Greetings, Dear Friends!
Susie Larson here...
A special thank you to Mary Byers for filling in for me while I was away! Thanks, Mary!
I am hunkering down and getting ready to start my next book. Now that I have my section and chapter titles figured out, I am creating file folders for each chapter and filling them with notes I've collected on this topic for the past couple of years.
They say that writing a proposal is often more difficult than writing the book. I find this to be true, at least it is for non-fiction. You have to think all the way through your book and then back again. You need to analyze the market to see if you are simply saying something that's been said a thousand times before, or if you really do have a new angle. You have to qualify why you are the person to write this book, more so than someone else.
I used to dread the market analysis part of the proposal, but I've more recently come to appreciate its value, not just for the publisher, but for the author's sake as well.
The market analysis puts the squeeze on you; it forces you to clarify your thoughts and your direction; it, by process of elimination, challenges you to defend why your book is different, but not so different that it's irrelevant.
That is why I say, the market analysis is your prelude to marketing...
Maybe it's different for others, but my books start out with a basic idea that I want to convey. I usually think I have a strong sense of direction until I do my market analysis.
When I enter into the madness of the market analysis, I'm almost always overwhelmed. I go swimming in a sea of titles and I can't help but ask, "Does the world really need another title on this topic?"
But then I put on my water wings and I start to swim...and pray. I ask God for courage and clarification as I go about my way. As I research certain titles I am reminded once again that her voice is different than mine. Her passions though similar, come from a different pool of experience and thus are communicated in a totally different way.
One author will emphasize the sin issue, while another emphasizes grace. One takes a close-up look at Scripture while the another prefers the at-a-glance method.
Slowly but surely I wade through the many titles in my genre and a picture begins to form in my mind. I begin to notice if a certain aspect of the topic isn't addressed and I wonder if it's something I'm qualified to speak to. As I look at titles and peruse the chapters, by process of elimination, I am able to say to myself, "I really don't feel compelled to address that issue, but I think I want to tackle this one."
I initially approach the market analysis to justify the need for my book, but I'm always surprised by the amount of clarity I gain because of that exercise.
Analyzing the market equips us because it allows us to better know the market and to gain clarity around our message.
Once we are clear about our market and our message, we just have to write our book! Easy, right?
Not! But at least we are starting off on the right foot!
Take the time to know your market. You have a better chance of getting to your destination when you have an accurate map and and a good game plan.
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I blogged this week about "The Truth and the Lie"...check it out: Susie's Blog...
Also, I have a new website! Check it out if you feel so led:
Until next week...be blessed!
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