Dear Author,

My clients use the following worksheet to build detail about their publishing projects.

Be sure to include, circle or write in, details you already have.

A few thoughts to consider:

• Keep a standard trim size and save money! (9 x 6 or 8 x 5.25).
• Publishing is a quantity-driven industry. Print-on-Demand is the best economical choice without sacrificing quality.
• There is always a one-time set-up fee. After that, you can print one or 1,000 copies.
• Use the color on the cover rather than the interior pages. We can select a color stock if it serves your objectives. Remember, white is best for graphics and photos.
• The latest sales trend is that bookstores want photos on the cover.
• If a book is printed, using traditional lithographic offset, you can estimate cost for 500 books to yield about $12,000 including design, registration and associated costs. POD (Print On Demand) will save you at least 50% for the same quantity of soft cover!
• Several cost variables include paper selection, hard or soft cover, number of pages editing, proofreading and design.

Please e-mail (scan) or return by fax if you would like feedback on your planner. Also, include the best time and how to reach you.

I am looking forward to learning more about your topic and project choices.

Regards,

Michelle Cubas, Armchair Publisher

Enterprise Brand Marketer & Business Coach

Positive Potentials LLC    

http://www.positivepotentials.com

Your Name:

Michelle, here are details about my project and experience.                                          Today's Date:

Company:

Address:

City:       State:     Zip:

Phone:       Fax:       E-mail:           URL:

© Microsoft, 1998.

My topic is:

A

B

C

D

How many years have you been expert in this topic?

What experiences make you an expert in your field?

Teacher

Consultant

Writer

My ideas would best be expressed in a:

Newsletter

Tip Sheet

Booklet

Workbook

Audiences that would enjoy my book are:

What other markets would benefit from my topic?

What is the main point of your topic?

I want to:

Instruct

Persuade

Inform

Change

I already have connections with my target market.

Yes

No

I've been published before:

Yes

No

How will the book be used?

Reference

Interactive

Display

What is the most important element we need to know about this project?

Have you registered for ISBN identifiers?

PRODUCTION ISSUES

Projected Publishing Date

Finished Cover Size

8.5 x 5.5

9 x 6

8.5 x 11

Oversized

How many colors on the cover?

One

Two

Four

Other

Paper Stock (varies with content)

Page Count (8, 16, 32, 64 increments for best pricing)

Graphics (Scans)

Photos

Art/Illustration

Captions

Clip Art

How large a distribution?

Editor/Ghostwriter

Research/Documentation

Need help

Already done

Don't know

Digital POD

Indigo

Offset

E-Book (download, PDF format)

MARKETING ELEMENTS

Pre-Sell Marketing Strategy

Tell me more

Cross-Sell Alliances

Endorsements

Industry experts

Celebrities

Associations

Other

Packaging requirements/other items bundled

Website

Web Landing Pages

Specialty Items

Fonts

Inks

Copyright issues

References

Graphics

Index

Required

Not Required

Bibliography

Required

Not Required

Other: