The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

This workshop is primarily for authors with ASD but will help all authors. It is a crash-course on how to sell a writing idea to a publisher, get published and followup, once a book is published. Participants are published consumer-writers and representatives from three ASD book publishers. The workshop will be moderated by Gerald Newport, who will also participate as needed. It is divided into three sections.

Each consumer-author will share personal experience in all sections. Publishers or their representatives will have equal time to explore each section from the publisher viewpoint. The target is for each session to last thirty minutes with up to four minutes for each panelist and five minutes of general questions.

The audience is asked to write questions and hand them to a facilitator so they can be screened. Preference will be given to concise questions of a general nature. People who insist on asking verbal questions will be given last priority.

Section One: How to define your writing idea and sell it to a reliable publisher.

Expected subjects include:

1. Defining Your Idea: Common errors in submission are proposals of too vague or broad a nature, and failure to list enough credentials to qualify writer to write about proposed subject.

2. How to find a publisher: Using available resources to identify publishers who have dealt with material similar to the proposed subject. How to tell a "real" publisher from a vanity publisher or publisher with questionable ethics. For example, a real publisher doesn't charge for proof-reading/editing or require the author to pay for his own publicity.

3. Agents: When to use them and what good agents can do for a author and publisher. Some publishers deal directly with new authors. Many don't. How to find an appropriate agent is important too.

4. How to propose a book to a publisher/agent. How to tell what you need to tell and make it easy for the agent/publisher to say "yes."

5. What "uncovered" subjects in ASD are publishers looking for now? What subjects are "overwritten?" Example: There is a glut of autobiographical submissions and a shortage of practical "how-to" books.

6. What to look for in a contract if an agent offers to represent you.

7. What to look for in a contract offered by a publisher: Very important to understand what is expected of you; length of book, deadline, advance if any and when it is paid. Also, what rights are retained by author and publisher and what part of the world does the contract apply to?

8. If the door is still closed, other options such as co-writing with a published author. How to find such a person.

9. If you aren't ready to be published, how to get there: places you can get published and/or practice your writing.

10. Practical resources for people wishing to improve writing skills and find publishers/agents.

Section Two: Working with the publisher and getting your book published

1. Protocol for communicating with publishers.

2. Meeting deadlines. Balancing your book project with your "real life", job, family etc.

3. Saving drafts as you make changes.

4. Avoiding panic attacks over what you think is happening to YOUR BOOK.

5. When to compromise and what is not negotiable.

6. Avoiding flack from what you write. How to tell the facts without exposing yourself to lawsuits.

7. Educating the publisher on who knows you; who can help sell your book once it is done.

8. Getting the best from your publisher.

Section Three:

What to do once your book is "on the market"

1. Author websites and other promotional options.

2. Public speaking. How to find possible venues. What is expected from public speakers. Effective presenting methods.

3. How to handle queries from newspapers etc. Making sure you and your publisher are on the same page. Timing is very important when publicizing a new book.

4. Loyalty to your agent/publisher; how to respond to offers from others who like your first work.

5. Practical tax matters: Types of income which arise from writing and speaking about one's books. What taxes are paid and forms are used. Legitimate declared expenses for authors. Special situations such as royalty income from books sold overseas.

Content Area: Personal Perspectives