The Inside Story on What It Takes to Get Published in Today's Nonfiction Market

Insightful, practical, humorous, and realistic — YouCanWrite.com's publications give you the straight story on how publishing works, which books sell and why, why it's important to market yourself as an author (and how to go about doing it), what goes on in the minds of editors and agents, the nuts and bolts of writing book proposals, and a whole lot more.

We've put virtually everything we know about what it takes to get your nonfiction book published — from understanding the market, to crafting queries and proposals, finding an agent, and turning yourself into a marketable author — into one book you can put to use right away.

"Your advice is great!"—Kris Clerkin, Vice President, Houghton Mifflin

What does it REALLY take to get published?

This comprehensive, no-nonsense guide written by ong-time publishing professionals Sheryl Fullerton and Naomi Lucks, founders of the award-winning website YouCanWrite.com, gives you the inside scoop on everything you need to know to move your book from idea to publishable project.

Filled with practical, realistic yet compassionate advice and insights, You Can Write! illuminates the secrets of:

• The publishing business: How agents and editors make decisions, what they’re looking for, and how you can learn to deal with them successfully.
• Query letters: Why first impressions are supremely important, and what your query letter must do to attract enthusiastic literary agent and editor attention.
• Book proposals: Why they are essential, and what it takes to create a compelling proposal that sells your book idea. Includes one full model proposal of a published book to help you create yours.
• Literary agents: Why you do or do not need one, what they do, what you can expect, and how to approach them successfully.
• Your author resume: Why your profile as an author—your expertise, your experience, and your track record — are more important than ever, and how you can to enhance yours.

A complete, practical guide to agents, book proposals, query letters, and everything else you need to know to write and sell your nonfiction book.

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Sheryl Fullerton's fact-filled handbook is a must for new authors! If your publisher writes the contract, and you sign it without understanding its terms, you may be giving up more than you need to.

• Contracts 101: Know your rights. You can ask for — and get — more than you may think.
• Anatomy of a Contract: You don't have to be a lawyer to learn what each clause of a contract means.
• Negotiating Your Contract: Learn favorable changes you can ask for that are also acceptable to most publishers.

Getting From "Pretty Good" To Publishable! A Writer's Guide to Working with Editors, Collaborators, Coaches, and Other Publishing Professionals

Here's a secret most new authors don't know: Every published manuscript — either before it goes out or before publication — has been shaped and vetted by a professional coach, writer, or editor, and often by all three. Getting professional coaching or assistance with editing, writing, or book proposals can help you achieve your goal of being published, and may cut months or even years off the process.

For more than two decades, author Naomi Lucks has served hundreds of authors as a development editor, collaborator, ghostwriter, and book proposal specialist. You'll learn:

• How coaches, editors, collaborators, and ghostwriters can help you shine
• How to determine the kind of help you need
• Where to find the pro's and what questions to ask
• Complete Standard Editing Agreement and complete Standard Letter of Agreement (Work for Hire, Flat Fee)