Ep.25 - From words to wealth: how to LAND a 6-figure book deal
From the moment I shared about my 6-figure book deal in 2021, I’ve received an influx of messages featuring the same question:
“How do I secure a book deal?”
As some of you may already know, The Bad Bitch Business Bible, a book I've been pouring my heart and soul into for the past three years, is now up for pre-order and is the culmination of years of hard work and a realized dream of my younger self.
It’s been a wild ride of writing, researching, pitching, and editing. But now, the Bible is ready to make its grand entrance into the world. It's up for pre-order, published by none other than HarperCollins, and I secured a six-figure book deal as a first-time author.
This was no easy feat, and in general, the journey to publishing is a lot harder than most people realize. Here's a shocking truth: over 90% of people believe they have a book inside them, a story they're eager to share with the world. But guess what? Less than 5% of those people actually start, finish, and publish their books. At every stage of the process, there's a massive drop-off rate. Many dreamers don't even put pen to paper, and those who do often fall short before completion.
Believe me when I say that the last 10% of writing a book is excruciatingly tough. It feels like an uphill battle to finish those final chapters. Now, I've done a lot of things in my life—won national championships as a gymnast, launched multiple podcasts, even sold a company. But let me tell you, squeezing over a decade of my career into 200-plus pages was an entirely different challenge.
Here's the thing about writing a book: there's no such thing as perfection. No clear roadmap. When you start, you have no idea what the book will become. It's like charting your own path as an entrepreneur. The book publishing process is a daunting, arduous journey. From three years of hard work come these 7 tips I can share on what led me to successfully secure a book deal:
Define your badass book idea: Don't settle for a vague autobiography. Answer crucial questions like, "Why does this book matter?" and "Why should people care?" Figure out the problem your book will solve and know who your specific audience is.
Outline the main takeaways: What do you want someone to walk away with after they read your book? Determine the core messages and feelings you want to convey through your book. Give readers actionable advice and empower them in their journey.
Iterate and test your ideas: Writing and testing go hand-in-hand. Be passionate and laser-focused on your chosen topic. Find what truly ignites your soul and write extensively about it. This may take time and multiple iterations.
Decide on your publishing pathway: You can choose to self-publish or go the traditional publishing route. Consider the pros and cons of each path. Self-publishing grants you full control and profits but also entails responsibility for editing, design, and distribution. Traditional publishing offers the potential for an advance and the expertise of established publishers.
Locate a literary agent: Publishing traditionally is possible without an agent, but representation makes a difference and helps you negotiate for better deals. Look for reputable agents who resonate with your book's vision. Build a network, put your intention out there, and don't be afraid to seek connections. Craft a killer book proposal to impress agents and publishers alike.
Craft a captivating book proposal and pitch: This is where you need to hook the team, and an agent is extremely helpful in putting this together. Your proposal needs to showcase your accomplishments and why you're the perfect fit to write the book. When it comes to communicating or even interviewing with the publishing team, you want your passion and expertise to shine through for your book idea.
Accept the offer you deserve: One of the core concepts you’ll read about in The Bad Bitch Business Bible: A Bad Bitch never accepts the first offer because the first offer is never the best that people can give you. Regarding your book deal, be ready to ask for more money and negotiate for what you want. In business and book deals, Bad Bitches never settle.
In the full podcast episode, you can hear the full details behind the process of ideating, pitching, and securing the book deal for The Bad Bitch Business Bible, including a breakdown of what went into the book proposal to lead to a “fuck yes” from HarperCollins.
Becoming a published author and securing a lucrative book deal requires dedication, perseverance, and strategic planning. The journey is challenging, but I want to assure you that your unique voice is needed and you have a story that is worth writing and sharing with the world.