In a perfect world books wouldn't need to be updated. Facts, once documented would be useful indefinitely. With the classics and some solution- oriented books this is the case, but much less so with other books. The good news is, updating and revising books is profitable. According to Publisher's Weekly the reference book market is as lucrative as ever.
Reference books bring hundreds of thousands o f dollars to skillful authors. Successful examples of reference books include The Writer's Market, H&R Block Tax books, AT & T telephone directories and Mathew Leskos niche books on government grants. Reference book writing and publishing has and always will be profitable. People need to know where to go and what to do.
The Process
In short, you pick a book topic, an audience, decide your reference intention, do an outline, begin your content research, and then draft your manuscript or book proposal.
Reference books are written on any topic that helps people make progress. Topics that sell ordinary nonfiction can sell reference books. Ideas include:
Health & Fitness: No one establishes and maintains fitness overnight so a reference with 365 days of fitness tips can provide tremendous value.
Money: Feed the Pig at www.feedthepig.org is an online financial literacy reference. The same can be done in a book by giving readers a daily financial tool to help with positive programming.
Nutrition: Prevention magazine is upd
Home Improvement: In this economy fewer people are looking to overspend to live nice or protect their investment. Tips on creating luxury economically are great. The Bottom-Line reference series at https://www.bottomlinesecrets.com is a good illustration.
Career: Career references are indispensable. Networking, job retention and interviewing skills must evolve with economic changes. A good guide will keep workers and jobseekers competitive.
Freelance: Can you pick 10 top freelance jobs and give readers the fastest, cheapest way to set up shop profitability? If so this book will be in demand.
Parenting: Parents want to be good parents. A book that helps parents maximize parenting skills could highlight information on children’s developmental stages which many parents may be unaware of.
General reference books are good but some authors tailor reference books to specific audiences. "The Writers Handbook 2009: The complete guide for all journalists, publishers, editors, agents, screenwriters and broadcasters reaches a larger group of writing relative professionals not just book or article writers.
Succeeding
Reference books need updates once to several times a year. Each update brings the authors money. Traditional publishing houses are likely to pay authors an advance with each update. If you self-publish you'll not get an advance but you still have the advantage of creating lifetime income. The income is lifetime because if you keep up with the latest developments and make the book even somewhat interactive and not a bore or chore to read your audience will look forward to each edition.
Getting Started
You can write a proposal for agents or publishers. The submission process is the same as it is for other books. The Writers Market lists many reference book publishers and is a good plac e to begin matching your topic interests to what publishers want. Reference book publishers include: Harper Information http://www.harpercollins.com and Adams Media, http://www.adamsmedia.com
If you write a nonfiction or reference book manuscript the finished product is what counts. Focusing on how you can provide the most current and correct information to help others improve their life is the key.
Leigh Goodwin, MBA Writing & Publishing Consultant Editor in Chief of Mind Body Management newsletter. http://www.leighgoodwin.com
