Writers hear plenty of advice about how to write.
Far less is said about what happens after you’ve written.
Dr. Ken Atchity, founder of Writers Lifeline has spent his career on both sides of that question. He has written nearly 30 books, helped launch New York Times bestselling authors, represented stories to publishers and Hollywood, and produced nearly 40 films, including The Meg franchise.
What should I do next?
Publish, Pitch, Position
Once you have the story, you have three jobs: publish it, pitch it, and position it in the marketplace to promote it.
Those three things can look very different depending on what you’ve written and where you want to go.
PUBLISH
For book writers, finishing the manuscript is only the beginning. The next questions is my manuscript ready to publish? How should it be published? And how do you get it in front of readers?
Direct publishing can give writers more control over the process—but publishing without a plan isn’t enough. The book needs to be ready, properly presented and supported by a strategy for reaching its audience.
PITCH
For screenwriters, a great script still has to be sold.
That starts with the concept and logline. How do I write a logline? Can you explain the story in a way that makes someone want to hear more? Is the concept clear? Is the hook strong? And are you pitching the project to the right people?
POSITION
And whether you’re writing a book or a screenplay, you have to know where your story belongs in the marketplace.
Who is it for? What makes it different? Why now? How do you get it noticed?
This is where story development, concept and logline review, publishing, and marketing come together. The goal isn’t simply to finish your work. It’s to understand how to develop it, position it, and move it forward.
These are things writers need to think more strategically about:
- Getting your book ready for publishing
- Developing and sharpening your concept and logline
- Pitching your screenplay or story effectively
- Positioning your work for the marketplace
- Finding the right audience and building visibility
- Marketing your book or project beyond simply putting it out there
- Choosing the next step that makes sense for your larger writing career
Because there isn’t one path that works for every writer.
You don’t have to know the whole road. You just have to know the next move. Visit Writers Lifeline Services and see what’s your next step.
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