The Author's Toolkit

Mary Embree

Nov 2010 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

Every author yearns for wealth and fame. Aspiring authors, students, writing teachers, and even established authors will be able to get the job done with the Toolkit. Updated and expanded to cover the newest developments in electronic publishing, the growth of self-publishing and print-on-demand, new online copyright registration procedures, effective use of social media for promotion and community, and more. This handy guide offers coaching for every step of the writing and publishing process. Insights are given for writing fiction and nonfiction: nurturing beginning ideas; making full use of resources for planning and research; organizing a plot; delineating characters; avoiding writer pitfalls; following proper writing and editing principles; finding the “hook” to attract publisher interest; creating a manuscript with a professional presentation; seeking literary agents; understanding contracts; publishing electronically; and promoting and marketing a finished book. Written in a concise, easy-to-follow style, this guide also offers a treasure chest of resources for writers seeking professional advice. No one intending to become a published author can afford to be without the tools offered in this volume.

Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.

About the author

Mary Embree is an author, literary consultant, editor, book doctor, and writers’ workshop leader. She is the founder of Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network (SPAWN). A former film and television writer and researcher, she became a published author in the 1990s. Her most recent books are The Author’s Toolkit: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Book, a Writer’s Digest Book Club selection now in its third edition, and Starting Your Career as a Freelance Editor, both published by Allworth Press.