A Fun Quiz for Authors and Authors-to-be on the business of being a professional author

By Joey Garcia, author platform coach and editor

How much do you know about the business of being a professional author? Most of us spend a lot of time in writing classes but don’t make a commensurate investment in learning about the business we’re in. Think of it this way: Every author runs a small business whose product is a book. Want to know more? Try this fun quiz and see how you score. Attendees of the SFWC book marketing track and masterclasses should ace it.

1. An author’s platform and an author’s network are the same thing.
   a) True.
   b) False.
   ANSWER: B-False. A platform represents who knows you. A network is who you know.
2. The best time to build your platform and an audience for your book is:
   a) after your manuscript is complete.
   b) before you pitch an agent.
   c) before your publisher or publicist sends out a press release to the media.
   d) while you are writing your book.
   ANSWER: D-while you are writing your book.
3. The best way to know whether you have a solid platform is:
   a) to ask an agent or publisher if they have heard about you.
   b) Google yourself and see if you have a Google Knowledge panel.
   c) if the media comes to you as a source on whose expertise they can rely.
   ANSWER: C-if the media comes to you as a source on whose expertise they can rely.
4. Authors who are professional speakers are automatically terrific interviews for the media.
   a) True because they are comfortable speaking in front of an audience.
   b) False. Speaking in front of an audience and being a compelling interviewee are two different skill sets.
   ANSWER: B-False. Speaking in front of an audience and being a compelling interviewee are two different skill sets.
5. More than one million books are published each year by traditional publishers, hybrid publishers, small press publishers, and self-publishers.
   a) True
   b) False
   ANSWER: A-True
6. It’s better to pitch the media than send a press release.
   a) True. Think of it this way—would you send a press release to a literary agent?
   b) False
   c) It depends on the content and quality of the pitch and the press release.
   ANSWER: C-It depends on the content and quality of the pitch and the press release.
7. A media pitch is:
   a) a distillation of your topic that proves it is newsworthy, unique, and timely. The best media pitches include facts and statistics.
   b) the responsibility of a publicist.
   c) better than a press release.
   ANSWER: A-a distillation of your topic that proves it is newsworthy, unique, and timely. The best media pitches include facts and statistics.
8. Author bios:
   a) should avoid homophones so radio audiences aren’t confused.
   b) should be focused only on the parts of an author’s background related to the book they are promoting.
   c) should always include the media market.
   d) should be different for print, radio, and TV.
   e) All of the above.
   ANSWER: E-All of the above.
9. Media appearances don’t necessarily sell books. Soundbites sell books.
   a) True.
   b) False
   ANSWER: A-True and media pro Joey Garcia is offering a masterclass at SFWC23 to show you exactly how.
10. The biggest question on a literary agent’s mind when they read a manuscript is:
    a) Where did this writer get their MFA?
    b) How many literary magazines is this writer published in?
    c) How many social media followers does this writer have?
    d) How can I sell this?
    ANSWER: D-How can I sell this?
11. Which of the following are true:
    a) A writing coach helps you get your words on paper, motivates you to meet deadlines and write past blocks. They also edit and proofread your work.
    b) A book coach is a developmental editor who works with you as you’re writing your book, asking helpful questions that invite you to dig deeper. They edit your pages with an eye to the manuscript’s narrative arc.
    c) An author platform coach helps you shape your literary career by developing your brand, editing your writing projects (developmental editing and proofreading of manuscripts, essays, book proposals and queries), researches places where you can submit articles or essays, designs media-friendly websites, prepares you for media interviews, curates lists of podcasts and blogs where you can be a guest, helps you pitch and get speaking engagements, and brainstorms marketing and publicity ideas to build your platform, following, and email list.
    d) All of the above.
    ANSWER: D-All of the above.
12. You should attend SFWC23 and:
    a) learn about the business of being a professional author.
    b) register for Joey Garcia’s masterclass, The Art of Crafting Memorable Soundbites ( https://www.sfwriters.org/master-classes/#Joey-Garcia), which will teach you how to use every interview to sell more books and create more opportunities.
    c) enjoy one of the best writing conferences in the U.S., and one of the few that includes sessions on the business of being an author.
    d) All of the above!
    ANSWER: D-All of the above!

How did you score? Let us know in the comments!

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Joey Garcia is an editor and author platform coach. Her clients have been interviewed by, and have bylines in national media, including The Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian magazine, Ms. magazine, CNN, and The Tamron Hall Show, among others. Joey is the author of When Your Heart Breaks, It’s Opening to Love, and she’s been featured in HuffPost, USA Today, Deutsche Welle, KVIE public television, Global Woman TV Sweden, Australia’s Ticker News and Slate’s Dear Prudence podcast. In 2017, Joey established the first-ever literary fellowship in Belize, her birthplace. She leads an annual retreat in Belize for writers from all over the world. www.joeygarcia.com

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