Revision Sucks
I'm trying to revise this story I wrote when I was a wee child, long, long ago, in the galaxy of high school. Sophomore year, to be exact. And it sucks ass.

The thing is, I remember summing up what I was attempting to do to my therapist, years and years ago, when I was a senior in high school. And the idea's not bad. I just didn't execute it properly.

So I'm attempting to revise it, but of course, I'm stuck.

Thus, rather than sit and stare at the open Microsoft Word document that's not getting any longer, I thought I would type out these notes I took awhile ago.

All the way back in February, I took this workshop that is an introduction to the book publishing industry. It basically assured me that I don't want to work in publishing. But I have the notes, and I thought I'd type them out in case anyone actually reads this thing and finds it helpful. Plus, once I post it on the Internet, I will feel fine about ripping up the notes. Possibly recycling them, like a good ex-Ann Arbor resident.

So - Notes:

DAY ONE

*thisonenext.com

This website is a good book if you don't know what book to read. You type in the title of a work you like, and get recommendations.

*Publishing is like a big circle.
The pinpoint of that circle is the author.

*P.O.D. - Print on Demand

*Co-op marketing

Between booksellers & publishers.
Independent bookstores - Booksense (join)

*BEA = Book Expo of America

*Publishing

Bigger than just printing.

Bring to public attention.

*Three facets

1) Editorial (Research and P)

2) Manufacturing (Design; Production)

3) Marketing, Sales & Distribution

*Book packagers

Take role of editorial

Do for publisher

*From Idea to Bound Book (Condi)

Editor - idea

Commissioned writer

wanted published within a year

Manuscript by June, have published in time for February and Black History Month

Production & Design work simultaneously

Marketing working at same time

Have to expend money for a long time without getting any money back

Pre-selling

Fact Sheet/Pub Card = Book in one page

Production

Plant - preparation

PPB (Paper, Printing & Binding)

DAY TWO

Sales & Marketing
Involved from beginning

Different places you can sell book, not just bookstores
-Major chains
-Independent bookstores
Can sell direct
-Wholesales & warehouses
-Warehouse Clubs
-Non-Bookstore Chains (Mass or Specialty Accounts)

Publisher = key conduit between authors and readers

Try not to rely on one particular store/channel

Important to know where books sell for AUTHORS

Book Clubs - Declining? Smaller area of business

"Nothing happens until something gets sold"

Types of Representatives
-House
Directly with publisher; usually larger
-Independent
Regionally based; independent contractors

Selling Process - 3 Steps
Education = Know Product & Customer
Preparation = Appointments, Identify 3 Sales Hooks
Presentation = approx. 3-5 minutes per title

Publicity/Advertisting

Advertising = what you pay for
Release on Tuesday if you want it on bestseller list

Publicity - a lot of writing

Key to lasting success = word of mouth
Starts inhouse

Pre-Publication Tour
Done more often

Look at publisher catalogs

Book Advertising
Make an impact (creatively)

Most successful ads work with other elements --> concerts, etc.

Goal?
Target audience? (specialized? number?)

Media
-Print
Newspapers/Magazines
-Broadcast
TV & Radio
Online
Outdoor

If you like creative writing

Book Buying
New jobs being created
Buyer - assortment
Need to know how book will sell
How is bookstore going to sell to customer?

Planners - financial aspect

Replenishment Analysts
Beginning level
Pay attention to how book is selling


Associate Buyer

Planner and Buyer deal with Publisher

Things Ruda considers
-Illustrations and text agree in age
-Will it please kids and adults?
-Price
-Time of year published

Title - classify

How is book going to be marketed online?
Browsing happens online now rather than in stores

Hand selling (online)

Children's Books

Be PERSISTENT

Backlist/frontlist balance
Backlist = huge source of revenue

Baby books
pop-ups
Young Picture books
Picture Books

Requires patience
18 month - 2 year process
Illustrations & perfecting of story take time

Licensed Publishing
trend

Early Readers
-Cute
-Educational vent
Popular category for licensing series

Reluctant reader (Captain Underpants)

Fiction

Graphic Novels
-area of huge growth

Non-fiction

Teen

Reference

Major market = library
Also, reference sections of web

Books not read cover-to-cover
Index
Organization of data

Print & on-line (production)
On-line --> database, transfer book info

Project Management

Textbooks
Reviews are important
Looking for people who can manage projects
2 aspects of marketing
-Internal
-External - conventions
Sales
All selling = personal calls
Must be articulate and well-read

mcgraw-hill.com
"careers"

looking for editorial assistants and sales reps

LMP
literary marketplace
Lists every publisher in North America
Section lists by state
Also lists all agents

Copyright - ownership of intellectual property

Need agent who knows what he/she is doing
Publisher will claim he/she needs all rights
Parcel out wisely

Harper infamous for sitting on rights

'60s - 2 women, archival

early '80s - Book on Tape

1984 - Brilliance founded
Grand Haven, MI

P & L Statement
Projection of expected results

TRADE
Bookseller - 50%
Publisher - 50%
Cost of Goods (COG)
Production (manufacturing)
Author (writing)

Basically use 25% for COG
Operating Expenses
-Ad/Promo
-Fulfillment
-Department
-G&A (General & Administrative) Support Services

Little to no profit
High risk

P&L
Officially called Income Statement

Financial scorecard

Gross Margin - COG = Net Sales
Gross Margin - Operating Expenses = Net Income
Gross Margin - Operating Expenses + Other Income = Operating Profit

Special stores - special discount b/c no return

Returns usually between 30-40%

Need extra books in warehouse

Author advance - If book estimates are off, authors still get paid that amount

Goal for gross margin to be approx 50% of net sales

10% Profit considered desirable

1:10 books make $

Foreign territories
many authors unsuccessful in U.S. = success in foreign markets

Publishers publish discussion schedule

Author has right to copyright 50 years after death