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WritersReaders.com Calendar
Audio Message from Jerry
Important dates, new and interesting topics, including a schedule of events that writers need to know to achieve success.
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What Writers Need to Know
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES offered by JERRY D. SIMMONS
Sales & Distribution
Direct face-to-face presentation of your book to buyers from the largest booksellers in the country by a professional sales force is what Access is all about. For complete details on how to qualify for this unique program contact Jerry.
Personal Consultations
Publishing offers a myriad of choices and navigating the process without professional, experienced help is costly and risky. These one-on-one consultations answer all of your questions, saving you time and avoiding mistakes most unsuspecting writers make when trying to make decisions on their own without the proper information.
Manuscript Development
Write what you know and follow your passion, both great recommendations from bestselling authors. However, a marketing eye can spot inconsistencies before you shop your manuscript to agents and publishers. This is a marketing approach to avoiding the pitfalls that many writers fall into, manuscript development is a complete and thorough reading and opinion, based on having reviewed thousands of manuscripts over 30 years in publishing.
Pre-Publication Plan
Writing is half the process of becoming an author, the second half is figuring out that next step. This plan thoroughly examines the goals for your book, combined with your personal motivations for becoming an author. You will receive the pros and cons of each facet of publishing and this plan will offer guidance and advice on the best method to meet your goals and match your motivations.
Editorial Critique
For writers who want an objective professional opinion on their writing. The goal is to give you the information that an editor at a New York publisher would provide. For a very small investment you can have your manuscript read in its entirety and critiqued by a professional freelance editor who will outline in great detail what you need to do to improve the reading and quality of your writing. These critiques add value and expertise to your writing. This is a very important step for every writer.
Complete Editorial Services
All the marketing money in the world will not succeed at selling copies of a book that is poorly edited. An investment with a professional is critical if you want to become successful at selling your book.
Content Editing
Once your manuscript has been evaluated and critiqued, the next step is the content editing. This involves a professional freelance editor making absolutely certain the writing follows a lucid story arc. Content editing involves the development of a story line and or logical display of information, depending on the genre, as well as the development of the characters in the manuscript. With informative nonfiction, the editor focuses on consistency, logical order, a comprehensive overview of the material and clear competent thinking.
Copy Editing
After your manuscript has been evaluated and developed for content, it requires a line by line appraisal to assure standard usage, workable grammar for the context, efficient sentence structure, spelling corrections and other suggested changes. This is time consuming, meticulous work and is critical to the success of any published work. Copy editing is not flawless, in corporate publishing the rule of thumb is an allowable three mistakes per every one thousand key strokes, so this process is necessary but not without human error.
Proofreading
This is the final step in the editing process and deals with the final polish that copy editing began. Proofreading is the double check at the level of the sentence and paragraph and can only be done effectively once content and copy editing is complete.
Book Coaching
If you would like professional guidance every step of the way, then book coaching provides this and more. From the day you begin writing, or the day you finish your manuscript, through the editorial process and eventually to a finished book, as a book coach I become your partner with every decision. You have at your disposal 30 years of professional experience to help guide you in your decisions, resulting in the best quality book for the least investment. Spending thousands of dollars is not necessary, this is the most cost effective method of achieving your goals as an author.
Query Letter Writing
If you’ve tried yourself and are tired of the time it takes and rejections then consider a professional service. You complete a lengthy questionnaire then have the letter written and submitted for you. We will rewrite and revise the letter and continue the campaign until you have received a minimum of ten requests for your full manuscript. That is our promise to each of our authors. We cannot make promises that you will receive a contract but we guarantee your manuscript will get attention, and that is the critical step.
Book Proposal
Literary agents and publishers typically want a complete book proposal on every title they consider. This includes a thorough overview of your manuscript or book, sample chapters or complete manuscript, author bio, market analysis, competitive analysis, promotional and marketing plans, and more. The query letter is important, the proposal is what seals the deal. We offer a professional service that will write a complete and detailed book proposal that will impress both agent and publisher.
Cover Design
Packaging is important, making certain your cover fits the market is the key to selling books. Creating the proper package for your finished book requires an experienced eye. It’s not about your personal likes, it’s about creating a design that consumers will pick up and want to own. Packaging is more than designing a cover, it’s about creating a finished book that looks professional and feels of quality. Includes front and back cover, spine, placement of quotes, front and back copy. Also includes the digital file transfer of your formatted manuscript to the printer. The finished product is print ready in a digital format that is then transferred to your printer.
Manuscript Formatting & Interior Design
Your typed manuscript has to be converted into a file that can easily be married with your professionally designed cover and forwarded to your printer. Each page must be designed and set in a printable format, making certain the borders are sufficient and the inside bound column is of adequate size to maintain a quality look and feel. In addition each page requires a heading and individual page number, chapter and sub-chapter layout which gives the book the overall appearance.
Printing Your Manuscript
I strongly recommend offset printing as opposed to print-on-demand. The quality of the finished product and appearance is much better and results in a positive perception of the consumer in the market. There is flexibility in trim size, paper quality, paper color, and quantity with first print runs of as few as 100 copies. Offset is what the big publishers utilize for their books and the difference is quite noticeable so don’t cut corners.
Book Reviews
The more positive book reviews and quotes you can receive, the better. We offer a free book review for any author. All that is required is you become a member of Nothing Binding and sign up for the free book review. Membership is also free, so don’t waste a moment, go to www.NothingBinding.com and sign-up today.
Additional Professional Services
I offer a complete range of services to fit any need that results in a professional finished book of the highest quality. I have 30 years of experience, 25 with two of the largest publishers in the world. I have the knowledge and will provide you with all the publishing tools necessary to make your experience a good one. In addition to all of the services listed above, I can provide:
Marketing Materials
Once your book is published, I can assist you in the development of marketing materials. This may include promotional items such as bookmarks, sell sheets, handouts, anything that draws attention to your published book. I can also assist with the creation of brochures, folders, author photos, and virtually anything you request.
Industry Book Numbers
I can advise you on an ISBN number for your book, Library of Congress Number, and bar code.
Author Web Site
The creation of your own web site for you and your book is an important component of any successful author. I can offer advice on what you need to start and what you don’t, what tends to work and what doesn’t. I’m not a computer expert but I have experience to guide you before you invest thousands of dollars unnecessarily.
Summary
I provide everything you need to publish the finest quality book with the greatest potential for success possible. I make my living working with authors and publishers, each of the services offered require my time. A small investment of time is better than trying to make decisions without necessary and relevant information. I do not attempt to “sell” you on any particular type of publishing, I match your goals with the best option for the market. I have the experience, knowledge, and objectivity to offer you the best advice gathered over 30 years of experience. I would be more than happy to extend to you a free 15-minute discussion to explain how I can help. You may contact me via email, thank you.
NOTHING BINDING BOOK REVIEW PROGRAM
This is a new fully automated book reivew program that can be found at NothingBinding.com. The goal of this program is to provide a free objective review of Independently published books profiled on NothingBinding.com.
We have taken every precaution to insure the integrity of this book review process. NothingBinding.com will do everything possible to maintain an honest and objective book review program. Authors can submit their titles for review or sign up to become a book reviewer.
Authors must have a complete profile on NothingBinding.com to participate in the program, including personal photo—book description—bio—inspiration—book cover—book excerpt—audio or video preferred but not required.
Book Reviewers are not required to be authors.However, they must sign up at Nothing Bindingcom. Each Book Reviewer has the option of remaining anonymous (if preferred) and would never be required to reveal their name.
This is a non-compensated book review process, reviewers are to remain totally objective and agree not to review titles written by friends, family, or where the reviewer is familiar with the author such as an acquaintance, fellow member of a writers group or colleague. Integrity of the program is critical to success.
Reviewers cannot review their own books and there is no guarantee that their own personal titles be reviewed as compensation for becoming an Independent book reviewer.
For the benefit of our authors and readers book reviewers are required to write a 300 to 500 word narrative review of the book.
If you would like more information, visit NothingBinding.com or click the Contact Jerry link at the bottom of the page and send an email.
TONS OF GREAT INFORMATION
I've gathered some of the best articles from authors and publishing professionals that will provide important information. Here is a list and the link to each.
Business Calculations for New Authors by Marilyn Haight, .
How to Make Your Book Irresistible by Penny C. Sansevieri, .
From Bestselling Author Nicholas Sparks, The Business Side of Publishing, .
Creating The Pitch for Your Book, notes by Patricia L. Brooks, .
If you have an article you would like to share, or a question to ask, want to make a comment, or even suggest another piece of important information, please hit Contact Jerry on the bar at the bottom on this page. Thank you.
Mark Your Calendar
Need A Speaker?
If your organization is interested in a speaker who can reveal the secrets of the publishing industry, and provide marketing tips, please contact Jerry directly by phone or email.
