I receive frequent emails from people asking questions about how to get published, especially about how to get a book published. I appreciate the interest and try to respond personally to each query, but lately it's become difficult. Hopefully this page will serve as a starting point.
How do you get a book published?
It's a long, arduous process, even when you're fortunate enough to have written a few. If you're looking to publish a novel, I'm the wrong guy to ask. For non-fiction, you must first research the market and make sure the book hasn't already been written. Assuming you have some expertise in this area or have done a lot of research already, you'll need to find an agent, write a proposal, and so forth. Before you can do that, however, you must consider your existing platform. Publishers don't have vast budgets to spend on marketing and promoting every book, so they expect you to have a built-in marketing platform. Do you have a Web site and a blog? Do you have an e-mail newsletter with a large mailing list? Do you regularly speak to groups or give seminars? Do you host television and radio programs on the topic you're interested in writing about - or do you at least appear on such shows as an expert? Have you been featured by magazines and newspapers? Do you have contacts in the media who will write about your book or invite you to appear on their shows? Are you the founder or CEO of a wildly-successful company? Do you work with prominent people who won't mind you dropping their names? There's a reason we see so many books written by celebrities, TV personalities, motivational speakers, and prominent CEOs. Publishers know that these potential authors will attract media attention and have built-in audiences already in place for their books. If an author doesn't have this, at least at some level, it's going to be difficult to attract a publisher. Better to build the platform first and then pursue the book. If you have that platform in place and need some help writing a book, please let me know.
What about self publishing?
I've never self published a book, but I know some people who have had success with it. With self-publishing, you do all of the layout, design, photography, and copyright paperwork yourself - along with the writing, of course. From there, you find a printer. With self publishing, you bear the production costs but make more money per book when they sell. Of course, it's up to you to sell them. There are a number of Web sites to assist self publishers. Even with self publishing, it helps to have a platform.
What was your career path?
I graduated from a school (University of Virginia) without a formal communications program, majoring in American Government and something called Rhetoric & Communications Studies, which was only vaguely related to journalism. I spent most of my college time at the student newspaper and radio station, served as a sports stringer for any newspaper that would have me, and was fortunate to have a terrific internship with the USA Today sports department. I joined USA Today's Baseball Weekly publication (now known as Sports Weekly) after graduation. I've taught communications classes as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida and see the value in such programs. But it's more important to write (a lot) and get some hands-on experience with media outlets while still in college.That writing is vital preparation for work in television and radio as well.
Where can I get a copy of CARD SHARKS?
There's been renewed interest in Card Sharks with the recent publication of the book The Card, which gave a lot of credit to Card Sharks, my 1995 book that chronicled the history of the trading card business and the meteoric rise of the Upper Deck Co. You usually can pick up a used copy of Card Sharks on Amazon.com for $7 or so. If you want a copy in mint condition, which perhaps is only appropriate given its subject matter, drop me a line at pete@petewilliams.net and we'll talk as I have a few copies remaining.
Are you related to the Pete Williams on NBC News?
I'm not, though I admire his work. I'm also not related to Pete Williams the ultimate fighter nor the Pete Williams who played briefly in the NBA in the 1980s. This Web site, however, was designed by Pete Williams, CEO of The Department of Design. I learned of Pete's work when a photographer friend of mine, Tom DiPace, called me instead of his Web designer. I highly recommend both of them.
