How To Be A

Best Selling Author

Dedication
This guide is dedicated to every writer who has ever has stared at a blank page. You know the struggle and the thrill of bringing new things into existence. You are an artist practicing and perfecting your craft. Wwaow is the vehicle to tell your story to the world. Unlike authors of the past, Wwaows authors never have to store, ship, or invoice their own books, ever. Did you know that you can update or change chapters in your book on-line, and the updated version is available for sale within minutes? Thats the power and the beauty of Wwaow.com. Log onto www.wwaow.com and start living your dream and selling your books. For as little as $79, you can have 5 copies of your book within 10 days. If you have questions, were here to help. Simply email info@wwaow.com or check the Frequently Asked Questions section of the website. Fascinating Fact: Did you know that The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield was published independently before being picked up by a major publishing house?

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6
Just What is Independent Publishing?................................................... 6

Quick Start Guide - Five Easy Steps....................................................... 7-10

Get the Word Out - Viral Marketing......................................................

11-16

The Legal Stuff: Copyrights, ISBN.......................................................... 17-20

Mainstream Publishing 101 - It Pays to be Educated...............................

21-26

What You Need to Know about Literary Agents.......................................

27-28

My aim is to put down what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way I can tell it. - Ernest Hemingway

Welcome to Wwaowthe Worldwide Alliance of Writers! Our company has been a leader in the market of document presentation since 1939, and we understand the needs of aspiring authors everywhere. We thank you for choosing us to publish and market your creations to the world, and we look forward to satisfying all of your needs as an independent publisher.
You may not realize it, but some of the worlds most well-known authors began as independent publishers. Perhaps youve heard of the One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson, or In Search of Excellence by Tom Peters? These are only two of several authors to take their writing to the next level without the initial aid of a publishing house, and you can do it too! You already have the passion for your craft; now let Wwaow give you the tools to produce your book and help market it to the world. Living their Dream. Edgar Allen Poe, Henry David Thoreau and George Bernard Shaw were renegade authors of their time. With little resources at their disposal, their words managed to rise to incredible celebrity. Before such famous literary works as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain gained notoriety by printing stories in local newspapers. In 1869, his story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calavaras County ran in the New York Saturday Press, which many say launched his professional career. At the time, the newspaper was his only resource. The power and beauty of independent publishing is that you have Wwaow and the internet at your fingertips. As a writer, your mind is a world in-and-of itself, bursting with ideas that deserve recognition. However, unless youve already attracted a large, dedicated following of readers, the odds of contracting with a mainstream publishing company are slim. Did you know that for every 250 manuscripts submitted to large publishing houses, 249 of them are rejected? At Wwaow, we make publishing and marketing your work easy and affordable. By allowing our online database to host your book, writers utilizing Wwaow can increase their presence in the marketplace. Put plainly - more readers exposed to your book means more acknowledgement from larger publishing companies. POD (Print on Demand) publishing first hit the scene almost two decades ago, a technology Wwaow has strived to perfect. Unlike many other POD publishers, Wwaow puts the power of format, cover art and other intricate details into your hands. We aim to work with larger publishing companies, who are often weary of the

risk associated with signing on first-time authors. Whats better is that as a writer, you obtain all the rights to your work, and you even have the luxury of setting your own royalty percentage. The POD technology of Wwaow enables all printing, packaging and shipping of your book to occur only after it is ordered through our online database. This eliminates the possibility of any unsold books ending up in your garage while fostering an environment of success for book sales. And once we publish your work online, you will receive complimentary marketing materials to help get the word out to potential readers. It really is that simple! It Can Happen. Here at Wwaow, we realize that everyone is an individual. While some writers may be seeking mainstream success, others may just want to reach a small niche market with their manuscript. The good news is that whatever your goals may be, Wwaow has what it takes to help you achieve them. The chapters in this manual cater to the needs of the grandmother seeking a printed copy of her family history, as well as the writer envisioning his or her name on the shelves of major book retailers worldwide. It can happen. Read on to learn more about the world of independentpublishing, including tips on working with larger publishing companies and literary agents. We hope you find the information in this manual helpful and informative, and we wish you much success in your dreams of authorship.

Happy writing!

Chapter 1
Just What is Independent Publishing?
The term independent publishing (more commonly known as self publishing) refers to the publishing of a book by its creator rather than by a traditional, thirdparty publisher. Independent publishing (while always in existence) has gained momentum over the past two decades thanks to technology such as Print-on-Demand and the World Wide Web. It has given amateur writers the power of ownership over their materials and how they are marketed to potential readers. Unlike many independent-publishing services, however, Wwoaw aims to work with large publishing companies by acting as an outlet for rookie authors. Rather than take a chance contracting with brand-new writers, publishing companies can look to Wwaow to see whose material is high in demand. Wwaow gives authors a chance to shine by posting excerpts of their work on its online database, which often takes the guesswork out of the millions of manuscripts publishers are faced with daily. By self publishing through Wwaow, you have the opportunity to show what you and your work are made of. Besides acting as a gateway into the mainstream, independent publishing has increased in popularity for the following reasons: The author wants a greater return on sales than a traditional publishing company would permit The topic-at-hand is of interest only to a very niche market of readers. The information is pertinent only to a certain groups, such as government agencies, and is not for retail sale The author wants to retain complete editorial control over the material The content is of a taboo matter that publishers are wary of printing and distributing Additionally, when just starting out, the Print-on-Demand services of Wwoaw make much better financial sense. Rather than investing $500 - $2,000 for dozens of copies of your book, a new author will appreciate the pennies saved by processing an order only after it is received. This concept is especially true for niche markets such as businesses or government agencies, which have a limited or even definite number of readers for their materials. Processing and distributing such orders through Wwaow will cut down on printing costs drastically, saving on your bottom line.

wwaow gives authors a chance to shine. . .

Chapter 2
QuickStart Guide to Independent Publishing with Wwaow
What to Know Before You Go to Wwaow.com
Having your book or documents printed and published online with Wwaow.com is exciting and easy. Just click, Publish My Book on the homepage and follow the instructions in our 5 Step Publishing Wizard. In this chapter, Wwaow will walk you through the five steps necessary to upload your material, set your design scheme, choose your royalties and more. We will conclude with an explanation of the Wwaow pricing structure and how it compares to various other services. By the time youre done reading, youll be confident in your decision to choose Wwoaw to assist you in your writing goals.

STEP 1: Book Information

The Cool Factor Check out what your book will sell for and how much you will make by clicking on Calculate the Price of My book. Have fun! Know Your Book Title The book title will be positioned on the front cover and spine of the book. Write a Short Book Description: Type a maximum 1000 character (including spaces) book description into a Microsoft word document and cut and paste it into this section. Check spelling and grammar carefully. This description is printed on the backside of the book and will be displayed on the website. Category Choose a book category such as fiction or business. Check out the online bookstore categories. Keywords Think carefully here. If people dont know your name or book title, how would they find you? Fill in five keywords, but do not use your name or book title. (These become searchable terms when you upload your book). Availability There are three options from which to choose: 1. Worldwide. Your book appears for sale in our worldwide, online bookstore. 2. Private. Your book is not available for sale in our online bookstore. Only the writer has access to view and order the book. 3. Private with Member Access Code Your book is not available for sale in our online bookstore. A special code will be e-mailed to you to share at your discretion. Only people who know the code can view and order your book.

Author name The author name is positioned on the front cover and spine of the book. Author biography Type a maximum of 420 characters (including spaces) into a Microsoft word document and cut and paste. This description will be printed on the backside of the book and displayed on the website.

STEP 3: Cover Layout

Select Author picture or image Optional. A picture or image can be uploaded. This image is printed on the back of the book cover and displayed on the website. It is a great way to add interest to your book. IMPORTANT: Please make sure the image is high quality (minimum 300 dpi) Cover picture or artwork (min 300 dpi) Frontcover Picture Enter the file location Wwaow gives you three choices for your cover art: If you have your own cover art, upload it as a JPEG file. Please make sure this image is high quality (minimum 300 dpi). The image should be the same size as your book

STEP 2: Upload and Print Preferences

Upload Your Book File The most important part is, of course, your digital file of the book content. Be sure that your book content is formatted to the same size as your book (see Print Preferences below). Wwaow only accepts documents in Microsoft Word (.doc) or PDF (.pdf) format. If your book contains special images such as pictures, letter types, or fonts, we recommend that you save your document as a PDF. Dont know a thing about PDFs? Dont worry. More information can be found in our FAQ Uploading Your Book section. Print Preferences Select one of five different book sizes IMPORTANT: Please be sure that your book content is formatted to the same size as your book i.e., if you chose to have your book printed in a 6 x 9 size, set the margins of your book content at 6 x 9. Printing Select color or black and white. Note that your choice will be applied to the entire book meaning the text and pictures. However, it does not apply to the dust cover (if you are ordering a hardcover).

wwaow will walk you through five simple steps to make your dream a reality.
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i.e., if your book size is 6 x 9, your cover art needs to be 6 x If not, our software will resize it automatically, which sometimes distorts the image. In the last step of the wizard, you will receive a preview of your cover, and you still have the chance to make changes.If you do not have cover art, select no cover picture, or choose from one of Wwaow cover art images. Choose a background color This color becomes the background color of your back cover. Choose a color that complements your front cover. Dustcover Select hardcover or paperback. Dustcover Layout This applies only if you choose a hardcover edition. Letter Color This is the color in which your author bio and book description will appear on the back cover. This text is placed on top of the background color you selected earlier. Be sure to choose a letter color that stands out against your background color.

Step 5: Confirmation
Confirm all data you have entered. Preview your book cover and manuscript excerpt. At this step, you can decide to go back and make changes to your cover. Purchase five copies of your book, which will be printed and shipped to you. Payment can be done with one of the common credit cards or online banking services. As soon as that transaction is confirmed, your book will be available immediately for sale on our website. Congratulations! Additional questions? Please refer to our FAQ section or email us at info@wwaow.com. Extra Helpful Hints from Wwaow

Step 4: Profile Data

Confirm your personal information. Use our link to PayPal to set up your account. Wwaow makes monthly deposits from your book sales into this account. Select your royalty rate. You may choose zero to 200 percent. Please note: your royalty rate affects your book price on the website.

Writers earn royalties up to 20 percent.

The Other Guys Verses the wwaow Factor!

Getting your book published with Wwaow is easy. All you need do is purchase the first five copies of your manuscript (five copies are as little as $79 for all five) to get the wheels in motion - thats it. And as an author, why wouldnt you want to hold your masterpiece in the palm of your hand? Once your payment has been received, your book will be placed on Wwaows website for you and the entire world to see. Compared to the other self-publishing businesses out there, Wwaow is a no-brainer. With Wwaow, there are no hidden costs or services aimed solely at upping the price you pay. We give you the standard tools needed to expose your talent to the public, and we do it at a price youre comfortable with. Wwaow understands that youre just starting out in your career, and we want to make the experience as painless as possible for both yourself and your pocketbook.

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Chapter 3
Get the Word Out
So youve published your manuscript through Wwaow, and you even have your first five (or fifty) copies in hand. Now what? Now is the time to get the word out to your potential buyers. Independent publishing requires the author to do most of the footwork in terms of promoting their books. Fortunately for you, Wwaow has given you a head start by providing you with an online bookstore to sell your work. We also send you a set of 25 postcards with your book cover on the front to help you begin your marketing campaign. But have no fear. The power of the Internet is a valuable tool for anyone serious about promoting and selling their work to the masses. Blogs, E-mail campaigns and Web hosting are just a few of the tools that can take your manuscript from the eyes of the few to the many. In this section, Wwaow will provide several tips for how you can use the Internet to your advantage, as well as other massmarketing techniques you probably thought you could never do.

Viral Marketing
If you do anything, always concentrate on your strong points, said Matt Coers, Internet Marketing Specialist based out of Denver, Colorado. One strength that most people have is their immediate social network. The concept of utilizing ones relationships to gain exposure is termed viral marketing. This technique is the same as the popular word of mouth approach to gaining public acknowledgement about a product, service and the like. It makes use of preexisting networks on the premise that, eventually, awareness of your message will spread like a virus to the masses. It is a general business concept that a satisfied customer will tell an average of five people, whereas an unsatisfied customer will tell nearly double that amount. The methods of viral marketing are many, including e-mail, text messages, image files, and the ever-reliable hot gossip. The theory behind this method of advertisement is that it is our nature to talk, and it has proven to be successful as a grassroots approach to marketing. The Internet has a number of ways to utilize your social network, Coers said. Blogs and e-mail are easy to use to get the word out about your book. There are also social-networking sites that enable you to create groups through networking.

Our internet marketing expert shows you how to successfully sell your book.
11

Blogs are a way to keep people in your circle involved with you, while also inviting others in, Coers said. There are several Web sites that offer free blog hosting, such as Blogger.com, BlogSpot.com or MySpace. com. According to Coers, the service that offers the most to users is WordPress.com. While the previouslymentioned blog sites remain useful, he said WordPress is the most user-friendly, especially to anyone seeking self promotion. Its a very sophisticated engine that allows you to make a website without knowing a lick of (HTML) code, he said. It also gives you site stats, such as the number of people who looked at your page, and the keywords used to find your page. You can also interlink your blog with similar blogs. Typically, the blogs content is centered on a particular subject, and it is not uncommon for the blogs themselves to evolve into a manuscript. And if the content is interesting enough, what started as simply a means of self expression can easily become the next big novel. But as with any project, it requires some level of dedication. Before you start up a blog, you need to be sure you can write at least three entries per week, preferably five, Coers said. They dont have to be long entries, but people want to be engaged. If your blog is kept up-to-date, that keeps people coming back. You can use a blog to promote your new book in various ways. For starters, its easier than you think to build up a fan base by posting regularly to your blog. Readers can comment on your posts, offer up suggestions, and even resort to some form of viral marketing by recommending your blog to others. Besides creating your own blog, its good to contact other bloggers too, said Coers. Some have existing networks with thousands of readers, who also might find your stuff interesting. When the time comes, use the incredible networking power of blogs to announce your manuscript to your audience! Who better to promote your material than people who already enjoy your work?

One social-networking website Coers said every self promoter should utilize is FaceBook.com.
With more than 7 million daily users and growing, the site enables users to share messages among a variety of user networks, create groups designed for a specific cause or interest, and continuously add users (also known as friends) to their immediate circle on FaceBook. The capability of viral marketing with this up-and-coming website is invaluable to anyone trying to promote themselves, Coers said. The site is not anonymous at all, he said. With FaceBook, you create groups, and anyone whos your friend can be invited to join. The neat part is that as soon as they accept your invitation, everyone on their list of contacts is alerted to the group they joined, and are prompted to join as well. The key to making viral marketing work for you is to target the social networks that would most appreciate your material. Writing groups, clubs, and message boards pertaining to literature would provide the best audience for your message, but anyone else who cares about your success (such as friends) also would prove helpful. The point is simply to make yourself known to as many potential buyers as possible.

E-mail Campaigns
Also known as e-mail marketing, e-mail campaigns are a mass mailing of electronic messages to viewers who may be interested in a product you are selling. It is useful for many reasons including the following: It provides instantaneous exposure of your message to your audience.

Blogs
As an author, youre probably familiar with the term blog. Put plainly, a blog is somewhat of an online diary, where entries are added continuously and in chronological order.

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 It is less expensive than other forms of mass-mailing. It enables you to keep a list of your target audience, allowing you to send follow-ups in the future. It is proactive, as opposed to a reactive webssite, which may or may not get hits. Almost everyone has an email account, and checks it regularly. Its environmentally-friendly. As a Wwaow author, you are supplied with complimentary marketing e-mails to initiate the promotion of your published material. Start simply by forwarding your congratulatory email from Wwaow to family, friends, colleagues, and anyone else you feel may be supportive of your efforts, but dont stop there. E-mail campaigns have a viral-marketing nature to them, in that any e-mail recipient in your address book could potentially spread your message to people in their address book. Maintain the momentum of your e-mail campaign by asking them to share the message with their social network. After incorporating family, friends, and colleagues into your e-mail campaign, try taking advantage of optin e-mail advertising. Simply put, this technique is the sending of mass messages with the permission of the recipients. Friends, mailing lists, newsletters and the networks they provide are ideal for making this form of electronic advertising a success. Go online and look for e-mail newsletters that target your market, Coers said. If you find one, contact the newsletters editors and ask if theyd be interested in reviewing your book. You may even offer to buy some

advertising from them to sweeten the pot. With opt-in advertising, the recipient is generally looking for your message, and since the message is anticipated (as opposed to unappreciated spam mail), it is more likely to get passed around in a form of viral marketing.

Message Boards
Message boards, also referred to as internet forums, are online discussions among users of similar interests. There are thousands of message boards all over the Internet, but each board typically focuses on a similar theme (reading, cooking, sports, etc.). For this reason, they make for an excellent tool in promoting your published book to potential buyers. Forum users discuss a subject area by creating topics, which in turn are responded to by other members of the forum. Message boards also are useful for advertising, in that they typically show the number of registered users. The greater the forums exposure to the public, the greater your chance is of getting the word out about your book. To make the most out of message boards, Wwaow recommends posting an introduction topic. Being new to the forum, it would be appropriate to make yourself known, and posting an introduction also would provide an opportunity to explain your goals, your book, what its about, etc. Prior to doing so, however, Coers recommends reviewing the message boards rules and regulations, as some sites strictly prohibit self promotion.

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Be sensitive to each individual boards rules on self promotion, said Coers. Some boards are dedicated to short stories or other forms of literature, so it probably wouldnt be a problem to mention your book. But if the board isnt accepting of self-promotion, why waste your time anyways? Whatever message boards you sign up on, make sure to include a signature line to your account. A signature line (commonly known as a sig file) is a message that is automatically included at the bottom of every post you make on a message board. Utilize your signature line to expose your books title, and especially a link to where the public can read and purchase it. After reviewing the boards rules, creating your account, and writing your signature line, get the ball rolling by introducing yourself in your first post. It might not be a bad idea to include an excerpt from your book and ask for peoples opinions on it (its just human nature to want to be asked for our opinion). And dont forget to include a link to your books Wwaow site! In any case, its always best to engage with people on the message boards on a one-on-one basis, Coers said. Developing relationships is what its all about.

release. Believe it or not, the most valuable outlet for your news can be right in your own backyard. As a newly-published author, local media may take a particular interest in your achievement, so take it upon yourself to personally submit your press release to them. Weekly, monthly, or even bi-monthly publications lack the constant deadline pressure of a daily newspaper, so the news of a published author from their hometown could very well qualify for a human interest or feature story. Prior to sending anything out, telephone the receiving publications and ask which format they prefer their press releases in (email or regular mail), as well as the name and title of who you should address them to. It may also be a nice gesture to include a complimentary copy of your book for the reviewer to keep. Research the Internet for media outlets in your city and state and send away!

Press Releases
You might have thought of press releases as a tool used solely by marketing and public relations firms, but you couldnt be more wrong. Anyone with news to tell and the money to tell it with can write a press release and submit it to the media. According to Coers, composing and sending a press release is a must-do for any published author, famous or not. In my opinion, whenever anyone publishes a book, they need to issue a press release, and its easier than it sounds, he said. In short, a press release is a written piece directed to the media announcing news. As a writer, you may feel tempted to embellish your press release with long, drawn-out details, but avoid the temptation to do so. A good press release contains the basics about your news, as well as contact information for any media interested in more information (or even an interview!) Overly-embellished press releases are often viewed as time consuming to read by the media, and tend to end up in the garbage can. When putting yours together, think straight and tothe-point. After your release is finished, the next step is to submit it to the masses. This can be done directly by you or through a wire. We will cover the latter soon, but for now, lets focus on how you can be proactive in submitting a

Your work deserves recognition. . .

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When saturating the news media is your objective, you may have to go a step further than the do-it-yourself route. If this is the case, then another option for submitting your press release is to send it out via a wire. A variety of services are available that will do this for you, however be prepared to pay anywhere from $200 to $600. No matter the cost, their reach is vast, and according to Coers, if you can afford a wire service, it is well worth the money. There are services that will submit your release to the wire for a fee, he said. PR Newswire.com and BusinessWire. com are the most journalist-friendly services, while PRWeb. com is more for the online crowd - the bloggers.

Search Engines
While having your own Web site is beneficial, it will serve no purpose sitting idly in cyber space. The goal with your Web site is to increase its presence in search engine results, which are operated off of keywords. Keywords are common terms typed by Internet users into the search engine, inevitably drawing results in the form of various Web sites. Services are available to increase your sites presence on the World Wide Web, but most require money or other resources in order to participate.

Website
Having your own presence on the web is almost required nowadays. Lets just say, for example, that your book becomes a best seller, or at least hits high circulation in your region. Rest assured your name will be Googled from time to time. And if an author search on you reaps little to no results, your credibility could very well be shot. The good news is that hosting your own website is easier and cheaper than you may think! Run an online search for free web hosting, and you will find a variety of services that will enable you to create your own Web site (with limited perks, of course). Most free services, however, will not offer you your own URL (Uniform Resource Locator), which is more commonly known as the Internet address inserted into a Web browser in the format http://www. wwaow.com. But for a small monthly fee (usually no more than $15), you can have www.yourname.com in no time! You also have the option of getting a Web site professionally designed, but be prepared to pay substantially more. Exactly how much you would pay would depend of a variety of factors, including the number of Web pages on your site (pages which link to different content within your site), if you wish to sell products directly from your site, and the extent of the graphics your site includes. If you plan on reserving your own URL, that also will add to the cost. Shop around if you want to go the professional route, and find the price that suits your needs best. Websites are useful for many reasons. As mentioned above, your names ability to pop up in search results means youre somebody in this electronic day-and-age. In addition, your site also serves as sort of a common ground between you and your audience, especially when youre an independent publisher doing your own marketing. You can include links to purchase your book, an author bio, contact information for yourself, and even a guestbook where visitors to your site can leave comments. 15

You can put your entire manuscript on Google Books, Coers said. You upload it to be put into the search results. Whenever people click on your title, it shows an excerpt of the book and a link to where you can buy it. The only issue with Google Books is that you must have an ISBN number to use it. Instead, Coers suggests probing your site in as many ways possible. Services such as Google Books are extremely useful, but nothing works as well as the good, old-fashioned self-promotion discussed in this chapter. The key is to utilize as many avenues as possible in order to get your name out there. By creating the blogs and other tools we discussed, your website is going to get scanned anyways, he said. Getting as many sites to link to yours is the best way to expose yourself.

possible speaking opportunities. You may even want to offer incentives such as complimentary copies of your book

Multitask
If all the above-mentioned tools seem overwhelming to you, take a moment to step back and look at them for what they really are. In reality, blogs, e-mail, websites and press releases are all different forms of relaying the same information. Dont rip your hair out by writing different blurbs or other promotional material for each individual avenue. Its too time-consuming and frustrating. Instead, feed off of the content youve already created for, say, your blog, and use it to add onto your website, start a new e-mail campaign, or create a new message board post. Youre creating the content anyways for blogs and emails; take the same content and put it on Facebook and other similar systems, Coers said. When people see you referenced once, they forget. When they see you referenced twice, they kinda remember they saw you before. But repetitive mentions are what make them comfortable buying your book. So you want to utilize as many tools as possible. Wwaow Recommendation: Check out 1001 Ways to Market Your Book by John Kremer

Public Outreach
With enough determination, your self promotional efforts may prove to be very fruitful. If you find yourself developing a strong enough following of readers, why not reach out to them? Contact your local libraries regarding protocol for book signings, and invite the local media to a press conference coordinated by you. Local book clubs also make for a terrific outlet to share your success story with, so contact the groups representatives about

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Chapter 4
The Legal Stuff
Independent publishing may seem like a daunting task. Where to start, how to protect your work, and how to reap the financial benefits of its sale can be confusing to someone whos never gone to print before. The good news is that independent publishing is easier than most people think, and Wwaow is here to take you through the process step-by-step. Youve spent years laboring over your manuscript; doesnt it deserve recognition from family, friends and even the world? In this section, Wwaow will take you through the nuts and bolts of the independent-publishing process. We will begin with an overview of copyrights - a must for anyone serious in mass producing their material. A general definition followed by a brief history of copyrights will precede an overview of how to protect your work from being exploited by others. You will receive a crash course in how to register for a copyright, among other necessary know-how. Also included in this chapter, Wwaow will take you through the definitions of an ISBN and how you can obtain one for the benefit of your written work. Depending on your goals, not all of these steps may be necessary, but making you the most well-informed self-publisher you can possibly be is a goal of Wwaow. An understanding of the specific areas a copyright has jurisdiction over can be vague. In general, any work derived from an original idea can be protected, including books, plays, choreography, television, drawings, and even software. With so many creative individuals in the world, it is impossible to hold the official rights over a simple idea. Because of this, copyrights are given only to the form in which information is relayed, not the information itself. To illustrate this last point, consider the variety of wellknown superheroes in todays pop culture. Superman, Spiderman and Batman are all very different forms of the same idea - stronger-than-average protagonists capable of extraordinary feats for the benefit of all humanity. The idea of a superhero is fair game to anyone creative enough to bring him or her to life. The copyrights take effect as soon as that creator draws up a flying man in a blue suit with a red cape, calling him Superman.

To Register or Not to Register - That is the Question!

In accordance with the Berne Convention in 1989, copyrights in the United States serve to protect any original idea belonging to an individual. The need to actually register for a copyright through the U.S. Copyright Office is not completely necessary, although the process still serves a purpose if you plan to mass produce your creation. In general, any idea (from a book to a screenplay) that is to be exposed to the masses stands the chance of being illegally copied - a situation in which a registered copyright would serve well. This means that some forms of personal property may not require registration through the U.S. Copyright Office or any other government office.

What is a Copyright?
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the term copyright refers to the exclusive, legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something (as a literary, musical, or artistic work). In other words, the only individual given rights over copyrighted material is its original creator. The worldwide symbol of a copyright is the emblem.

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The copyright of a mass-produced idea, however, is an entirely different concept. Once an idea has been made tangible (such as a published and printed novel), the creator of the work gains exclusive rights over it, regardless of whether or not they registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. In actuality, registering for a copyright could be a waste of your time if you have no intention of promoting and mass producing your work. However, having signed up with the Wwaow service, odds are your intentions are entirely different. You have taken the time to compile your thoughts and ideas into a novel of interest to others, and marketing it to increase public awareness only makes sense. In this respect, obtaining a copyright would be wise. Three elements are necessary to register your work with the United States Copyright Office: a fully-completed application; a non-refundable filing fee per application; and a deposit of the work being registered (not to be returned). Copyright Office fees are subject to change, and they can be looked up at the official website, www. copyright.gov, or by calling the Copyright Office at (202) 707-3000. If you live outside of the US, similar agencies for your country can be found on the internet.

If you are sending in multiple, different works, all applications, deposits and fees should be submitted together. For easier processing, attach each application and fee to its respective work, and mail it to: Library of Congress Attn: Copyright Office 101 Independence Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20559-6000 Although registration is not necessary in the United States to exercise exclusive rights over owned material, is does make legal sense. Registration serves as prima facie evidence of a valid copyright enabling the holder to seek statutory damages and attorneys fees for infringement. Registering at least three months before inception of your work is critical in obtaining maximum protection over it. In the U.S., doing so only after a work is illegally copied would entitle the owner solely to the cost of actual damages.

How to Write a Copyright Notice

Everyone is familiar with a copyright notice, whether they realize it or not. Put simply, it is the copyright symbol , the abbreviation Copr., or the word Copyright preceding the first year of publication and the holders name. The notice can be printed on any original work in the following format: 2008 Sarah Marshall. It is often seen on the inside cover or first few pages of a printed book. After taking on the terms of the Berne Convention in

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1989, writing a copyright notice was no longer mandatory in the U.S. to hold exclusive rights over a work, but doing so has proven valuable in the event of an infringement lawsuit. Registering your work and writing a copyright notice serves as proof that your book is protected under U.S. copyright laws, enabling you to sue for full damages. Besides legal matters, many writers or creators of other mediums like the permanent attachment to their work that a copyright provides.

The same ISBN must be used per a works title. The exception to this rule comes when dealing with different formats of that title, such as a hardback novel verses a paperback novel, which must have separate ISBNs. In addition, if a revised edition of a work is released, that also must be accompanied by a different ISBN code. Once issued, an ISBN code is not reusable.

How Do I Get an ISBN?

The choice is yours. Wwaow will provide you with an ISBN and barcode at your request. There is a one-time fee of $10.88 per title for an ISBN. If you would like a barcode added, the one-time fee is $21 per title. You may also purchase your own ISBN directly by contacting the independent agent for the United States ISBN Agency, R.R. Bowker. The first step toward obtaining your own ISBN for your book is to visit their Web site, www.isbn. org, where you will fill out an application and find other pertinent information on ISBNs.

Why Do I Need an ISBN?

ISBN is an acronym for International Standard Book Number. It is the commercial book identification number, and its concept is similar to the Social Security Number of a United States citizen. The ISBN consists of 13 digits accompanying the barcode used to purchase a book. It serves to track a books presence through various retail chains as it is bought for inventory and sold to the general public. Prior to January 1, 2007, ISBN codes were 10 digits in length. Regardless of their length, an ISBN is assigned for every edition and variation of a book, consisting of four or five components to its code: 1. A three-digit prefix 978 for the GS1 - a global organization dedicated to the monitoring of supply-and-demand 2. A two-digit group identifier code, which groups countries of the same language 3. A four-digit publisher code 4. A three-digit item number, and 5. A single check digit, used for error detection There are hundreds of ISBN agencies worldwide, all of which are coordinated through the International ISBN Agency in Berlin, Germany. Agencies serve to designate ISBN prefixes to publishers solely within their country of origin. After doing so, the publishing companies within those countries are able to designate individual ISBNs to publications they have rights over. The United States ISBN Agency has jurisdiction over publishing companies in the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam. The ISBN agency assigns codes upon request of the publishers, who can only obtain 10, 100 or 1,000 at a time. When purchasing ISBNs, it is recommended that you make a generous estimate of how many manuscripts you plan on having published over the next five years. By selecting the quantity that best accommodates your publishing practices, you will minimize the per-unit cost of purchasing multiple publisher prefixes.

Your work deserves recognition. . .

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If you decide to purchase your own ISBN, please read the next two paragraphs carefully. The processing and assignment of your ISBN generally takes about two weeks from the time the agency receives your application. Priority and express processing is an option, but be prepared to pay the expensive surcharges associated with that. All processing fees are non-refundable. Upon the assignment of an ISBN to your book, submit your title to R.R. Bowker to be included in various directories free-of-charge. While R.R. Bowker is responsible for processing your ISBN application and assignment, it does not guarantee listing in such directories. The only way to ensure that your books title is included is to report your work again to R.R. Bowker. Authors are encouraged to register with the directory Books in Print, which can be found by visiting www.bowkerlink.com. R.R. Bowker regularly releases Publishers, Distributors & Wholesalers of the United States, a hard-copy listing of all of the countrys ISBNs at the time. Another source where you can find your assigned ISBN is Information Todays Literary Market Place. And if your book just happens to

reach worldwide status, it is easier than you may think to register for a universal barcode format. R.R. Bowker now offers it as a service to their writers, who can take advantage by requesting the change at www.isbn.org or www.bowkerbarcode.com.

Its easier than you think to register for a barcode

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Chapter 5
Mainstream Publishing 101
The business of book publishing varies depending on the size and scope of the company. Generally, when a publishing company takes an interest in your manuscript, they tend to take control over all aspects of moving it through the mainstream, with a strong focus on marketing. Other potential duties of a publishing company include editing and proofreading the material, as well as laying out its pages. Depending on the publishing company, some or all of these duties may be subcontracted. If you are a writer submitting unsolicited material to a publisher, the first step lies in sending a completed synopsis accompanied by a query letter. There has been some debate surrounding the necessity of such a letter, but the general opinion is that a well-composed query is often the publishers first glimpse into your writing capabilities, and could very well lead to an overview of your manuscript. Yet while many writers are capable of creating characters and a suspenseful plot, something as simple as a drafted letter can pose a challenge for them. Therefore, lets take this time to focus briefly on the elements of a good query letter.

What is a Query Letter?

Put plainly, a query letter is a letter suggesting an idea to a publisher or other agent about a manuscript, with a special focus on making you the author of it. Query letters also go by the terms pitch letter, pitch or simply query. As in any form of business (which authorship is included), a query letter is a form of advertising for your novel aimed at selling your idea to potential buyers - the publishers. All unsolicited material would stand a better chance of an overview if accompanied by a pitch. Those which are not are generally tossed to the side. Before we get to the format of a typical query letter, please take into account these general guidelines when writing one: Length: Make sure your query is no more than one page in length. This means being specific to ensure the greatest amount of detail. A long, dragged-out pitch letter is time consuming, and most likely will take away interest from your synopsis (the opposite of what the letter was intended for). Be Specific: In addition to keeping the letters length at a minimum, pay attention to the details you include and exclude in your query. Besides the five Ws: who, what, where, when, why, and how, make sure to add details on your books length, target audience, and why you feel your manuscript would be a good fit for the particular publishing company.

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Know Your Publishers: A fiction book about vampires taking over the world probably would not go over well with a publishing company dedicated to Christian literature. In this instance, dont waste either partys time by pitching a manuscript that simply does not fit the mold. Besides being potential buyers of your book, publishers are also readers, and failure to study their preferences shows a disconnect from your audience. Be Enticing: The general rule-of-thumb for news reporters is to lure the reader in with the first sentence of an article, referred to as the lead sentence. Give them a taste of whats to follow, thereby influencing them to continue with what they were reading. You only have one page to sell your manuscript, so make sure to use vivid, descriptive words to introduce your characters, plot and outcome. Be Professional: Besides making sure all your words are spelled correctly, see to it that your entire pitch letter is professional. Include the date submitted, make sure all titles and names are used correctly (if needed, call the company to double check), use the standard 8 x 11 paper, and include a self-addressed/stamped envelope (SASE) for courteousness. Similar to a job resume, be sure to include your name, mailing address, E-mail and telephone number in the letterhead. Provide Support: If applicable, include any news articles, awards, writing samples or magazine clippings that give credit to you as an author. This step is not necessary if no such acknowledgements exist, but if they do, then take the time to include them in your query. You are selling yourself as well as your talent.

Do Not: While the preceding tips provide guidance as what to include in a query letter, this next list is filled with suggestions for what not to include. Remember the point of a pitch is to entice the publisher in a simple, one-page letter, so the following do nots will help you maintain your credibility. Do not give or discuss copyright information. Do not mention whether or not youve received help from others. Do not mention that you feel your piece still needs work. Do not request advice from the publisher or literary agent. Do not repeatedly query a publisher who is obviously uninterested. Do not include any irrelevant information about yourself. Do not discuss selling rights, price, or payment. Do not include statements from others about your manuscript. Do not mention how youre manuscript has been turned down. Do not give your social security number. Do not mention how hard you have been working on the manuscript. Do not present ideas for several different manuscripts at once. Do not use inappropriate content.

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As with any professional exchange, be sure to end your query with a sincere note of interest. Closings such as I thank your for your time or I hope to hear from you soon are fine in expressing sentiment, without being overbearing. Taking into consideration the above guidelines for your querys content, the following is the generally-accepted format for composing one: Your Name Address Home Phone Email (SPACE)

quite the catch of the town, she was able to have her pick of any man she wanted. It wasnt until the reappearance of her long-lost love, Jason, when that she found her world turned upside down. Growing up as childhood friends, war in the Middle East took Jason away from Tasha, and having gone years without a word from him, she took him for dead, leaving both her heart and life empty. And while she was overjoyed to see him standing on her doorstep after so long, the diamond on her finger was proof to Jason of just how much she had moved on without him. Or was it? In the weeks to come, their love rekindles as vengeance thrives between the men fighting for her affections. Love Long Lost tackles the question, Is there really just one person for everyone? If so, how does one know who the right one is? In this third paragraph, add in any credits you may have to your writing. Think of this section almost as a job resume: I have been writing for twelve years. Romance is my passion, but I have also worked in the genres of science-fiction and horror. I have a background in newspaper journalism, having reported for over ten years. In my free time, I work as a freelance writer for Womens Day and Home magazines. I am a member of the Atlanta Romance Novelists and Associated Press. I have five novels to my name. Wrap things up with a thank you, and mention the SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope): If interested, I would be happy to submit a complete manuscript for your review. I have enclosed a synopsis and a SASE for your reply, and feel free to use E-mail if you prefer. Thank you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, Your name

Date of Submission (SPACE) Publishers Name Publishers Title Publishers Company Name Company Address Dear Ms. Smith (Always use a last name). In the opening, state your manuscripts title, number of pages, and the genre into which it fits. Love Long Lost is a 570-page romance set in modern-day New York City. In this next paragraph, fill in the details of the above opening statement, keeping in mind you only have one page to do so. When composing this paragraph, think of the teasers found on the back of every book short and to-the-point: Tasha Withers was a successful magazine editor in New York City. Young, beautiful and

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Sending Your Synopsis

You should submit a synopsis to accompany your query letter. The synopsis is a general outline of your novel and how it unfolds, all the way to the ending. You may be surprised to learn that many authors find writing the synopsis more challenging than the actual book itself, but it does not have to be a difficult process. Your aim in writing a synopsis is to give a third-party telling of the story. Try to play out the characters conflicts and how they can potentially relate to readers. Editors want to see if this conflict (and the characters response to it) is strong enough to capture the readers throughout. In your synopsis, be sure to include what the story is about, the names of the main characters, their aim in the story, why they desire it, and what their challenge is in obtaining it. Be prudent to include your books ending, as publishers want to see your ability to successfully wrap up a plotline. The format for a synopsis is often less formal than that of a query letter. The following information should be included in the upper-left hand corner of your synopsis first page: Title: Love Long Lost Genre: Romance Word Count: 64,523 By: Your Name From this point on, write your synopsis in paragraphs composed in present-tense, narrative form. A generallyaccepted length for the synopsis is anywhere from 10 to 12 pages, and if it is longer than a single page, make sure to double-space your text. Paragraphs are indented without spaces in between them. Also, it may

be wise to call the publishing company youre submitting to regarding any standards they uphold for a synopsis (spacing, length, etc.). A cover page is not necessary.

The Slush Pile

If you are an unpublished author submitting to a publishing company, odds are your work will be sent to what is commonly referred to as the slush pile. Here, editors sort through the manuscripts to find those with potential, which will later be sent to editorial staff. Once you are an established author, you will typically use a literary agent to represent your work to publishers and take care of future negotiations (we will cover literary agents in a later chapter). While all the preceding information focused on tips for the unpublished author, as a client with Wwaow, you are anything but. Wwaow aims to work with mainstream publishing houses to shine light on up-and-coming authors everywhere. As a rookie author with Wwaow, you already have your manuscript printed and bound, so why not send a copy of your finished book? Doing so would serve as a great alternative to the traditional, bulky manuscript, and it would give a professional and polished edge to your submission. When your manuscript (or finished book) finally reaches the publishing house, first readers are often young assistants to the editors given the task of sorting through the slush pile. While their inexperience in publishing may sound daunting to you, dont be too alarmed. These assistants are often eager to find the next big thing, an accomplishment that can send them soaring up the corporate hierarchy if it sells well enough. Once a manuscript makes it out of slush and onto the bargaining table, its time to talk business.

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may use it for other mediums such as films or Broadway musicals, with you earning a certain royalty percentage as a result (to be discussed later). The degree to which a publishing company has control depends on the companys preferences, all of which is discussed during negotiations.

Royalty Rates
The definition of a royalty is the payment made by the licensee (publishing company) to the licensor (the author) for use of intellectual property. Put plainly, it is a set percentage of the gross retail price that the author will be paid. During negotiations with a publishing company, the royalty rate to be charged for use of your material will be determined by several factors. As with any form of business, the economics of supply-and-demand weigh heavily on the royalty percentage you will earn. The following are other factors taken into consideration: The level of novelty and development The items longevity The competitiveness of similar items The level of risk involved in investment of the item The ability to fund the item and its development Determining the percentage of royalties to pay is challenging for a publisher, especially when dealing with a first-time author. In its truest form, publishing is a business, and the anticipated revenues (gross sales of the book) over expenditures (costs to produce the book) must be carefully thought out when determining a royalty rate. As an author with Wwaow, you have the ability to choose your own royalties up to 20% of the books cost, but on a larger scale, publishing companies generally offer anywhere between 10-12%.

The Business of Books

So youre manuscript has made it in the door of the publishing company, out of the slush pile, and into the eyes of commissioning editors. Now what? Now its time for negotiations. Intellectual property rights, royalties, and formats of the publication are just some of the items to be discussed, a process which may seem overwhelming to someone whos never been published in the mainstream. And while it is exciting to be recognized for your talent on such a large scale, it is crucial not to be overly eager in the process. Wwaows aim is to arm you with the tools of knowledge necessary to make selling your work profitable for you and your future as an author. In this section, we will go over the various terms that will arise at the bargaining table, how they pertain to you as an author, and the best way to approach the business of books. At this stage, your dream of writing for the masses is close to being realized, but without wellknown celebrity and the resources of a literary agent, you still are your own best friend when selling your ideas to a publishing company. Read on to learn more about common terms used during the negotiation process, and how you can use them for your benefit.

Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual property rights are just a long way of saying copyrights. As you read in Chapter 3, from the moment of your manuscripts inception, you held the rights over your creation, with or without a copyright registration. The sole purpose of registering your work with the U.S. Copyright Office was to have the ability to sue in the event of infringement. Your intellectual property rights or copyrights - gave you complete authority over your novel and how it was used. However when selling your work to a publishing company, this all changes. Publishing companies will request ownership over your materials, no longer making you the sole proprietor over its use. Once given the rights to your manuscript, the publishing company

As an author with wwaow, you have the ability to choose your own royalties up to 20% of the books cost.
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Advances
Some publishers may request you receive payment in the form of an advance - a non-refundable payment set against royalties on the sale of your book. This practice is generally frowned upon in the writing community, but it is not uncommon for it to be asked of by first-time authors. As with any business proposition, however, you can choose to take your manuscript elsewhere if the thought of a flat payment does not appeal to you. Many authors find the notion troublesome, as advances could hinder profits to be reaped from the ongoing sale of their books. Generally, an advance is one-third the first print run of a books total royalties, with the remaining two-thirds to be paid later. For example, if your book has a first run of 2,500 copies sold at $15, and your royalty percentage has been set at 10%, you will earn a total of $3,750 (10% x $15 x 2,500). Take one-third of that total, and your advance for this first run would amount to about $1,250. Besides dollars and cents, the format in which a manuscript is to be printed also is typically discussed during negotiations. The most popular forms are massmarket paperback and hardback. Once these and other fine details are combed out, the discussion generally turns toward marketing and the editorial stage.

Pre-Printing
First came negotiations, second came editing, and now comes the design phase. Artwork is a large chunk of this pre-press process, and may include everything from photography to layout. This third process also lays out the foundation for printing through typesetting, paper type, binding and casing, proofreading, and (if applicable) dust jacket creation.

The Editorial Stage

It is not uncommon for the author to be asked to tweak his or her original manuscript to accommodate the styles and preferences of the publishing company. While the initial concept of the manuscript may have been appealing to the publisher as potential sales power, most all publishing companies have standards to which they abide. Authors may take offense at the thought of their work not being good enough, but the intention is not to insult. As long as the author does not feel overly uncomfortable with the changes being requested, they should understand that making editorial changes is a common practice in mainstream publishing. Many publishers maintain what is called a house style, or a preferred method of style and grammatical requirements for the market in which they target. Larger publishing companies often delegate copy-editing duties to their staff to see that this house style is in use. Some publishers even utilize fact checkers, and they may even request more information out of the writer.

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Chapter 6
What You Need to Know About Literary Agents
A literary agent acts as a representative of an author and their work. They serve to guide the negotiations between publishers and the author for the sale and use of their clients copyrighted material. In most cases, an author must gain substantial success in order to be represented by a literary agent, not because they lack credibility in their work, but simply because they have to be able to afford the agents services. Typically, a literary agent is paid a fixed percentage of a books sales. Anywhere from 10-20% is possible, while 15% is the norm. Many mainstream novelists and screenwriters utilize the services of literary agents. in order to be thoroughly understood, and most writers will be quick to admit they havent spent much time on the subjects. The process gets even trickier when discussing foreign operations for your work. All these and more are matters in which the expertise of an agent could prove most valuable.

Make Sure Your Agent is Legit!

As with any form of business, there is room for scam artists in publishing. If you decide to seek the guidance of a literary agent, make sure you know their credentials, as well as the requirements of the state in which the agent is operating. Before signing any contracts, visit the Writers Guild of America website for state-by-state agent mandates: www.wga.org. Some states have a cap on the percentage an agent may charge a client, and some even require the agent to obtain a state license. While not mandatory, most legitimate agents belong to the Association of Authors Representatives, another terrific source of information on literary agents. One surefire sign that your potential agent might not be the real deal is if they charge reading fees. Authors should not be billed for submissions to publishing companies or similar operating expenses. When considering contracting with an agent, ask for their fee structure up front. If anything doesnt feel right to you, take your business elsewhere. As mentioned in Chapter 4, all final editing is coordinated through the publishing house. Any extra editing services from outside the publishing company are a waste of time and money. Dont fall for it.

Why Use a Literary Agent?

There are many reasons why an author could benefit from hiring a literary agent. For one, many powerful publishing companies do not accept submissions without representation. In the case of a brand-new (or even seasoned) author, the know-how of an agent can prove to be valuable, both during the negotiation process and for future endeavors. Besides knowledge of the market, literary agents also are a middle-person between the author and his or her publishing house, preventing the possibility of a tainted relationship due to disagreements. But perhaps the number one reason most authors seek out literary agents is for their experience with the legal side of book publishing. Copyrights, contracts and other similar practices often are areas which should be studied

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As a potential paying client, you have every right to check an agents credentials, which include asking for references and a list of authors he or she has represented. It also would not hurt to run a search of their company name via the Better Business Bureau, which contains any reports and possible complaints against the company and how they responded to them. Any registered business in the state should be listed on the BBB website, www.bbb.org. If they do not show up in search results, take that as a red flag.

Finding a Literary Agent

When hiring a service such as that of a literary agent, it is always ideal to find one through a reference. Being a service, a reference is capable of commenting on his or her performance, as well as their overall satisfaction in contracting with the agent. If you trust the source of this information, than a referral can be a terrific starting point for locating the agent just for you. However, regardless of your source, always take into account the tips mentioned in this chapters previous sections. Some great places to develop relationships and obtain references are writers clubs, conferences, and organizations. Another popular method of establishing an agent-client relationship is through querying, which was mentioned in Chapter 3. Different literary agents look for different aspects to a query package, but most all expect a pitch letter (remember, only a single page in length) to explain the manuscript and your writing credentials. It never hurts (and is often a good idea) to phone the agents office regarding specifications for queries, a synopsis and other content. And as always, send a SASE with your packet. You will know if youve caught the agents attention if he or she requests the first three chapters (or some other unspecified length) of your manuscript. This request is called a partial, however if they are incredibly interested, you will receive a request for a full. It is not until the agent has full confidence he or she can sell your manuscript that they will mention contracting with you. If the agent does not take an interest in your query, you will usually find out via a formal, typed letter mailed in the SASE you originally provided. However, there can be an upside to what is initially seen as a rejection notice. If the letter is hand-written or has comments pertaining to submit further queries to the agent, that at least shows a slight interest by the agent in working with the author. Wwaow is your first step to achieving the dream of becoming a published author. We look forward to working with you and helping you reach your goals. For more information, please email info@wwaow.com.

Make sure your agent is legitimate.

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Copyright 2008 by Wwaow.com WWAOW.com Alpharetta, GA Cover and Interior Design April Thomas Interior Text Tara Baker Editor Kimberly Boim