Avoid Predators PT1: How to Hire Writing Help

A professional person, or company, is necessary for anyone wanting to write, promote, or sell a book. These professionals are everywhere, but good ones are hard to find.

Their services include:

• Cover design
• Web marketing
• Sales Aids
• Advertising: Press releases to web page buttons.
• Editing
• Coaching
• Promoting
• Public Relations
• Book Sales
• Agents
• Publishers
• Web hosts
• E-marketing: newsletter, e-mail lists, web and mailing list hosts.

Professionals should have the writer’s interest in mind. They should see themselves as a member of the writer’s team. Their first task should be building a rapport with the writer, not impressing them with facts and figures. However, this is only the case among a small number of professionals.Ask the prospect these questions:

Do you follow the AP or Chicago style of grammar?

If your book is fiction, or casual non-fiction, then you want an editor or coach who uses the Chicago style. Non-fiction or business writing favors the AP style.

Are you published?

If the answer is no, then leave. Self-publishing is okay, if they can supply some good reviews, and have sold a few hundred copies. Traditional publishing has more prestige, but does not hold any more weight than e publishing or self-publishing. The traditional published book could have bombed, while an self-published book could win national awards and earn the author several hundred dollars a month.

And, an industry norm is, you are not considered professional until you have three books published. Here is the way to tell if a book is ‘really’ published. It has national distribution, an ISBN number, is not free, and is available too bookstores. The self-published book may not be in bookstores, because they want huge discounts, and return most of the unsold books for a full refund. However, it should be possible for a bookstore to order a copy of the book wholesale.

How long have you been in business?This is just a teaser. It doesn’t matter how long a coach or editor has been in business. I also warn writers to stay away from editors/coaches who put too much emphasis on their own writing. Editing is not about the editor, it is about the writer. A writer can make $50 000.00 a year on their own writing, and still be a poor editor.

Do not ask for references or testimonials; ask for a list of published titles and clients.

Testimonials can be shared in exchange for services. They can be written as part of a marketing campaign. Nothing is as valuable as reading a book the editor already worked on.

Ask if they have a base fee for a trial.

Most editors and coaches are willing to invest a few hours of work to test the relationship between you and them.

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