chris stout on getting published

How to Publish in the New

Millennium:

From Scientific Journals to

Best Sellers

Chris E. StoutDrChrisStout.com

I’m glad you are here!

Writing is transformative…

Before I started writing…

…and after.

Who has published?

Your dissertationA peer reviewed journal articleNewsletter articleBook review BlogBook chapterBook (fiction/nonfiction)Script/ScreenplayOther…?

We’ll cover:

Scientific publishing

Book publishing Contracts Blogging Marketing Tools Tutors And more…

Scientific Publishing

• Mechanics of submitting– Make sure it’s the right journal– Only one at a time– Blind, impartial review– Can take time– Await:

• Acceptance or• Tentative acceptance with revisions or• Rejection

• Reviewing (nice way to start)– Journals– PsychCRITIQUES– How to get to review?

• Scientific Articles – Publish or Perish– Highly ranked, peer reviewed

journals are the (academic) gold standard, and are the trail to tenure…

• Scientific Articles– Dr. Kremer– Grant funded Popular

• Presentations Publications– Published abstract in

proceedings– APS presentation chapter– APA Symposium chapter– Non-psych conference to test ideas book…

• Professional Magazines– Modern Healthcare – Division 42, other Divisions– National Psychologist– Illinois Psychologist

• Freelance

• Columnist

Book Publishing,

Traditional

Books, Books, Books….

• Editing vs. Soloing– (Sometimes) faster– (Sometimes) easier– Seems to be no difference in

getting a contract

• Non-fiction (my biases) – Never write a whole book first

• Unless fiction

– Always contract first!– What do they like to publish?

• Wiley likes Series…

How to pitch Wiley

•Need

– Why are you developing this

project?

– What need does it address?

– What developments, trends,

and issues will cause the reader

to want to/need to read your book?

• Purpose– What is the work designed to

accomplish?– What kind(s) of problems does your book

address and what solutions does it offer? – How does it meet the need you have

identified? – In what ways would the work add to

current knowledge and practice? – What would the work help the practitioner or student do, understand, or improve?

• Distinctive Selling Points• Target Market /Audience • Table of Contents and Chapter-by-

Chapter Descriptions• Knowledge Base• Title Possibilities• Length• Competition• Timetable • Background Information

• Praeger likes Sets

and

• General Interest

Categories

(of which you are invited)…

Contemporary Psychology

• Getting an agent– Pitching a manuscript– Novels/fiction/screenplays– Kellerman/Mayer

Contracts

Contracts a-go-go or a-no-go?

• Advances/Royalties• Wiley vs. APA• Payment timing• Ownership• Right of first refusal • Contracts are negotiable• Control (ha, ha)

– Cover art– Ink color– Font style– Size/cut

• Sell by the chapter (!)

Examples of real pitches for contracted/published books, real marketing plans, and actual contracts are available at…

Book Publishing,

“Non” Traditional

Which of these books were self- published?• What Color is Your Parachute 22

editions, 6 million copies, 11 languages and 288 weeks on the NYT bestseller list

• In Search of Excellence by Tom Peters• Real Peace by Richard Nixon • The One-Minute Manager• The Joy of Cooking • The Elements of Style by

Strunk and White

Self-published?

What Color is Your Parachute 22 editions, 6 million copies, 11 languages and 288 weeks on the NYT bestseller list

In Search of Excellence by Tom PetersReal Peace by Richard Nixon The One-Minute ManagerThe Joy of CookingThe Elements of Style by

Strunk and White

Amazon's CreateSpace

• Their printing costs are the lowest

• There are no initial set-up fees

• They offer a non-exclusive agreement that keeps your future publishing and distribution options open

• They have Kindle distribution so your book, once converted, can be published as an e-Book as well.

Amazon's CreateSpace

The Benefits of Being #1 in Your Category

You get to share the buzz on social media about hitting #1…! Nice

Even more importantly, your book will start to get recommended under the section titled "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" for other similar books.

While no one knows the exact algorithm Amazon uses to recommend your book, there seems to be a connection with the ranking of your book, the number of reviews, and number of sales.

The moral: As your ranking increases, Amazon will promote your book...for free!

#1 in Kindle (or Amazon, for that matter)

The Key…?

Choose Your Categories Wisely

Self-Publishing: Words of Caution• They frequently overcharge• Sell unnecessary services • May overstate what they will do • You may be seduced into spending many

thousands of dollars to get your book printed and distributed. And that’s without any marketing or publicity services

• So, be an educated consumer, know what services you need and know what those services should cost. Then you need to comparison shop. There are lots of companies out there and the pricing of their packaged plans frequently change.

Blogging

• Blogging– Aim for keywords that

solve problems (“How to deal with a passive-aggressive husband”)

– Provide tips that deliver (“10 tips for helping your kid get better grades”), or

– Answer intriguing questions (“Why don’t men live as long as women?”)

Blogging on Other Sites

Tools

I need a volunteer with pen

and paper…

Marketing

Marketing Ideas

• Get “Names” to write your – Foreword – Afterword– “Early Praise”

• Surprisingly not hard• Past APA Presidents• WEF Founder• The trick?

– Ask!

The New Humanitarians

The Psychology of Terrorism

The Evidence-Based Practice

Oprah on line 1

• You may believe that once your book is published, your work is done. It’s not.

• It’s only the beginning. Here are 10 ways to get started:– Participate in online forums about

your book’s subject. – Ask colleagues, friends and book

bloggers if they would review your book. Don’t forget to offer them a free copy of your book.

– Create a mailing list composed of people who have shown interest in your work. Keep them informed about anything new that you’ve written.

– Go to Amazon Central to create an author profile so readers can learn more about you.

Oprah on line 2

• Join social media sites and groups within those sites that might be interested in your book.

• Issue press releases about your work. Don’t make the press release promotional. Instead, orient it toward stimulating the interest of a reporter or producer. You can write your own press release or purchase them from services that will also distribute them to the media (e.g., PR Newswire).

• Join APA’s media referral services. Be ready to define your specific expertise. Then, be prompt in returning journalists’ phone calls and helping them develop their stories…

Website Marketing: Soft Core

Website Marketing: Hard Core

Amazon Author’s Page

Amazon Best Sellers Rank

Search for Chris Stout

Search for Chris E. Stout

Search for Dr Chris E. Stout

15-tab marketing master spreadsheet

Tutors

and I track most all of

them…

Academic help

My Personal Favorite…

But there are dozens more…!

But, writer beware…

This one is particularly interesting.

Talks

• Venues for Sales– Public Libraries ($ )

Talks

• Venues for Sales– Barnes & Noble

(No $ )

Talks

• Venues for SalesColleges (you’re what that activity fee was for…)

Talks

• Venues for Sales– Organizations

• Div 42 @ APA

Talks

• Venues for Opportunities

– Schools/PTAs (consults/referrals)

– Houses of Worship (referrals)

– Professional (academic currency,

test driving ideas, etc…)

Talks, aka $peaking Engagements • Congratulations! You have been invited to speak!– Who is the audience? – Free or fee? (Value to you even if free?)– Who pays to get you there and back?– Just travel or meals, too?– Who makes arrangements?– Actual costs incurred or per diem?– Deposit and/or cancellation fee?

• Have a Prepared Agreement Form– Basically clarity on all the details makes everyone happy.

Local Sites Database (email me for a copy)

Lots (and lots) of resources…• (More) ways to Increase you Amazon

ranking• How to create your first Kindle book in a

weekend• CreateSpace formatted book template• Tips for Getting Motivated• 14 Tips for Writing Faster• Tools to get through writer’s

block• And about a 1000 more tips…

Remember…

Now, get started…

DrChrisStout.com