10 Things NOT to Say in Your Book Proposal

At Booklocker.com, we receive several book manuscripts each week from authors wanting to get their books into print. While we’re not a traditional publisher, we are concerned about offering a high-quality inventory. Therefore, we publish less than 5% of incoming submissions. After another agonizing week of seeing the same mistakes by authors made time and again, I thought we’d try to help those of you who are sending your manuscripts to publishers, traditional and other. Perhaps we can help you avoid one of these common mistakes (and give you a smile at the same time!).

Online Writing Guilds For Youth Writers

A gentleman who is trying to reinforce his daughter’s interest in writing has asked me if I know of any online writing guilds for youth writers. All I could suggest was that you had something to do with Booklocker.com and I would see what else I could find out. I also mentioned he should to be on the lookout for a possible response from you. I’m forwarding your latest e-newsletter to him to give him a jump-start of sorts.

Success and the Great American Novel By Jena Ball

I’ve always loved words. As a child I was in danger of becoming a couch potato because my idea of fun was leaping headfirst into a book and staying there. I’d become so embroiled in the lives of the characters, that it was all my mother could do to get me to go outside and play. Looking back, I realize I truly believed that the physical world was just one of many. I fully expected to awaken one night and find Borrowers scurrying across the floor or a fairy twinkling over my bed. Thanks to the enchanting prose of C.S. Lewis, I also had great faith in the magical powers of furniture.

My Little Baby’s Growing Up!

Frank turned 12 on Sunday (sniff). My little baby’s growing up! Max will be three in about three weeks and Zach will turn 18 in a month (Lord help me!). I keep telling them all to stay little, but they don’t listen to me!
I picked up some mysterious illness over the weekend and having been running a low-grade fever ever since. I’m still feeling a bit puny and completely puzzled about what I have. If it keeps up, I’ll go to the doc.
I wasn’t too sick to release my new book, however! How to Reborn a Doll in a Day is now online and available for instant download at: https://www.booklocker.com.com/dolls
The print version will be available in about two weeks.
What is a reborn doll, you ask? They’re adorable!! Don’t miss the photos of our lifelike babies here:
https://www.booklocker.com/dolls
Hugs to all!
Angela
P.S. Want to read real query letters that landed these contracts?
Woman’s Day – $2,800; Redbook – $3,500; Ladies Home Journal – $3,000; DiscoveryHealth.com – $2,000; Lifetime Magazine – $3,000; Life Extension magazine – $6,480; Natural Remedies $11,300; and many more!
See: https://www.writersweekly.com/books/1409.html

Turn Your Hobby Into a How-To Book By Angela Hoy

Turn Your Hobby Into a How-To Book By Angela Hoy

Last year, while perusing ebay.com for antique dolls (one of my hobbies), I stumbled upon a category of dolls I’d never seen before. They’re called reborns. Reborn dolls are regular baby dolls that have been seemingly transformed into living, breathing, adorable infants that nobody can resist!

Great Opportunity? No! By Ellen Scolnic

An experienced writer knows how to ask the right questions. Not just “Is your new movie a comedy, Mr. Hanks?” But questions like: “Do you pay on acceptance or when the article is published?” or “How long to you estimate interviewing the participants will take?” and “Is this contract for one-time only publication rights?”

Should I Buy a List of Email Addresses

Dear Ms. Hoy,
Once I get an e-mag together, I still need to get a list, a starting point to get it out there. There’s so much to choose from and not knowing what is good or not makes it very difficult. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks.

I assume you’re talking about buying a list of email addresses? Please don’t do that. Most of those lists are lists of people who never authorized their emails to be sold. And, even if they had, emailing them about your book is still spam because they didn’t request specific emails about your specific book.
You’ll need to start from scratch in building your own list. Sending out spam will destroy your reputation (and may result in you losing your website and ISP account). I offer a free ebook (https://www.writersweekly.com/index-starterkit.htm) for new WritersWeekly subscribers, which is always a good way to bring in new readers.