Expanding an Article

52greg · Oct 31, 2009

I've written a roughly 3,000 word article that I haven't been able to sell. Science publications say it's too political, and political publications say there's too much science.

So, I'm considering expanding the thing into a book. It would be nonfiction. If I decide to do that, can I use the article as the basis for my proposal?

DerekJager · Nov 4, 2009

Not exactly sure what you mean by "can I use the article as the basis for my proposal?"

As you probably know, your proposal contains a detailed chapter outline of your book, your proposed audience, marketing development, similiar titles, your platform, etc.

So you could use your article as an outline, and use it to extract from that your chapter outline. Is that what you mean?

However, if your subject isn't working at 3000 words, is it going to work at 70,000 to 90,000? Usually, if the article is GREAT, an editor or agent is going to say, "This is GREAT--you should expand it to a book!"

Maybe think over the feedback you've received before jumping into a proposal, which is a lot of work.

Good luck!

52greg · Nov 4, 2009

DerekJager said:
Not exactly sure what you mean by "can I use the article as the basis for my proposal?"

As you probably know, your proposal contains a detailed chapter outline of your book, your proposed audience, marketing development, similiar titles, your platform, etc.

So you could use your article as an outline, and use it to extract from that your chapter outline. Is that what you mean?

However, if your subject isn't working at 3000 words, is it going to work at 70,000 to 90,000? Usually, if the article is GREAT, an editor or agent is going to say, "This is GREAT--you should expand it to a book!"

Maybe think over the feedback you've received before jumping into a proposal, which is a lot of work.

Good luck!

Thanks, Derek. I've stuck to novels so far when I've done major projects. Maybe I'll just stay in fiction.

SeattleGhostWriter · Nov 4, 2009

52greg said:
I've written a roughly 3,000 word article that I haven't been able to sell. Science publications say it's too political, and political publications say there's too much science.

So, I'm considering expanding the thing into a book. It would be nonfiction. If I decide to do that, can I use the article as the basis for my proposal?

1) What is your thesis?

2) What is the title?

3) What is the summation of this article?

Not sure how to answer this question for you if there really is no information to go on as to why a political publication will deny it and why a science publication would deny it? Also, what are these publications? Have you checked their guidelines, requested and read a few articles in their publications to see exactly what type of content they actually do publish?

52greg · Nov 4, 2009

SeattleGhostWriter said:
1) What is your thesis?

2) What is the title?

3) What is the summation of this article?

Not sure how to answer this question for you if there really is no information to go on as to why a political publication will deny it and why a science publication would deny it? Also, what are these publications? Have you checked their guidelines, requested and read a few articles in their publications to see exactly what type of content they actually do publish?

The thesis argues we should use the wealth we know exists in asteroids-- even limiting ourselves to the precious metals-- to underwrite development projects around the world. The article goes into what we know about asteroids and how given asteroids could be assayed to determine its gold or silver content using unmanned probes. Then, the article sketches out a plan that would establish the legal and political structures to bring such development about. Summing up, the article argues the plan is another in a long line of tests of self-government.

Title? The article is: "Utilizing ET Wealth: Creating A New World"

SeattleGhostWriter · Nov 4, 2009

Are you writing to inform? Persuade? Are you using Academic sources for material support? Why the interest of this particular topic? What makes you think an audience would be interested in this?

What are the publications you are approaching?

Autodidact · Nov 4, 2009

I might start first with the idea that there's wealth in asteroids and what we would need to do to get it. That's pretty interesting, and I think could be a book proposal.

You could throw in the other as one proposal at the end, but it changes it from science into to polemic/crackpot, so would make it harder to get published IMO.

52greg · Nov 5, 2009

Thanks, guys. I've been involved in the space movement for years, and the knock against space exploration is often that the money could be better spent on more Earthly concerns. I thought linking the wealth in space to tackling major problems on Earth would be interesting, a different perspectiive-- maybe even useful. Perhaps not.

The proposal changes it from strictly science to a mix of science and politics, as I acknowledged in my first post, but crackpot? Like spending trillions of dollars nobody has and insisting all will be well, you mean?
'

Greenwolf103 · Nov 5, 2009

I have done this, with my most recent book. After I realized it would work better as a book, I honed in on a way to make it unique and worked from there.

You could try using parts of the article for your proposal, since you will have to make your case for this book. But an article and proposal are two different animals, so I don't think you could use the whole thing. Also, an article generally does not explore topics too in-depth, so I don't see how it could work. Just take the most important excerpts from the article and use them in the proposal.

Your idea DOES sound interesting. I'm into astronomy, so I know I would want to read something like that.

Also, the fact that you have relevant experience for this book could help you. A lot.

52greg · Nov 6, 2009

Greenwolf103 said:
I have done this, with my most recent book. After I realized it would work better as a book, I honed in on a way to make it unique and worked from there.

You could try using parts of the article for your proposal, since you will have to make your case for this book. But an article and proposal are two different animals, so I don't think you could use the whole thing. Also, an article generally does not explore topics too in-depth, so I don't see how it could work. Just take the most important excerpts from the article and use them in the proposal.

Your idea DOES sound interesting. I'm into astronomy, so I know I would want to read something like that. Also, the fact that you have relevant experience for this book could help you. A lot.

Thanks for your advice. I don't know that I could say I have experience in this area, but I have followed the debate my whole adult life, and I throw my two cents in occasionally.

Tippecanoe1841 · Nov 27, 2009

It sounds like a great idea, but in expanding a 3,000 word article into a full length book manuscript, be careful to avoid the appearance of "padding" the manuscript. Your topic is complex enough that you can research it and write in great detail, and it is an original idea. Good luck with your WIP!

52greg · Nov 28, 2009

Tippecanoe1841 said:
It sounds like a great idea, but in expanding a 3,000 word article into a full length book manuscript, be careful to avoid the appearance of "padding" the manuscript. Your topic is complex enough that you can research it and write in great detail, and it is an original idea. Good luck with your WIP!

Thanks. It's not really a WIP yet; I'm still just thinking about it. I do think it's an original idea, however, and there might be a particular opening for it over the next few years as the current economic and financial disarray plays itself out.

Expanding an Article

52greg

DerekJager

52greg

SeattleGhostWriter

Obsessive is just a less complimentary term for "d

52greg

SeattleGhostWriter

Obsessive is just a less complimentary term for "d

Autodidact

...in my Maidenform Bra.

52greg

Greenwolf103

I'm a grrrl dog, yo

52greg

Tippecanoe1841

Dead poets live forever.

52greg