Speakers: Publishers Need You Now

As a writer, you have more choices than ever before when it comes to publishing your book. There are the six large publishers, of course, as well as many small regional or niche publishers, university presses, and trade associations. There are also a number of print-on-demand (POD) companies that will help bring your book to life. There are plusses and minuses to each, but the fact remains that your chances of successfully publishing your book have never been better.

However, you may actually receive the biggest benefits from publishing your book yourself, especially if you're also a public speaker. In fact, self-publishing guru Dan Poynter suggests that if a mainstream publisher can't sell four times as many books as you can on your own, you'd do better to publish your book yourself. If nothing else, self-publishing give you a chance to test market your book before shopping it to a major house. If it sells well during the test period, you can use that as a selling tools when you pitch your book to a publisher. You may even have a publisher or agent seek you out, based on sales figures of your book.

As a speaker, you have a tremendous advantage over most writers. You're able to hone your material for a very specific audience, based on live feedback from your talks. You're already out there promoting your material, and that's a big plus with publishers, who love to see their authors hitting the road to push their books. It's always been one of the most effective ways to promote your material, and always will be.

If you're a public speaker who makes your living talking to people, publishers will give you an even closer look, because the more you're out in the field, the better your chances of selling a significant number of books to folks in your audience. They know you'll sell a large number of books from the back of the room after your talks than writers who only do the usual promotional things like doing interviews and book signings.

Having a book to sell and being a public speaker compliment each other perfectly. They more books you sell, the more in demand you will be as a speaker, and the more you speak, the more books you'll sell at your live events. As your fame spreads, you'll also be able to charge more for your speaking dates, and more speaking bureaus will be interested in booking you. You'll then be able to branch out into audio and video versions of your work, which will generate even more income. Then, as you add more merchandise, you'll have even more material to sell at your events, and the cycle will continue to spiral upward.

If you're a speaker, it's time to add a book to your arsenal of moneymaking tools. It's one of the best investments you can make in your career.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Design Psychology Expert and author Jeanette Fisher helps writers learn how to become published authors. Besides teaching interior design psychology, Jeanette makes money flipping houses with her family.