The Author's Toolkit

All writers yearn for success and recognition. And now we are entering a golden era in which self-publishers are in the driver’s seat. In The Author’s Toolkit, aspiring authors, students, and even established writers will find the resources they need to achieve their goals and avoid common writer pitfalls. Updated and expanded to cover the changes in copyright fees and registration, the newest developments in electronic publishing, the growth of ebooks and print on demand, and tips for using social media for promotion and community, this detailed guide offers advice on every step of the writing and publishing process. Readers will learn how to:

•Develop and research fiction and nonfiction ideas
•Find a “hook” to attract reader interest
•Organize a plot and delineate characters
•Format for print and ebook readers
•Find an agent
•Understand literary contracts
•Market and promote a finished book
•Obtain backing such as crowdfunding

Written in an informative and easy-to-understand style, this guide is a treasure chest of resources and tools for writers seeking professional advice.

Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.

Mary Embree is an author, literary consultant, editor, public speaker, and writers’ workshop leader. She is the founder of the Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network (SPAWN) and the California Literary Arts Society (CLAS), which produced the annual Ventura Book Festival. She has worked with hundreds of authors, and is the author of Starting Your Career as a Freelance Editor (Allworth Press, March 2012) and Abused, Confused & Misused Words (Skyhorse Publishing, January 2013). She lives in Port Hueneme, California.