covered everything from ‘How to be a Writer’ to ‘The Key to the Da Vinci Code’. The current list includes the inspired ‘More Pets with Tourettes’ – that’s the hound’s Christmas present sorted out. As well as writing fiction, film and TV scripts, Stewart has published over 500 books, and rejected 10,000 authors so he’s uniquely placed to suggest the top ten Do’s and Don’ts for aspiring authors:
DO Behave professionally. Above all, this is what came out of our conversation. Publishers want to work with someone pleasant, industrious and with a good sense of self-promotion. If you were thinking of tying your manuscript with a pretty ribbon to set it apart from the slush pile, or addressing the envelope in green biro to make it stand out, I’d think again. As Stewart said, if you see an author has been published by several houses, it’s a fair bet they are difficult to work with. Aim to foster a long and successful business relationship with your publisher. Make a good impression from the outset – check their submission guidelines and give them exactly what they ask for – no more, no less.
DO Build a strong Brand. The top authors are brand names – they have USP’s (unique selling points). What makes you and your work stand out? Hit that message home every chance you get. This is what lifts the Stars out of the realm of jobbing writers.
DO Get yourself and your name known – send out press releases, talk to local radio and TV stations. One of Stewart’s biggest success stories is Geoff Thompson, who has gone from being a brickie by day and bouncer by night to BAFTA winning screenwriter with the movie ‘Clubbed’ coming soon. Geoff rang Stewart (not normally a tactic recommended), and sent impressive press cuttings along with his first handwritten manuscript (again not the double spaced clearly typed m/s usually requested). Geoff had ingeniously told the local press about his new book – even though it was yet to find a publisher. Stewart’s instinct told him that with that kind of sense of self-promotion Geoff would be a big success, and twenty five books later he certainly made the right decision.
DO Be pro-active with your publisher. If they have to choose between two titles, and one of the authors has offered to buy 1000 copies of their own book to distribute themselves which one do you think they will choose? Publishers' decisions are based not only on how good the work is, but how much business sense the book makes.
DO Develop a strong web presence. Blogging is excellent (apparently there are even publishing houses specialising in blogs). Stewart views sites like Authonomy as valuable online book groups. Self publishing sites like Xlibris and Lulu are great for writers whose work may otherwise struggle to find a market. Stewart recommends building added value into your website or blog – free downloads or tasters of your work. He told me about an interesting new feature where AdSense can be built into downloadable work, helping to bring some return to the authors.
DON’T Think you can have it all. If you are really serious about your writing, Stewart says ‘you deliberately have to upset the balance’. Months, even years of gentle procrastination and ‘research’ can go into a book, but the actual writing process can be amazingly quick and intense. Stewart echoed the sentiment of those of you who enjoy NaNoWriMo. During the crucial period of writing, allow nothing to distract you. The book has to be at the forefront of your mind, so beseech or bribe your friends and family to buy yourself the time and focus you need. Stewart has even rented a remote cottage in France to concentrate on getting the first draft of a manuscript out over the course of a long weekend.
DON’T Ignore e-books, even if you are a committed bookaholic like me. As Stewart said, ‘real’ books will never disappear because ‘you can’t furnish a room, or give an e-book as a gift’. However if you are researching a topic, you can search an e-book to flag up every time a character or name pops up. News to me, and very interesting.
DON’T Put off writing. Read ‘How To …’ books, join writer’s circles, talk to other authors but at the end of the day Writers Write. Stewart sympathises ‘Writing can be agony at the start, but then a momentum builds and it is a joy.’ Once you have your first draft, (interestingly Stewart hand wrote his novel ‘The Sphinx Scrolls’ as did I), this is just the beginning. Transcribing your book to computer can be the second draft. Only once you are sure that every word counts should you start to think about sending it off to a publisher.
DON’T Behave like a diva. Even if you get to the point where your book is being published, Stewart points out that each title may only get a week of undivided attention from the marketing people. You need to make it count, and be as helpful as possible. Writing, publishing, is a business like any other and it’s a small world. Write the best copy you can, behave in a professional manner – and don’t forget to say thank you for all the fish.
TODAY’S PROMPT: Think about Brand You. What makes you and your work special? What is your USP? If you had to market yourself, what would make people sit up and take notice. If you have a finished manuscript, or your blog is getting awards, why not sit down and write a press release – tell your local paper, tell the world!
