The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published: How to Write It, Sell It, and Market It . . . Successfully

I don't gush much usually, but this review is an exception. I hope you like superlatives. I've got a few.I discovered the Book Doctors through a Pitchapalooza event they did for NaNowriMo writers a couple months ago. "Pitchapalooza" is one of their inventions - writers send in their pitches and the Book Doctors give constructive criticism aimed at making the pitches the best that they can be. 25 pitches were selected at random and I was really impressed by the thoughtful, funny, super useful feedback that they gave - it was so useful, in fact, that I found it was helping out *my* pitch. I also saw that they were offering a limited-time deal wherein anyone who bought their book before a certain date would receive a free short consultation. Given how much I liked the feedback they'd given other writers, I thought it'd be a worthwhile investment - and for nine bucks on Amazon, why not?Boy, am I glad I did. As a complete newbie to the publishing world, I cannot underscore enough how encouraging, practical, thoughtful, and smart this book is, and how much less terrified I feel about trying to get my work published. What I think I appreciate more than anything is their clarity on this point: Your book may not be a bestseller. Most books aren't. But it CAN get published, and you SHOULD try, and it will be AWESOME. It felt a little bit like having my parents talking me through the process - realistic, practical, but also super supportive and sympathetic. It demystifies so many things, and gives wonderful guidance for what to do next, wherever you are in the process - and it makes you want to WRITE.What struck me just as much, though, was that I came away with ideas from the book that actually had nothing to do with publishing. The biggest example of that, for me, had to do with their approach to self-promotion and social media. I find social media to be incomprehensible and overwhelming, and I tend to just not want to use it at all. The Book Doctors totally changed that. They advocate an approach of getting your name out into the world by using social media to share and express gratitude for the work of other people who inspire, encourage, and interest you - in essence, to treat the internet like a big party, and to seek out and make real, conversational friendships with people who you might actually like to know - and explain how to self-promote without being a shameless dickweasel. It's changed my whole attitude to things like Twitter. As a result, I'm writing more, sharing more of my work, and learning from others in a way I never would have done otherwise.If you're even thinking about publishing something, this book will give you more than just the nuts and bolts - it will give you an exhilarating sense of possibility. I can't recommend it enough. I just had my phone consultation with them the other day, and their advice was so completely spot-on that I actually came away with a new understanding of my own book. (In fifteen minutes, no less. That's impressive.) The Book Doctors are awesome people with awesome ideas, and their book is an inspiration. Read it.

I would give a sixth star if that were possible! This is an outstanding resource whether your book is just a dream or if you are already a published author. As the author of some fifteen non fiction books and a series of novels, the first of which is scheduled to appear later in 2015, I found a great deal in this book that is useful. It is a well written gem. Alas at my age (I am not telling!) the long process of main line publishing does not make sense. But on demand publishing by Amazon Kindle Direct, Kindle Scout and Createspace are wonderful resources for me. Written in a way that is extremely readable it is also up to date with its discussion of social media marketing and other marketing techniques. And it tells it like it is....and that is that making money publishing your work will take creativity and hard work on your part. No "pie in the sky" in this book as it explains how difficult it can be to get published by main line publishers as opposed to on demand publishers. Anyone who is a writer or considering becoming a published writer would be well advised to have this book on their shelf of references. To see examples of what can be done through Amazon and other on demand publishing feel free to peruse some of my books on my author page. Many of these are offered free from time to time and always free for lending on Prime or through Kindle Unlimited. www.amazon.com/author/scottro Or you can check out my Facebook page at "Fiction and Non Fiction by Robert Scott" If you visit my page a "like" would be appreciated! Yes, this is a shameless promotion on my part...sorry about that. We authors do have to be creative in marketing! But don't let that bit of self promotion discourage you from buying this book. It was recommended to me by a literary agency and I am glad they told me about it ; even if perhaps they were trying to tell me something! In all seriousness this book gets one of my highest recommendations. It is on my bookshelf of references on writing and one I will be going back to many times. Look forward to future editions as the world of writing and publishing keeps changing in dramatic ways and this new edition brings the book up to date for now.

I changed my review after I was able to clear up the difficulty with a communication issue with the authors. The only reason I didn't give it a five star review was because I felt it had a greater focus on helping get representation for a non-fiction work. This of course would make it a five star if that is the writer's interest because it does give great tips for that. However, for me, it didn't have quite as much as I would have liked in attempting to attract the interest of agents in fiction or novels. That is such a quirky path and trying to navigate it is somewhat daunting for a complete novice. Maybe it is so subjective as to what might be the key to capture the interest of an agent that its hard to really relay any truly sure-fired methods. But even so, it would be nice to learn if as a new writer, if one should pursue the popular genres before trying to launch something unique, if paying an editor first is a help, or things that provide some advantage to a new writer. I would have liked a bit more on that issue since it seems like one of the greater stumbling blocks to publishing outside of self-publishing. (Which they also cover).However the end section on what happens later in the process of getting something published is quite helpful, if that moment of publishing ever comes to pass. It is nice to learn about that process since few others cover it and if you ever wish to be successful, writers need to understand there's more to it than just getting a contract. Writing a story may be the easier aspect once a person realizes the effort needed for publicity and marketable. That makes the book very worthwhile.

An informative and useful book.

Simply the best and most complete book about (Self-)Publishing I ever read. Lots of valuable tips and great examples. Thank you.

I learned about this book when I entered Pitchapalooza, a pitch-writing competition for aspiring novelists. Sterry and Eckstut, a married couple dubbed The Book Doctors, pack a wealth of information into this tome. The duo comes with impressive writing, publishing and entrepreneurial experience. Confession: I thought it might be textbook reading but it isn't. The book reads like a novel with sidebars of author success stories, tips and writerly quotes. It's like taking a course in publishing with engaging instructors who want you to succeed. Prepare to change your thinking--the publishing world has undergone a paradigm shift. An everyday Joe like me can publish a book as long as it is unique and well-written--and I get it out there into the world. I can promote it and network in my jammies once I get well-versed in the social media. My favourite parts of the book? Learning how to write an elevator ride pitch, landing the right agent and getting the word out. You will read this book backwards and forwards.

The book carries the most appropriate name imaginable: it IS the Essential guide. Everything you might want to know and tons of info you did not know you needed.Some of the advice was just what I was thinking, but most of it was new to me and I am follwing it step by step and I am convinced I will get published!The presentation is logical, clear and larded with humor.Great buy!

This book provides and excellent all-around information source for authors interested in getting published, whether through a publisher, or by self-publishing. I particularly enjoyed how they authors approached the subject of agents - the pros and cons and much in the way of information that makes the decision of whether or not to pursue an agent is right for each author. I would highly recommend this book.