Turning Articles into Books

The transition between an article and a book is usually pretty simple.  In one case, I had done a number of articles on house boating for Family Houseboating Magazine. There were a few tests on particular models, others talked about house boating on a lake or river, living in a houseboat full time and more.  Up to this point there was no book on the subject.  It looked to me like I had a lot of good basic material that could be put together into a house boating book.  I had a New York agent who had sold several books for me so I sat down and wrote him a query.  He passed it on to a number of New York publishers. Actually I didn't need an agent to sell this one.  I could have gone directly to all possible publishers who might take the book.

Prentice Hall gave me a contract.  However, I didn't jump right in and get started.  I sat down and made a list of the pictures I was going to need.  This included pictures of waterways across United States, house boating models from manufacturers, engines used on houseboats, interior pictures, and a lot more.

Several hundred pictures poured in.  Unfortunately at this point I had moved from California to New Mexico and I couldn't find the pictures when I got there, so I asked all manufactures for the pictures again.

In another case, I read in Sunset Magazine about a new method for growing vegetables at the University of California, Santa Cruz.  Vegetables were planted across the entire bed and not in rows.  I drove to Santa Cruz and interviewed the individual in charge of the garden.  This resulted in several articles, then realizing that homeowners with small yards and apartment dwellers could use this information, I asked myself if it would make a good gardening book.  The answer was yes.  So, I sent a query to a number of publishers under the title The Postage Stamp Garden Book.  It was purchased by J. P. Tarcher in Southern California who sent me on a 15 city tour. The Postage Stamp Garden Book sold extremely well and became a Book of the Month Club, book.  As a result, we sold about a quarter of a million copies.  Over the years I have done this a number of times, all to my advantage.  In addition, when a book goes out of print at one publisher, we offer it to others. This has resulted in a number of other sales after the book was remaindered.

When to consider turning your articles into books.

• When you have written several articles on a particular subject and have a considerable amount of research.  How-to articles are especially good for this.  For instance, variations on such books as How To Overcome Grief. I see dozens of these come out every year.

• When your subject has an appeal to a large number of people or to a selected group.  If you've written articles on hiking, for instance, you might think of the baby boomers who are looking for outdoor recreation and try a book called, “Hiking After 50." One of my clients, who was writing articles on raising children, sold Random House a book on Setting Limits. It has been on their list for many years now and has earned a good income.

• When you find some indication that several publishers might well be interested in your subject. Children and prescription drugs is a hot topic right now.  Children bullying other children or cyber bullying.  Read the major magazines regularly to see what subjects they are into.

• When you have the enthusiasm to write a full-length book on a subject. There are subjects that once you get started, literally write themselves.  I felt this way about gardening, as a result I now have 11 books on the subject.

At this point write the best query you can and send it out to an editor you feel might be receptive.  You will find what particular editors take in Jeff Herman's Guide to Publishers, Editors and Agents available at your library or bookstore