When you make a book deal, your publisher and agent might tell you about the big picture, but here are 10 little things your publisher may not mention (plus one bonus tip). Compiled from my work with authors over the years....

1. DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS OF
TRADITIONAL
BOOK PUBLISHING

2. You made a book deal!

3. You made a book deal!

4. Now I’ll let you in on
some things your publisher
probably didn’t tell you.

5. Now I’ll let you in on
some things your publisher
probably didn’t tell you.
10 LITTLE SECRETS other authors
say they wish they’d known
at the outset.

6. Now I’ll let you in on
some things your publisher
probably didn’t tell you.
10 LITTLE SECRETS other authors
say they wish they’d known
at the outset.
starting with . . .

7. You have to pay for things
you would expect
the publisher to cover.

8. Things like . . .

9. Things like . . .
Research & travel expenses

10. Things like . . .
Research & travel expenses
Fact-checking

11. Things like . . .
Research & travel expenses
Fact-checking
Professional author photo

12. Things like . . .
Research & travel expenses
Fact-checking
Professional author photo
Your book’s website

13. Things like . . .
Research & travel expenses
Fact-checking
Professional author photo
Your book’s website
Your book’s index

14. Things like . . .
Research & travel expenses
Fact-checking
Professional author photo
Your book’s website
Your book’s index (YES, REALLY)

15. Things like . . .
Research & travel expenses
Fact-checking
Professional author photo
Your book’s website
Your book’s index
(YES, REALLY)
Additional editing or promotion

16. All of that can
add up to a
pretty penny.

17. All of that can
add up to a
pretty penny.
Your small advance
just got smaller.

18. It’s not your publisher’s job
to get advance blurbs
from big names
for the back of your book.

19. This job falls to you.

20. This job falls to you.
It can take months.

21. This job falls to you.
It can take months.
START NOW
You don’t have to wait for the final version of your book.

22. Copyediting is outsourced
to packagers, so there’s
no way of knowing what
quality of editing you’ll get.

23. Assume the best.
Plan for the worst.

24. Assume the best.
Plan for the worst.
Read over the changes carefully.
Push back, if necessary.

25. Better yet, put in your contract
that you will hire the copyeditor,
if publisher covers
what they would have paid.

26. Better yet, put in your contract
that you will hire the copyeditor,
if publisher covers
what they would have paid.
(WELL, IT’S WORTH A TRY)

27. Publisher PR departments
are focused on
getting reviews,

28. Publisher PR departments
are focused on
getting reviews,
not generating articles.

29. This means they’re focusing on
about 1% of the media possibilities.

30. This means they’re focusing on
about 1% of the media possibilities.
You should work on the other 99%.

31. This means they’re focusing on
about 1% of the media possibilities.
You should work on the other 99%.
FEATURE ARTICLES

32. This means they’re focusing on
about 1% of the media possibilities.
You should work on the other 99%.
FEATURE ARTICLES BROADCAST
OPPS

33. This means they’re focusing on
about 1% of the media possibilities.
You should work on the other 99%.
FEATURE ARTICLES ONLINE
COLUMNS
BROADCAST
OPPS

34. This means they’re focusing on
about 1% of the media possibilities.
You should work on the other 99%.
FEATURE ARTICLES ONLINE
COLUMNS
BROADCAST
OPPS
SPEAKING

35. This means they’re focusing on
about 1% of the media possibilities.
You should work on the other 99%.
FEATURE ARTICLES ONLINE
COLUMNS
BROADCAST
OPPS
SPEAKING
AUTHOR Q & As

36. Publishers will never
tell you that you need
an outside publicist.

37. They don’t want to compete
or coordinate with another publicist.

38. They don’t want to compete
or coordinate with another publicist.
Do you need outside help?
It’s your call, but don’t look to
your publisher for advice on this.

39. Your book is old news
after six weeks.

40. You may think it’s
an evergreen topic,
but others

41. You may think it’s
an evergreen topic,
but others reviewers

42. You may think it’s
an evergreen topic,
but others reviewers
bookstores

43. You may think it’s
an evergreen topic,
but others reviewers
bookstores
the media

44. You may think it’s
an evergreen topic,
but others reviewers
bookstores
the media
your
publisher

45. You may think it’s
an evergreen topic,
but others
DO NOT.
reviewers
bookstores
the media
your
publisher

46. You may think it’s
an evergreen topic,
but others
DO NOT.
reviewers
bookstores
the media
your
publisher
Create an advance plan of attack
for that short window.

47. Your first
3 reader reviews on Amazon
are very important.

48. Everyone sees and clicks on them

49. Everyone sees and clicks on them

50. Everyone sees and clicks on them
thus ensuring those reviews
remain at the top.

51. Avoid the random cranks.

52. Avoid the random cranks.
Get an early version of your book
into the hands of respectable readers

53. Avoid the random cranks.
Get an early version of your book
into the hands of respectable readers
(NOT YOUR RELATIVES)

54. Avoid the random cranks.
Get an early version of your book
into the hands of respectable readers
(NOT YOUR RELATIVES)
and don’t be shy about asking them
to write an Amazon review.

55. Goodreads giveaways
are a waste of time.

56. Sure, you can do a giveaway
but don’t expect anyone to notice it
and write an early review
(which is the whole point, right?)

57. Sure, you can do a giveaway
but don’t expect anyone to notice it
and write an early review
(which is the whole point, right?)
N.A. if you’re a celeb writer —
in which case
why are you reading this?

58. Be glad rather than mad
when you aren’t sent on
a book tour.

59. Do you go to book readings
by unknown writers?

60. Do you go to book readings
by unknown writers?
Travel eats up your precious time.

61. Do you go to book readings
by unknown writers?
Travel eats up your precious time.
You’re better off at home
setting up media interviews
and writing articles
that have a multiplying effect.

62. Bookstores do not
want you to drop in
and sign your on-sale books.

63. It just makes it harder
for the retailer to return
the books to the publisher.

64. Wikipedia is your
promotional friend*

65. Wikipedia is your
promotional friend*
*unless someone else has your same name.
Then it’s time to disambiguate.

66. Wikipedia is your
promotional friend*
*unless someone else has your same name.
Then it’s time to disambiguate.
That’s a Wikiword

67. Wikipedia often comes up TOP
in author name searches.

68. Wikipedia often comes up TOP
in author name searches.
Start a Wikipedia page
or update the one you have.

69. Wikipedia often comes up TOP
in author name searches.
Start a Wikipedia page
or update the one you have.
(You write it; get a trusted,
web-savvy friend to post it.)

70. Shared by
LAURA
KELLY
laura-e-kelly.com