{"id":5420,"date":"2019-10-05T22:06:27","date_gmt":"2019-10-05T22:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/05\/becoming-the-total-package\/"},"modified":"2019-10-05T22:06:27","modified_gmt":"2019-10-05T22:06:27","slug":"becoming-the-total-package","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/blog\/becoming-the-total-package\/","title":{"rendered":"Becoming The Total Package"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div><p><body>&#13;<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">&#13;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\">&#13;<br \/>\n  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/abbtop.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"120\"\/><\/a><br \/><a 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class=\"style7\">&#13;<br \/>\n                <font color=\"#FB7014\" size=\"4\" face=\"Tahoma\">Becoming the Total Package<\/font><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n            <\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\" height=\"19\">\n<div align=\"justify\"><span class=\"style2\">by: &#13;<br \/>\n                <font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\" color=\"#FB7014\">Jenna Glatzer<\/font><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n            <\/tr>\n<tr>\n<div id=\"article\">\n<td align=\"left\" height=\"12\"><span class=\"style2\"><\/p>\n<p>Being a great writer is no longer enough if you plan to score a big  publishing deal, especially as a nonfiction author.\n<\/p>\n<p>Particularly if your book idea falls into the how-to or self-help  categories, you not only have to sell your terrific writing, but you  also have to sell yourself as the books conduit to the world.\n<\/p>\n<p>Publishers want to minimize their risks, so they dont haphazardly award  big book contracts to unknown writersunless, that is, the writer is the  total package.  What constitutes this package?\n<\/p>\n<p>PLATFORM\n<\/p>\n<p>Increasingly, publishers look for authors who have platforms.  A  platform is your megaphone to shout your books message to a mass  audience.  Famous people have automatic platforms; if Julia Roberts were  to decide to write a book tomorrow, you can bet that shell have  publishers clamoring.  Why?  Because they know that the media will go  wild to tell the public about it, and shell have the ability to get as  much air time as she wants all over TV and print.\n<\/p>\n<p>But lets assume youre not quite so famous.  Thats okay.  You can build a  platform in a number of waysa good start is by writing articles for  newspapers and magazines.  Work toward becoming a columnist (even at a  freebie community paper), then work on syndicating your column.\n<\/p>\n<p>Although some writers will thumb their noses at this suggestion, if your  main objective is platform-building, I advise that you get your column  out there to as many publications as will have it, whether they pay well  or not at all.  You may also choose to put your free articles on  websites such as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.articlecity.com\" target=\"new\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.articlecity.com<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ideamarketers.com\" target=\"new\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.ideamarketers.com<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n<p>Other ways to build platforms:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Host a radio show\n\t<\/li>\n<li>Get a program on public access TV\n\t<\/li>\n<li>Become a regular guest on a radio\/TV show\n\t<\/li>\n<li>Become a public speaker\n\t<\/li>\n<li>Have your own e-zine (must be popular to count!)\n\t<\/li>\n<li>Moderate a popular forum or e-mail list on your books topic\n\t<\/li>\n<li>Become involved with well-known charities, nonprofit organizations, or professional organizations, preferably as an officer or spokesperson\n\t<\/li>\n<li>Teach teleclasses or webinars\n\t<\/li>\n<li>Write a free e-book\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>MEDIA EXPERTISE\n<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s not unusual for publishers to ask for proof of your media  capabilities before buying your book.  One publisher asked me for a 5-minute videotape that showed clips from my appearances on Lifetime TV and news programs.  I also included a copy of a radio show where Id recently  been a guest, and a headshotpublishers dont need beauty (unless youre  writing a beauty book!), but they do like to see that your appearance  wont make people scream with abject horror if you do public talks.\n<\/p>\n<p>To become more media-savvy, you can practice your speaking skills at a  local Toastmasters club (www.toastmasters.org), an international  association meant to help people overcome public speaking fears and  speak more effectively.\n<\/p>\n<p>You can also practice by having a friend ask you questions on cassette  or videotape, then paying attention to any bad habit&#8217;s you have (yknow,  umm, fiddling with your hands, running your hands through your hair,  babbling).  Work on your sizzling sound byte (the few sentences you want to get across to entice someone to hear moreor, if thats all the time  youll have, to entice them to run out and get your book to read more!).\n<\/p>\n<p>The keys to being a great interviewee?  Be passionate.  Be enthusiastic. Speak clearly and in short sentences.  Let your body language and\/or  voice reflect a well-collected, happy, engaging attitude.  Dont refer  people to your book or website every three secondsbe there to genuinely  teach the audience something, and know that if you enthrall them, you  wont have to do a hard-sell to get them to follow you.  Dress well for  TV interviews (avoid white and beige if you have a light complexion;  head for blues, purples, and pink; avoid flashy prints; avoid jangly,  reflective jewelry and other distracting clothing and accessoriesyou  want the attention on your words, not your wardrobe).  Know how to lead  an interviewer to ask the right questions if he or she goes off topic,  and to turn negatives into positives.\n<\/p>\n<p>If youre interested in media training resources or coaching, try these:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mediatrainingworldwide.com\" target=\"new\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.mediatrainingworldwide.com<\/a>\n\t<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.robertagale.com\" target=\"new\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.robertagale.com<\/a>\n\t<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.starstyleproductions.com\" target=\"new\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.starstyleproductions.com<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>PROVEN PROFESSIONALISM\n<\/p>\n<p>How will the editor know that you will turn in your work on time, that  you will not be a huge pain in the rear to deal with, and that your work will be clean, on target, and on word count?  If you have no other book credits to your name, youll need other credentials that show you know  how to be a professional.\n<\/p>\n<p>Credentials that prove you&#8217;re an expert are one thing&#8211; having a special degree, professional association membership, or teaching expertise can  help establish that you know your subject matter, but you still need to  prove that you know how to handle the writing and publishing process.\n<\/p>\n<p>Articles in impressive publications certainly help.  A regular column  helps even more, because it shows an editor that you were able to meet  deadlines week after week or month after month and that another editor  liked you enough to want to work with you regularly.  A contributing  editor spot on a magazines masthead works in your favor, as does any  prior experience on staff in the publishing world.\n<\/p>\n<p>Although rarely requested, nobodys ever hurt by a letter of  recommendation&#8211; er, testimonial&#8211; from a past editor or boss in a  publishing field.  Ive been known to throw in a few sentences from my  editors that comment on how easy I am to work with, or how reliable I am, or how their audience always loves my work.\n<\/p>\n<p>EAGERNESS TO HELP\n<\/p>\n<p>Even if your platform leaves something to be desired, you can make up  for it with a solid publicity plan and an eagerness to take an active  role in publicity and marketing.  Give concrete plans for who will  interview you, review your book, or otherwise give you a spotlight&#8230;  and why.  Telling your publisher that youre sure this book is perfect  for Oprah or that itll be right up the New York Times alley is useless  unless you have a reason for them to believe yousuch as a contact at  these places.\n<\/p>\n<p>They are more impressed with solid plans, such as the fact that youve  already spoken with local librarians who want you to come speak, the  YMCA has asked you to come teach a seminar once your book comes out, two local colleges have courses in your subject matter and have agreed to  check out your book for possible classroom use, a business organization  is interested in buying copies in bulk, and youre happy to do a book  tour of the southwest on your own dime (or will split expenses with the  publisher).\n<\/p>\n<p>If you plan to hire a publicist, thats usually a plus (rarely, the  publisher would rather not have an outsider interfere with their  publicity departments efforts).  If youre going for media coaching,  willing to attend book fairs, happy to do signings and readings,  planning to buy many copies of your own book to sell during your  seminars or workshops, etc.&#8211; all of these are positives in a publishers eye.\n<\/p>\n<p>Remember that you will wear many hats as a successful writer.  To make  it big, recognize that you are also a businessperson, a salesperson, and a public relations expert on your own subject matter.  Work on becoming the total package, and youll cast your book proposal in a much more  attractive light.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<table width=\"100%\" cellpadding=\"8\" cellspacing=\"0\" border=\"0\" bgcolor=\"#dddddd\">\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><b>About The Author<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Jenna Glatzer is the author of MAKE A REAL LIVING AS A FREELANCE WRITER, which comes with a FREE editors&#8217; e-mail cheat sheet directory for a limited time!  Check out <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jennaglatzer.com\" target=\"new\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.jennaglatzer.com<\/a> for details.  She&#8217;s also the editor-in-chief of Absolute Write (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.absolutewrite.com\" target=\"new\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.absolutewrite.com<\/a>), the most popular online magazine for writers.\n<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2004 Jenna Glatzer.  All rights reserved.\n<\/p>\n<p>This article may be freely reprinted as long as my bio and copyright are included.<\/p>\n<form action=\"http:\/\/www.articlecity.com\/cgi-bin\/search.cgi\" method=\"post\">\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"sf1\" value=\"The_Author\"\/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"words\" value=\"Jenna Glatzer\"\/><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><input type=\"submit\" value=\"Other Articles by Jenna Glatzer\"\/><\/p>\n<\/form>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p><i>This article was posted on July 31, 2004<\/i><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/td>\n<p>&#13;\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p align=\"left\">\u00a0        <\/p>\n<p>&#13;\n      <\/td>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<hr width=\"800\" noshade=\"noshade\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/ADSENSEWEBSITES\">RETURN TO ADSENSE BUSINESS-IN-A-BOX MASTER ARTICLE INDEX<\/a><\/p>\n<hr width=\"800\" noshade=\"noshade\"\/>\n<div class=\"fb-share-button\" data-href=\"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/\" data-layout=\"button\" data-size=\"large\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fon-line-interactivity.com%2F&amp;src=sdkpreparse\" class=\"fb-xfbml-parse-ignore\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Share<\/a><\/div>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<div id=\"fb-root\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n<script async=\"\" defer=\"defer\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v4.0&amp;appId=103650273035821&amp;autoLogAppEvents=1\"\/><!-- End of FACEBOOK SHARE BUTTON CODE --><span class=\"style6\"><br \/><span class=\"style2\">\u00a92019 - All Rights Reserved by <a href=\"http:\/\/HelpMeFindFreedom.Online\">HelpMeFindFreedom.Online<\/a><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.website.ws\/kvmlm2\/my.dhtml?sponsor=geekzonehostingcom&amp;bannercode=gif002&amp;language=english\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.website.ws\/images\/english\/banners\/kvmlm2\/468x60_02.gif\" border=\"0\"\/><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n<\/body><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; \u00a0 &#13; \u00a0&#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; Article Navigation &#13; Back To &#13; Main Page &#13; &#13; &#13; \u00a0 &#13; Click Here &#13; for more articles &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; Becoming the Total Package &#13; by: &#13; Jenna Glatzer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adsense-business-in-a-box"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5420"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5420\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/on-line-interactivity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}