Everyone thinks it is so easy to write a book. With so many people writing books these days
it is amazing there are enough people still buying books. In today’s world
if you have any amazing life experience
suddenly publishers want you to write a book about it. If it sells
then your experience was interesting enough to stimulate interest from a large audience; and if not
no one really cared.
This is why poker books fly off the shelves. Many people have life experiences playing poker. Many people want to read about these poker-playing scenarios
including the players involved. There will come a time when the reading public will demand more from its poker writers than in past years. After all
there is only so many ways you can cover the same game repeatedly when you are analyzing your own poker hands and games. This is where you come in.
As a writer
you can keep things in perspective. There will come a time when the poker players who write will run out of things to say if they are only covering their own play and games. Writers who are writers first and players second will have the opportunity to shine.
If you have a lot of talent writing about poker and gaming
you can launch your own online e-book store. If you choose to build a website and place your e-books on the website for sale
you will be branching into a new area of business you may not want to explore yet. While it can be profitable to run your own online e-book store
you may prefer to write e-books for clients.
Clients often hire ghostwriters to pen e-books to sell at their websites. Poker players and poker hobbyists who want to read about everything about poker will purchase these books online for a fee. The ClickBank.com marketplace
which sells gambling and gaming e-books penned by ghostwriters
is a good example of this.
SELF-PUBLISHING FOR SUCCESS
Many writers who are not brand names in the poker industry choose to self-publish their books and can still easily get their books sold at major bookstores
online and offline
like Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. Many writers choose to self-publish their books in digital format only because the process is quicker and less of a hassle.
Self-publishing has many advantages:
1. You don’t need a literary agent. 2. There is no submission or rejection process. 3. You own the rights to your material. 4. Whatever money you make
you keep. 5. Royalties are much higher if you choose a print-on-demand publisher. 6. The publishing and distribution process is a lot faster. For instance
if you use LuLu.com
you can make your book available in less than a day.
The disadvantage: you are responsible for marketing your book and generating sales. This may be a disadvantage or an advantage for you. For me
I enjoy self-publishing because it gives me control and creative freedom over every aspect of my book
including generating sales. I find self-publishing exciting.
If you are going to self-publish
decide if you will publish your book in digital format or in paperback (plus digital format). I recommend you first publish your book in digital format to test your book in the marketplace. Most writers use LuLu.com
a digital publisher
because of the low cost
quick turnaround
and your book will appear in its marketplace. When you feel it is time to publish your book in paperback
then go with a print-on-demand publisher. Many writers use BookSurge.com (owned by Amazon) so their books appear in Amazon as well as other major book stores.
Other self-publishing outlets include:
1) Clickbank.com. Many self-publishers use Clickbank.com as a sales outlet to generate a steady stream of sales for their book. Clickbank has one of the largest audiences of affiliates who are ready to sell your book for a commission. You will need to create your own website and sale
s page (also known as a “landing page”) for your book and then sign up with Clickbank to use their ordering system.
2) LightningSource.com can make your book in digital format and paperback format. Once you submit your book for publication
anyone can order your title
as a print-on-demand or as an ebook. Many popular online book stores (especially ebook stores) order from LightningSource.
3) AuthorHouse.com
4) BookSurge.com
If you decide not to self-publish yourself
try a reputable e-book publisher to handle everything for you
including marketing. Many e-book publishers will consider poker-related material. If the e-book publisher decides to publish your ebook
they may also offer to place the book in trade paperback. The publisher will offer more royalties and sometimes a higher advance.
BOOK WRITING SUCCESS
If you choose to write your own books and e-books
then follow these tips:
TIP # 1: Know your market and know where you can gain the most readership.
TIP # 2: Remember
non-fiction sells in poker. Don’t try to re-invent the wheel because it won’t work.
TIP # 3: Have your manuscript ready before you approach a publisher for electronic submissions or for trade submissions.
TIP # 4: As you are writing your manuscript
begin searching for markets where you will want to submit your work.
TIP # 5: Buy a Writer’s Market book so you can read over the markets and decide the best market for your manuscript.
TIP # 6: Avoid work-for-hire contracts from publishers. Sure
what publisher wouldn’t prefer to pay an up-front fee to a writer in lieu of royalties? Go for the royalties and take a chance on your own talents.
TIP # 7: Know your poker.
If you want to attract your poker-reading audience
writing books about strategies and systems can sell if it is based on a mathematical advantage or a tried and tested theory. If you aren’t able to do this
no one is going to read about going on your “gut” feelings or how poker players win more when the stars line up in their favor. Fact-based theories and strategies will sell
and nothing else will in this corner of the market.
An excellent way to generate book ideas is to attend poker events and tournaments and get close to the action. Go to these events armed and ready to learn all you can. At the end of the day you will have dozens of book ideas buzzing in your head. Spend some time in casino poker rooms to find other topics. Talk and network with poker players and try to find out if they desire to write a book with the assistance of a ghostwriter or with you as a co-author. As a ghostwriter or co-author
an excellent way to gain business is to hand out your business cards at writing conventions
casinos
poker events and poker tournaments.
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