How to be a Writer

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In this exciting book I'll take you through all aspects of what it takes to be a professional writer in the publishing and media industries today.

Like all jobs, the role of the writer has evolved over recent years. Technology has made things quicker and easier, royalty payments have changed (mostly downwards) and the potential markets in which writers in every genre can sell their work have exploded exponentially in number. Now is a good time to be a writer and the professionals who are already out there are reaping the benefits of the new opportunities. It's a highly competitive industry to break into, but that's no reason not to give it a try. There will always be a hunger for new literary voices, new ideas and new talents.

I founded a publishing company in 1990 and have since published hundreds of books. I've also written lots of books and written for other media including television, radio, stage and film. It's given me a broad experience as a writer in the various aspects of the writing business. In particular, I've been able to see submissions from over 10,000 writers (that's about 3 per working day on average) that I chose not to publish. That's right: I've rejected 10,000 manuscripts. Sometimes reluctantly, sometimes with relief, or shock, or despair or frustration. But always for a reason. I don't like to reject a manuscript. No publisher does. It gives us no pleasure - indeed, it's finding that rare diamond of a book in the slush pile that we get excited about (among other things, of course). I want to help writers, but I can't give a detailed critique of every book I reject. There wouldn't be enough time left in the day to get on and publish the ones I actually want to print.

That's why I wrote How to be a Writer. I wanted to explain the essential difference between the authors who get rejected, time after time, and those who end up on a short list for further consideration and ultimately get accepted. In fact the difference isn't a vast, uncrossable gulf between amateurs and professionals. It's something that any moderately competent writer can fix with the simple ten stage plan I've outlined in my book. Together with industry secrets and insider tips designed to give any writer a leg-up the ladder of success, this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to see their name in print, on TV or the big screen, or mentioned on the radio.

There are some harsh truths exposed in this book and many myths will be shattered. The reality of writing is not what many people believe it to be. Some of these chapters may surprise or disappoint you. My aim in revealing the secrets of the writing game is not to destroy your ambitions and dreams, but to empower you to be able to achieve them. Use this book as a reality check before embarking on a career as a writer. Use it to inspire you to achieve high standards, greatness and professionalism. Without those you have nothing. With them you can conquer the literary world.

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How to Get Published

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Everyone has a book in them, they say. Having gone through the process of extracting a masterpiece from your head what happens next? In most cases the book will end up in a desk drawer as a pile of papers or inside a computer. But that’s not what you want, is it? You wrote it to get published. You want to see your name in print, to go into bookshops and see your book on the shelves. You want to feel that moment of pride when you see someone on the bus reading your book.

The concept that a good book will always find a publisher is outdated and over-simplistic. The truth is that most writers remain unpublished because they pay attention only to the quality of their writing. Publishers are business people. Their job is to make money from selling books. They know that high quality writing alone isn’t always enough to make a profitable book, so when choosing which manuscripts to sign up for publication they think about many more elements than just the words on the page.

After 18 years in the book industry, I've identified all of the crucial factors that publishers consider besides good writing. How to Get Published reveals for the first time these inside secrets and provides tactics that any writer can use to create the perfect conditions for their own ‘lucky break’ to happen.

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How to Publish Your Own Book

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AS AN AUTHOR you already know that it isn’t easy to persuade a publisher to splash out a considerable chunk of money on editing, designing, printing and marketing your book. It can take years before you strike it lucky, and even if you finally get a contract signed it will be a reminder of who is in charge: the publisher. They will typically hang on to as much as ninety per cent of the income from sales of the book. They have to. They have to pay staff, office bills, print bills, marketing bills and the mortgage on their second home in France... more