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Do you think you have the next New York Times bestseller or Oprah Book Club pick, but don’t know how to write it?

Written by: Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Article Overview: Is there a story you've always wanted to write that you think is the next bestseller? But there's a problem--you aren't sure you have the skill to write it? If you think your story might be Oprah's next book club pick, but you aren't sure how to go about it, here are some things to consider...

Do you think you have the next New York Times bestseller or Oprah Book Club pick, but don’t know how to write it?

There are thousands of wannabe writers out there. Some have technical skill and natural talent; some have skill only and some just can’t get a grasp on the writing basics. Yet all have a story they desperately want to tell. As a bestselling published author, I get emails every month from people who want me to write a book with them, for them or want to know how to do it.

If you’re in any of these situations, you need to understand how to go about writing a book and all the options available to you. You have many choices. The key is to find the right one for you. Take time to think about them and don't rush into anything. Most will require a written agreement or binding contract. Make sure you know the terms.

Below are the most common options in how to write a book:

Write it and publish it yourself:
I always advise people who believe they have a good story to ask themselves WHY they want to see it in print. If it's just for family members to read--like a memoir or family cookbook--they should write it and self-publish by finding a print shop. No copies would be sold in stores. It's usually a one-time thing. And you'd have your book. This is great for someone who has not written a publishable work before.

Write it yourself and find a major publisher:
If you haven't written a publishable work before and you're expecting to write a book that will sell in stores, then you have to learn how to write and the business of writing, publishing and marketing your book. This usually means taking courses in your local college or online, having your work critiqued and finding an editor who will work with you. There's a lot of work involved in writing a book. And even more work in learning how to query publishers and agents and in marketing it afterward. Books are only as good as the customers who read them.

Co-writing:
If you believe your story is a unique one, with a great hook that will capture a large audience, you might want to consider co-writing it with someone. In this case you would usually co-write it with an experienced writer. Their name would go first on the book cover, then yours. They usually get a larger percent of royalties and handle all finances. In effect, they control the project and they have final say in all aspects, including story content. They would have final say on title and content. Expenses are split 50/50, so you would need to have accessible money on hand to invest in this. Even if you were lucky to find a big publisher to take this work, you would still spend a few thousand dollars in the first year. You would also be expected to attend book signings with your co-writer and be available for interviews. And you'd be expected to do half of all marketing, whether it's blogging, phoning bookstores, libraries, schools etc or anything else. A contract between you is a MUST, even if it's a friend.

Hire a ghostwriter:
This is another option. It gives you more control of the project and you handle finances. You would hire someone else to ghostwrite the story. This means they would write it, after many interviews with you, the way you want it. They'll offer suggestions but generally the story is yours. Your name and only yours is listed as author. No one else will know that you haven't written it yourself. Many celebrities do this. You would pay a ghostwriter to write your story. Ghostwriters are not cheap. You'll pay anywhere from $25,000.00 to $50,000.00, depending on length of book and difficulty of project. Most often payment is in stages. 1/3 upfront, 1/3 halfway and 1/3 upon completion, as an example. Some will charge a lesser fee for a percent of the royalties. A contract is a definite MUST.

Allow an experienced writer write it:
If you can find a writer with the time and interest in your project, the other thing you can do is 'give' them the project. You would be the source of the story, the person they would interview. But they would control the story. You can specify in your contract that the story is to be non-fiction, creative non-fiction or fiction. The writer will have his name on the book. He will own the book. He would promote it, do all interviews and media appearances. It becomes his story. Payment for this can vary. You could have the writer pay upfront for the story...a few thousand dollars for most life experience stories. Or you could ask for a percentage of the royalties. The writer would be taking all the time to write, query and market, and he'd be responsible for all expenses. Royalty percentages differ from writer to writer. You could receive anywhere from 5% to 25% of the royalties.

Contracts like the ones above are negotiable and you should always have an entertainment/contract lawyer look over all legal documents before you sign it. Writing and having a book published is a business and in order to be successful you must always remember to treat it that way. Writing the book is only a small part of the big picture. Learning the business and how to market your book is the biggest challenge.

©2008 Cheryl Kaye Tardif

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Article Tags: audience, binding contract, choices, family cookbook, family members, grasp, hook, how to write a book, local college, memoir, print shop, publishers, t rush, technical skill, time thing, writing a book



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Re: Does a New Company need a "Big" PR firm? - I agree with Kevin [quote:3b8fyubd]I think the most important factor is whether your press release will reach the most number of your target audience or not.[/quote:3b8fyubd] You dont a big company that will charge mega bucks as Im sure they will even add a %age to the cost of the press release. Im sure if you approach New York Times, the LA Times with every thing presented professionally I think it will still stand the same chance. I would start advertising online, then locally thats when the NYT can see what there missing out on! And to test the water first!
Oprah - Just an FYI - Suze Orman met Oprah years ago when she became one of Oprah's dream team of consultants. Just like Dr. Phil, Suze became a big hit after Oprah promoted her books and expertise. I doubt Oprah gets paid endorsement dollars per say but I do know that her production company has equity positions in a variety of programs and experts. I will look back through my files for more specific information. I recall a past Oprah staffer who know consults with people on how to get on Oprah. I'll pass it along! Good luck Shri. I think you can write a letter, or contact a series of the big names in order to get endorsements. you have to be professional, but persistent! It is said that Jack Canfield gets over 500 such requests each week. Cheers Jude
Re: Does a New Company need a "Big" PR firm? - [quote="OmnivoreInk":dmj1i0sv]I've started work with a brand new company that is going to do loss mitigation. My boss intends to hire a "big" PR firm - ie one that costs a lot of money - because he wants press releases sent out to the New York Times, the LA Times - all the major papers around the country - and he think they'll be more likely to print them if they come from a "big" firm as opposed to a one-person PR firm. I think it doesn't matter where the press release comes from as long as its well written. What are the opinions here?[/quote:dmj1i0sv] I think the most important factor is whether your press release will reach the most number of your target audience or not. It won't matter if the press release is well written if no one has the opportunity to read it. I also believe that credibility comes with having your press release in an established source like The New York Times, LA Times, etc... For instance, if you enjoyed playing tennis, who would you trust more? The advice from a recreational tennis player who has his own column in [i:dmj1i0sv]Tennis Magazine[/i:dmj1i0sv] [u:dmj1i0sv]or[/u:dmj1i0sv] the recreational tennis player who has his own blog? I don't know about you, but I'd listen to the guy on [i:dmj1i0sv]Tennis Magazine[/i:dmj1i0sv] over the blog owner at least 9 out of 10 times.
Does a New Company need a "Big" PR firm? - I've started work with a brand new company that is going to do loss mitigation. My boss intends to hire a "big" PR firm - ie one that costs a lot of money - because he wants press releases sent out to the New York Times, the LA Times - all the major papers around the country - and he think they'll be more likely to print them if they come from a "big" firm as opposed to a one-person PR firm. I think it doesn't matter where the press release comes from as long as its well written. What are the opinions here?
Re: reframe what you want to accomplish - [quote="TheRainmaker":3a9wv4jy]it is said that if you help other people to reach their goals, you too will reach yours. Find out what Oprah is trying to accomplish over the next few months and pitch a link to a topic. Recently she is really motivated by the Eckard Tolle, A New Earth and the awakening of the human spirit. i will check out your stuff. good luck[/quote:3a9wv4jy] Another suggestion might be to specifically write a new book on what interests Oprah. If you can't control what Oprah is looking for, then control what you produce.


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