So you've got this idea for a book . . .

... and you're wondering if it's "publishable."

This is a real question lots of would-be authors have—in fact, it came from a colleague just today. Here's what I told her:

First, understand that you may actually be asking "What's marketable?" and not "What's publishable?" Big difference.

Once you've got that straight, do a little market research. Here's how:

1. Search Amazon.com to see what kinds of books like it are out there and for whom they're written.

2. Check Books in Print for same (you can learn a lot just by reviewing these lists).

3. Check catalogs from publishers, associations, and other groups that might be interested in the topic that your book is about.

4. See how your book is like or unlike what's out there. What does it offer that's missing in the market? Identify your niche.

5. Then read Micheal Larsen's How to Write a Book Proposal and Susan Page's The Shortest Distance between You and a Published Book to figure out what's next.

Cross-posted: Sobering Statistics about the Book Industry

Stephen Shapiro, author of Goal-Free Living, recently attended the 2006 Book Expo of America (BEA) — the annual convention of the book industry in DC. Here's what he learned:
• Each year, there are 172,000 new books published in the United States.
• Of the 172,000, only 1,000 books sell more than 50,000 copies in retail channels.
• Less than 25,000 sell more than 5,000 copies.
• 93% of books published (160,000) sell less than 1,000 copies.

So what does that mean for all of us who write with the hope (or if you're a more positive thinker, the intention) of getting published?

Part of what it means is knowing you have to build a platform from which you can promote your book before it's published.

I have a client (a husband-and-wife writing team) doing that right now. They're writing a book on successfully surviving a brain injury. While I help them get their book proposal in shape (through editing and consulting), they are placing articles in industry publications (for example, brain injury newsletters and Web sites), speaking at brain injury support groups and conferences, and conducting surveys to find out more information about what makes a recovery successful.

In short, they're putting themsleves out there, so that when it's time to publish their book, potential readers and book buyers will recognize their name.

I applaud them, and am in awe of what they've accomplished in just a short amount of time. And I intend to follow their example for my next book, after I finish the rough draft and know what I've got.