By Sage Cohen
You've worked hard this year at defining the objectives and value of your book concept. You know who your audience is (and sub-audiences are), what they need, and how your book meets those needs exceptionally well. Now you even have a book blurb and proof points that explain exactly how and why your book is the right solution for the people who are seeking what you're offering.
It's time to get your blurb in front of potential readers and see how it lands.
Refer back to the list of audiences you outlined in May, and your goal for each type. As a reminder, my list was:
Writing the Life Poetic offers the following for each reader:
People already writing poetry: Fresh inspiration, new perspectives, and a wide selection of wisdom, prompts, and process tips to keep their muse infused with fun.
People who want to write poetry: A friendly, accessible welcome to the realm of poetry that lets them dive right into the enjoyment of reading and writing.
Teachers of writing: A valuable, easy-to-use guide that they can use to share the joy of poetry with their students.
Active creatives: A reminder that they need only translate what they already know to the delight of creating poems.
Individuals using the book on their own: a comprehensive, inviting companion for their poetry journey; one that encourages like a friend.
Students of all ages: a reference book that doesn't lecture from the front of the classroom but has fun right along with them.
Your turn!
Find three-to-five people in each of your defined audience segments and ask them to read your book blurb. When they're finished reading, ask them to write down answers to these four questions -- as candidly as possible:
1. What is appealing to you about this book?
2. What do you expect you'd learn or accomplish by reading it?
3. How is this book like or unlike other books on this topic that you've already read?
4. Why would you choose or not choose to read this book?
Gather the results and make note of how the feedback matches or diverges from your own expectations and research.
Be grateful for all feedback, even when you don't get the affirmation you were hoping for. This is a great time to be learning about how your book idea sits with potential readers -- before writing it. You only stand to gain by any surprises that come your way at this stage.
Then sharpen your pencils and get ready to polish that blurb next month into the rock-solid foundation on which your proposal will be written.
It's time to get your blurb in front of potential readers and see how it lands.
Refer back to the list of audiences you outlined in May, and your goal for each type. As a reminder, my list was:
Writing the Life Poetic offers the following for each reader:
People already writing poetry: Fresh inspiration, new perspectives, and a wide selection of wisdom, prompts, and process tips to keep their muse infused with fun.
People who want to write poetry: A friendly, accessible welcome to the realm of poetry that lets them dive right into the enjoyment of reading and writing.
Teachers of writing: A valuable, easy-to-use guide that they can use to share the joy of poetry with their students.
Active creatives: A reminder that they need only translate what they already know to the delight of creating poems.
Individuals using the book on their own: a comprehensive, inviting companion for their poetry journey; one that encourages like a friend.
Students of all ages: a reference book that doesn't lecture from the front of the classroom but has fun right along with them.
Your turn!
Find three-to-five people in each of your defined audience segments and ask them to read your book blurb. When they're finished reading, ask them to write down answers to these four questions -- as candidly as possible:
1. What is appealing to you about this book?
2. What do you expect you'd learn or accomplish by reading it?
3. How is this book like or unlike other books on this topic that you've already read?
4. Why would you choose or not choose to read this book?
Gather the results and make note of how the feedback matches or diverges from your own expectations and research.
Be grateful for all feedback, even when you don't get the affirmation you were hoping for. This is a great time to be learning about how your book idea sits with potential readers -- before writing it. You only stand to gain by any surprises that come your way at this stage.
Then sharpen your pencils and get ready to polish that blurb next month into the rock-solid foundation on which your proposal will be written.
Sage Cohen is the author of Writing the Life Poetic: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry (Writers Digest Books, 2009) and the poetry collection Like the Heart, the World. An award-winning poet, she writes three monthly columns about the craft and business of writing and serves as Poetry Editor for VoiceCatcher 4. Her poetry and essays appear in journals and anthologies including Cup of Comfort for Writers, The Oregonian, Oregon Literary Review, Greater Good and VoiceCatcher. Sage holds an MA in creative writing from New York University, co-hosts a monthly reading series at Barnes & Noble and teaches the online class Poetry for the People. She has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and awarded a Soapstone residency. To learn more, visit www.writingthelifepoetic.com.
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