So you’ve written your book. You’ve spent countless hours writing, reading, editing, re-writing, and splitting hairs over plot and punctuation, and it’s finally finished… but now what? Well, now it’s time to sell your book.

There I was... more than fifteen years into my career, on the edge of accepting a position as a director at a promising technology startup, and absolutely miserable. Instead of considering altering parts of my lifestyle and changing careers, I worked until I literally couldn’t get out of bed and commute to the office.

Querying for fiction and querying for nonfiction are nothing alike. Even the completeness of your novel and the quality of your writing are weighed differently. The two similarities are that both fiction and nonfiction novels will end up in book form (electronic or otherwise), and it’s very challenging to secure a contract.

You’ve found a new way to do business that works. A new marketing tactic, a new way to measure success, or an application architecture best practice guide. Whatever it is, your colleagues are interested in the topic and encourage you to publish a book about it.

There are two types of writers you’ll hear about when talking to authors. People generally fall into one of the two camps, or they straddle them in a random variation doing a little of both. You’ll often be asked, are you a plotter or pantser, as if it’s the most natural question in the world.

We know it’s nerve-wracking to sell yourself in person and email is less intimidating, but email works less often because it’s less personal. Agents are on the lookout for excellent writing, but your personality and business acumen weigh into their decision just as heavily. An in-person interaction goes a lot further to establish your fit.

A query letter can set an author apart or doom them to the rejection pile before a single word of their manuscript is viewed by an agent or acquisition editor. Knowing the ground rules of querying and the structure of a good letter is absolutely essential for any author hoping to be traditionally published.

One of the most important things to consider as both a reader and a writer is why people turn the page and keep reading a story. Think about books you’ve read. What made you want to know more? What drove you to stay up too late to finish reading yet another chapter? What caused you to close a book that just couldn’t grab your attention and instead is tucked away for another day?

When building a story, it’s normal to have a main character fleshed out. You’re excited to tell your tale, you know what your character’s goal is and what they’ll need to do to achieve it. Most people delve into a story aware of their protagonist, but side characters are just as important to your story as your hero.

Every writer hoping to be published can expect to face a long period of rejection and criticism before getting a break. Even the most talented authors have experienced years of abject failure before signing an agent, and sadly, many more will never be discovered.

A few years ago, podcasts were one of the remaining platforms that unknown personalities could break into. Now anyone can have a podcast, and only the most talented or renowned rise above the noise and make it big.

Your author page is not just a summary of an author’s resume. It’s an opportunity to intrigue your readers, an invitation to engage in a long-term relationship with you, your writing, and your message.