The Writer's Journey: How to Prepare Your Non-Fiction Writing for Professional Presentation to Agents and Publishers: From Inspiration to Publication [Paperback]

'Julia's knowledge of the many facets of the publishing world are unparalleled, and her ability to communicate...is wonderful...'

'Brilliantly clear, concise and well-informed'.

The market is very tough these days and publishers are taking fewer and fewer risks on new projects from authors who have yet to establish a track record.

So what can writers do to improve their chances of finding the right publisher?

The answer lies in knowing how to present themselves and their work to the right people in the right way. The Writer's Journey: From Inspiration to Publication explains how.

Presenting the inside information on what publishers and agents are looking for, this practical book demystifies the world of publishing and outlines the steps writers need to take to make sure that their projects stand out for all the right reasons including how to:
1. Get started, build up a solid writing practice and develop the qualities required to become a successful published author.
2. Increase market awareness, identify the target reader and be creative with ideas for sales, marketing and publicity.
3. Gain a sense of what agents and key members of the publishing team do and be aware of how final decisions are made.
4. Write a first-class publishing proposal and learn how best to approach people.
5. Understand the essential components of the contract, the process to publication and beyond.

The Writer's Journey: From Inspiration to Publication is the essential guide for non-fiction writers seeking publication. After all, as Louis Pasteur once said, 'Fortune smiles on the man who is prepared'.

As the market gets ever tougher, this book has been published to respond to the growing demand from writers for reliable and practical information on how to find a publisher for their non-fiction writing.

As the market for books on coaching reaches saturation, the specialisation of writing and publishing coaches guiding would-be authors forwards on their journeys represents a whole new genre for the next level of market growth.

I have written this book to help non-fiction writers find a publisher for their work. It is based on 20 years worth of knowledge and experience of the publishing industry and offers a reliable source of quality information. The immensely practical emphasis empowers writers to move forwards on their journey towards publication with confidence. This tried and tested framework provides the freedom for writers to follow their own unique journey and to enjoy the process as well as the end results.

My 5 key tips for success are explained fully and these are: 1. Be clear about the essence of your message 2. Research your market and know your target reader 3. Write an excellent publishing proposal 4. Make a strong pitch to the right people 5. Be prepared to promote.

By working through this book, you will have all of the information you need to present your work in a professional way and in so doing, greatly enhance your chances of finding an agent and/or publisher. Good luck!

Do you have a wonderful idea for a book yet feel daunted by the prospect of approaching publishers with it?

Would you like to transform today's dream of becoming a published author into tomorrow's reality?

In today's crowded and competitive marketplace, your best chance of finding a publisher for your book lies in knowing how to present your work to the right people in the right way.

The Writer's Journey: From Inspiration to Publication presents the inside information on what publishers and agents are looking for. This practical book outlines the steps you need to take to make sure your project stands out for all the right reasons and explains how to:

„X get started, build up your writing practice and develop the qualities required to become a successful published author
„X increase your market awareness, identify your target reader and be creative with your ideas for sales, marketing and publicity
„X gain a sense of what agents and key members of the publishing team do and be aware of how final decisions are made
„X write a first-class publishing proposal and learn how best to approach people
„X understand the essential components of the contract, the process to publication and beyond

As Louis Pasteur once said, 'Fortune smiles on the man who is prepared.'

Julia McCutchen is the author of The Writer's Journey: From Inspiration to Publication and works as a Publishing Consultant and Creativity Coach. She specialises in all aspects of non-fiction writing, publishing, and creativity, and is especially passionate about the application of her wealth of knowledge to inspire, inform and coach writers on their paths to becoming successful published authors.

Julia offers a personal service which includes 121 sessions that demystify the world of publishing and are tailored to suit each individual and their particular requirements. She also runs talks, seminars and workshops which, along with her book, provide aspiring writers with the information they need to prepare themselves and their work for professional presentation to agents and publishers.

A Trustee Director of Alternatives in London, Julia is a former Director and Publisher of Element Books, and has also worked with Penguin and as a Publishing Consultant for Random House. She is the founder of Firefly Media and has 20 years publishing experience with a track record that includes UK no 1 and international bestsellers.

Introduction
Just before I was due to leave my last in-house role as a Publishing Consultant at Random House, I was asked if I would like to contribute to an evening presentation for the general public entitled Publish Your Book. It was being organised by Alternatives who run weekly talks at St James’s Church, Piccadilly, as well as seminars and workshops in other venues around London. The aim of the event was to provide writers with inspiration and practical information on how to find publishers for the books they had written or were hoping to write.

We were a team of four: two authors (who spoke of their personal experience of having their books published), a literary agent, and myself as the Publisher. To our delight and amazement the event was heavily oversubscribed. People were standing at the back of the room and eventually more had to be turned away at the door when we couldn’t fit anyone else in! It was a huge success and an uplifting occasion for all concerned.

I came away from that evening with the realisation that there was - and still is - a great need for good-quality information to be made available to writers who are seeking publishers for their work. There are hundreds of courses and classes to help people develop their craft as writers and yet where do all of these talented individuals go next? All too often their work ends up in the ‘slush pile’ of unsolicited projects that are sent in their thousands to agents and publishers every week. From there it is only a short step to a standard rejection letter.

Publishing can appear to be a confusing and complicated labyrinth when viewed from the outside, and without the necessary information to find their way around the maze, writers can end up feeling extremely disheartened. The dearth of information for writers wanting to enter into the world of publishing was made abundantly apparent to me on the evening of our first presentation. The sheer numbers of people looking for help and the vastness of the gratitude we received in the feedback was a significant factor in my decision to consider how I might be able to contribute more actively to fill this gap in people’s knowledge.

My own journey into publishing began in the 1980s when the industry climate was vastly different to the one we have today. It was a major turning point in my life when I decided to leave London and take up a role as a Desk Editor at independent publisher Element Books Ltd, based in Shaftesbury, Dorset. Although I had no previous publishing experience, I was passionate about the subject matter of the books Element published. That commitment, combined with the good connection I made with founder and Managing Director Michael Mann during my interview, secured my first job in publishing.

Learning from the ground up, I was fortunate enough to have joined the company when it was still small enough for me to become fairly quickly involved in many aspects of the publishing process. My desk editing work soon developed into a commissioning role and over the years led to me working directly with hundreds of authors. I grew with the company and the pace soon became fast and intense. Success led to further success and after some time as Editorial Director, I took on the role of Managing Director and Publisher of the company, which by that time was turning over around £12 million and publishing over 100 new titles a year.

My time as Managing Director gave me a broad perspective on the whole publishing process to add to the editorial expertise I had previously gained. These factors combined to stand me in good stead for my later role as a Publishing Consultant at Random House – which enabled me to experience at first hand the corporate culture of one of the largest publishing groups in the world - and subsequently when I came to set up my own business, Firefly Media.

When the time came for me to take the step into self-employment, my aim was to create a new way of working that supported my own creativity and expertise as well as offering me the opportunity to facilitate a similar process for others. It wasn’t too long before it became clear that I could apply the knowledge and experience I had gained from 20 years in the business with a fresh approach by working on a one-to-one basis as a Publishing Consultant for writers as well as by continuing to present talks and workshops on the subject.

Sharing my publishing ‘know-how’ via these methods has proved to fit perfectly with my desire to build a bridge towards the publishing shore for writers seeking publication as well as increasingly to honour my own creative expression. This book is a result of all of these factors coming together.

The premise on which I work is that in the tough, competitive environment that exists in publishing today, where publishers are taking fewer and fewer risks with new authors, your best chances for success lie in knowing how to present yourself and your work to the right people in the right way.

The Writer’s Journey is designed primarily to help you prepare your non-fiction writing for professional presentation to agents and publishers in a manner that will offer you the greatest opportunity for your project to be noticed, viewed in its most favourable light and, at the very least, considered seriously. Beyond that, your fate lies out of both of our hands