Tips for Compiling a Book with Articles

Angela Hoy reports:

"Consider the documents stored in your computer. Can you think of a common thread connecting some of them? Would it make a salable book? Writers sell compilations all the time. I have seen anything from essays on world travel to housecleaning. Why not rehash some of your previously published material to cash in on a book?...Of course, some topics really are too dissimilar to work together. I once considered slipping an essay on learning a second language into a book about writing. But I finally had to admit that the piece just didn’t fit. Another challenge with a compilation is that not all publishers will want to buy reprints, especially if they have been widely circulated among potential book buyers. And, you may be offered a reduced royalty for a compilation. But there ARE publishers who will recognize the value that a collection offers the reader, and they will give you a fair piece of the pie. You may also find success by self-publishing your material – especially if you are a savvy marketer. Whichever route you choose, never give up on a good idea until you have given it your all. Keep thinking up ways to resell your work...Remember that, when you work with individual pieces, you must also view them as a whole. It’s not that you necessarily have to connect the articles. You do, however, have to consider how they will read in book form...Besides viewing the book as a whole, you will sometimes need to do extra work to complete your book...You may need to change the angle of the material and/or you may need to broaden the scope. But compiling previously published essays into a book is often much easier than writing one from scratch. So, search your hard drive today and see if you can cash in on a book!"