Monday, June 21, 2010

Sample Non-Fiction Book Proposal

Hi, I'm Jo Lynne Nugent. 

I came to the OVWriters Group meeting for the first time on Monday, June 21, 2010, had a great time, learned a lot and shared some tidbits I picked up from my attendance at the WVWriters Conference held in at Cedar Lakes, Ripley, WV,  June 11 - 13, 2010.  Literary Agent Kelly Mortimer from Aguanga, California,  appeared at the WVWriters Conference on June 12 and took 5-minute pitches all afternoon. She shared the web address where you can find her sample non-fiction book proposal:  http://www.perilsofpublishing.com/.  Once you get there, scroll down a bit and look under Genres for Non-Fiction.  I think you click there and then look for Proposal.  It is a humorous and educational read.  If you want to print it out, be advised: the proposal proper is 15 single-spaced pages followed by the 1st two chapters of the proposed book which appear to be another 60 some pages (because they're at least double spaced), but I don't know for sure, because I stopped the printer after 15 pages.

Kelly also shared her webpage address kmortimer@mortimerliterary.com

Also my blog, the Travelog & Dog Blog, is http://jolesq.typepad.com/blog . I just started writing and blogging in February so be charitable! (Oops! There go those pesky exclamation marks that are discouraged by E.B.White in the Elements of Style! One day I'll learn to avoid them!)

Thanks for making me feel so welcome.  I look forward to atttending again next month.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Re: Digital Book Publishing

Hi Writers,

It's Jason in Salt Lake City. Here is a link to an article that explains why digital book publishing is good for indie authors. It appeared in the Wall Street Journal online and is titled "'Vanity' Press Goes Digital." I hope someone finds it helpful.

Also, I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts or advice about organizing — and more importantly — incorporating the vast amount of ideas and material that one compiles in the process of writing one's masterpiece. You see, my mom and I have both encountered this problem. We tend to jot down a lot of good stuff during the months of planning, literally more than 100 pages, and then have trouble reining it all in to funnel it back into the pages of our writing. So far, our best approach has been to build and perpetually revise a "master outline" in a simple Word document. But any advice or thoughts on how you've handled this challenge would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

One-sentence update on me: I'm still writing (of course), and I'm starting my own film podcast later this month; so I'll share my link once it's up and running, in case anyone is interested in checking it out.

Take care, friends. Ah, I loved summers in the Ohio Valley...

Sincerely,
Jason Pyles