Generating Book Ideas

Published book ideas come from two places:

1. You.

Not a surprise.

2. Your editor.

This is why once you’re published, it’s easier to get published over and over. The editor that worked with you on the first book will often have other ideas in mind for books they’d like to publish.

So they call you.

Isn’t that amazing? Many of the books you see at Barnes and Noble were cooked up in collaboration with an editor. We writers come up with our own ideas at first, but once your IN, that’s not nearly as common.So, before you commit to a career as a successful author, understand that books are NEVER a one-man creation. To be an oft-published author, you must master two other skills apart from writing:

1. Always obey your editor.
2. Always obey your editor with a smile on your face.

But, what about MY ideas? Yes, of course. You can make suggestions or provide alternative rewrites, but only after you have obeyed your editor.

Showing them you’re right by disrespecting their directives may get you the book YOU want, but you certainly won’t be on the call list when they’re handing out ready-approved manuscript concepts. Which means, every book you write will fight an uphill battle to publication, just like the first one did.

To best prepare to be an oft-published author, prepare your attitude. Find a teacher, agent, friend and practice taking advice. Practice, practice, practice.

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