First Word

If you're in business, passive revenue is the best way to earn money. You do the work and the money continues to flow in long after the work is done. Passive revenue compounds your existing revenue and enables you to earn more without working harder. I like passive revenue because it's the quintessential and true definition of work smarter not harder -- amen. In publishing, your business book acts as your calling card and is more effective than a brochure (who ever throws a book away but thousands of brochures get dumped in landfills), and you get the value add of passive revenue. You can sell a book. You can't sell a brochure. And here is the big shocker: your cost per full-color brochure can be upwards of $5-$8 per brochure versus a full-sized book that can be as inexpensive as a $1.25 per book. You simply can't go wrong when you look at the formula from that point-of-view. Consider this, too: your book can bring in passive revenue for years to come. I have two busine...

“ The Guru has shattered the shackles on my feet, and has set me free .” ~ Sir Guru Ganth Sahib You’re amped up and finished with what you genuinely believe is going to be a best-selling masterpiece sure to receive rave reviews in the New York Times . The only hesitation is you’re a little uncertain about chapter one, “Hey it’s not my best chapter in the book,” you will eventually say to your prospective publisher should you be blessed enough to get him or her on the phone. Want to know what the acquisition manager or reader thinks but probably won’t say either on the phone or in writing, “What! Are you crazy?” Smart Girls Carrie: What? Now? What about last night, all those concerns? Big: Fuck it. You'll need material for the sequel. ~ Sex and the City Rule number one when submitting a manuscript always make chapter one the very best chapter in the book not the weakest. Why? Because the reader won’t get past page one or even the end of the first cha...

The following is an excerpt from my book on publishing titled Vanity Circus , which is available on Amazon and my website at 3L Publishing ( www.3LPublishing.com ).  Want to know a way to absolutely ruin an utterly brilliant day? Be forced to read a tragically and poorly written manuscript (fiction or non-fiction … doesn’t matter). In my opinion, nothing is worse than being forced to read a manuscript that for all intents and purposes is utter drivel to the extreme – and perhaps the most pain I can possibly experience is also to be subjected to horrible, horrible dialog. Nothing makes a reader wince more than weak dialog written in a stilted and idiotic manner. I promise you that forcing a reader to strain through inane and meaningless dialog will drive them mad. So with that said, it’s time to tell you about The Good, The Bad and The Brutally Ugly when it comes to sifting through and reading a pile of manuscripts. The Good The Good manuscript while it has a handful of...

It's Friday, and I'm already trying to think of something fun to entertain you with. Let's start with the wacky submissions I get to 3L Publishing that make me scratch my head. Every now and then I will have authors who just don't understand submission protocols. So, before I share the good, the bad and the atrocious, let me first share the right way to submit. If you have a manuscript, please send the following to info@3LPublishing.com: A sample chapter (preferably chapter 1) A 300 word synopsis that explains the summary of the story If it's a non-fiction book, your synopsis should explain what topic is going to discuss, how it will do it, and why it's unique If you've really gone deep enough on the business side, a marketing plan is welcome, too Here is what I don't want to see: A full manuscript with that 400 maybe 500 words long with the expectation from the author that essentially demands: please read my entire book and give me feedba...

I am waiting to hear back on my outside projects. I got asked how do I exercise patience as I wait for responses? Sometimes writers get very anxious about the wait to hear back from agents, publishers, editors, producers, etc. I have written three books and dozens of magazine articles and have sold two scripts. Here is the way to become peaceful with the "waiting." First, you have to imagine that these editors, publishers and agents have piles to read on their desks. What I say is "don't bake the cake before you put it in the oven." Writers often think the worst (rejection) long before any of these professionals have had a chance to even review or consider their projects. You can't assume the worst. What you can assume is that it takes time. It takes time to read the material; time to escalate it up the decision-making chain; and time to get back to you. So, your best approach is to periodically check in and gently push. That way you are proactive withou...

Writing a book is more than having a book to sell. A book can create a wealth of opportunities by creating a platform for your business to grow. Most authors often make the mistake of focusing exclusively on book sales as a measure of a book's success. While book sales definitely matter, it's not the individual unit sales you should focus on. The real question is what kind of doors did the book's existence open for you? A book is a powerful tool to open the door for speaking invitations or to attract interest in your business in general. Even the existence of one book can beget another book. 3L Publishing as publisher last year invested in the book A Feast at the Beach . Why? It defied our traditional model. We did so, because we felt the title would add value to our overall catalog. It would help attract and grow that segment of market interest. In other words, while we want Feast to sell, whether it becomes a number one best seller doesn't measure its performance in t...

It's Friday and I've decided not to be super serious (not that yesterday's blog could be categorized as "mature in nature"). But I network a lot and sometimes I get asked the most ridiculous or plain-as-the-nose-on-your face questions. Here are just a few to keep you smiling. " Are you an avid reader ?" -- this question always comes during a business meeting. I've now been asked it a handful times -- and certainly enough times to merit a mention on the blog. OK Fred, yes I am an avid reader. And here is a very good wager we could make: I bet I read more than anyone I know. Really? Really Fred? Really ? Did you just ask a publisher and editor that question? Here is a question for you: How high is your IQ? " Do you want to take a class on writing ?" -- I've been asked this one at least a half-dozen times while working in my booth. What really just cracks me up, is this question typically comes from some person who asks just as she is...