The Shortest Distance Between You and a Published Book: 20 Steps to Success

Publishers buy new book ideas every week. Why not yours?

Whether your book consists of a few notes on the back of a napkin or a completed manuscript, Susan Page's proven system will make your dream of successful publication come true. A bestselling author and leading consultant to other writers, Susan Page knows the difference between common industry wisdom that doesn't work and the precise, easy-to-follow strategies that actually get results. In this breakthrough book, she leads you away from the obstacles that often delay and frustrate writers and introduces the twenty essential steps for success, including:

The three "magic first steps" you must take now to claim success later on

The real differences between self-publishing and selling to a publisher

Clever methods for finding a truly brilliant title for your book

The formula for writing proposals that get read...and then bought

A deliberate method for finding the right agent for you

The six biggest hidden heartbreaks in publishers' contracts and how to avoid them

The range of royalty advances and how much you might expect (hint: it may be larger than you think!)

Seven minimum requirements for a six-figure advance

A step-by-step method for planning your own "blockbuster" promotion

Susan Page not only tells you how to proceed, she anticipates how you might feel at various stages and deftly coaches you through the best and the worst of it all. And the gift many of her clients have appreciated most is the crucial, little-known skill of keeping your hopes high and your expectations realistic. This book will leave you feeling excited, inspired, and ready to get to work.