| WHAT HE DOES
Although editing books fills the majority of his time, Bruce
has the experience, knowledge, and passion to handle all writing
projects, including fiction and non-fiction, short and long
works, etc. Before he decides anything, however, he’ll
have a phone (or in-person, if you wish) conference with you
to determine your needs and goals for your work. From there,
he will develop a course of action that will meet or exceed
your expectations and deadlines.
Manuscript Critiques
If you are unsure how your work should be handled,
he can review your material and offer a detailed evaluation
of its strengths, weakness, and needs. This will help him
and you determine which of his services will benefit you and
your work the most.
Editing
This includes content-, structure-, line-, and copy-editing,
and proofreading. When Bruce takes on a project, his number
one priority is to make it “critic-proof.” In
essence, this means fixing anything that a critic or reviewer
might find wrong with a book. They are, after all, the toughest
audience a book will face. He edits from large to small, starting
with structural editing, (which includes things like character
development, plot, and timeline for fiction), then moving
to line editing (essentially making each sentence sound perfect,
and making sure certain sentence constructions, phrases, and/or
words are not overused in the text), then finally to such
details as spelling, punctuation, consistency, presentation,
etc.
The way he tackles a project varies, depending on the needs
of the author and the manuscript. Perhaps only a spelling
and punctuation check is in order. Or perhaps the manuscript
needs a complete structural makeover. His initial phone conference
will determine what he’ll do.
Ghostwriting
Have an idea for a great book, but not the means
to get it down on paper? Have no idea at all, but still want
to write? He can sit down with you to flesh out a book from
just a germ of an idea. Then he can write it for you or help
you get started on it. However it ends up, it will still be
your book with your name on the cover and
your voice within. And it will be, hands down, something you’ll
be immensely proud of.
Marketing Plans
Another skill he has honed over the years is marketing.
Bancroft Press no longer employs a distributor, and thus all
distribution, advertising, publicity, and marketing falls
squarely in our lap. He’s become a master at developing
and executing marketing plans for the books he releases (one
about every seven weeks) because his book sales are his paycheck!
Knowing that a solid, not to mention stellar, marketing plan
can be the clincher to get a publisher to bite on a book proposal,
or to make a marginal published book a financial success,
he offers this indispensable service as well.
Book Proposals
As a book publisher, Bruce has seen tens of thousands
of book proposals. They range from intriguing to atrocious,
with a rainbow of mediocrity in between. Want your proposal
to stand out as professional and intelligent, yet creative
and unique? Of course! The first step to tempting a publisher
to buy your book is to get its editors’ attention. As
an editor and publisher, Bruce knows what doesn’t work—and
what works terrifically.
He can create and put together a proposal package that includes
materials such as a query letter, book outline, author biography,
polished chapter samples, marketing plan, and any other ancillary
materials that will help close the sale of your book. During
his initial phone conference, he’ll explore what type
of package will reach your audience most effectively.
Ancillary Materials
Besides outlines and marketing plans, there are plenty
of materials an author can and should include in his proposal
package to potential publishers. Could your book reach the
education market? Include an accompanying lesson plan or study
guide. Can you speak on radio or television about your book’s
topics? Include a sample Q&A that an on-air personality
might use with you. Bruce can help develop any sort of material
that will make your package pop even more.
Disclaimers Made Necessary by False and Unfounded
Accusations that Bancroft Press is a Vanity Press
No Bancroft Press author is ever asked, much less
required, to pay the press money in return for having Bancroft
Press publish a book.
Moreover, no would-be author submitting a manuscript to Bancroft
Press is ever asked to pay monies to Bancroft for editing.
All Bancroft Press authors are paid advances and royalties.
All Bancroft Press authors have their books edited for free.
Bancroft Literary’s services are on this website for
cost-saving reasons. Otherwise, there is no connection between
Bancroft Press and Bancroft Literary. Any accusations that
Bancroft Press is a vanity press are false and unfounded,
and should be publicly retracted. Failing that, the persons
who make such false statements will be dealt with in the courts. |
