FabJob Author Manual

FabJob Author Manual

1. FabJob Career Guides

Satisfaction Guaranteed

We developed our Author Manual to ensure customer satisfaction with FabJob guides. This is an extremely important concept to FabJob for a number of reasons. We offer a satisfaction guarantee and expect a refund rate of less than 1% on all our guides. To achieve this we must consistently produce outstanding products because "returning" an e-book is relatively easy.

We have therefore developed our Author Manual to create guides that: (1) customers will buy, and (2) customers will be delighted with.

Our Readers

Since 1999 when our company was founded, we have learned that people who buy books online (as many of our readers do) are sophisticated Internet users. If they are looking for career information, we can assume they have already been to websites that offer free information about how to apply for jobs and do well in an interview, and were dissatisfied with what was there.

To get people to pay for career information—and to be satisfied with their purchase—our guides must offer advice that goes far beyond what can be found on free websites. Our readers are savvy and have a very high demand for information that is up-to-date.

Our Writers

Our writers are people who love to teach and help others. They take pride in a job well done, and produce the best possible manuscript they can because that’s the only way they know how.

In addition to being exceptional online researchers, our writers know how to contact industry experts and persuade them to provide insider information about how to break into the career. For this reason many of our writers return to complete more FabJob titles.

Our Expectations

Although FabJob will edit each guide, we expect that the guide be submitted in essentially the form it will be published. This means that you must read this manual carefully and take it to heart, as well as proofread your submission, and reread it from start to finish before you send it in.

Typical Length

We expect guides to be a minimum of 25,000 words (broken down into the Chapters explained in this manual), and in many cases longer depending on the nature of the topic. For example, the FabJob Guide to Become a Makeup Artist is more than 80,000 words, as the career has a number of different paths, from working in a spa or salon to working in Hollywood, all of which are covered in detail. A minimum word count will be worked out between you and your editor during the assignment phase.

Time Frame

Our authors are generally able to complete their first draft 3-4 months from the day they receive their contract. If you will need longer than that, please advise us when you submit your proposed TOC so we can schedule appropriately. You will be expected to submit all your materials as explained in this manual on or before your deadline. Please backup your material frequently on an outside source so that you will not lose all your work if your computer malfunctions.

Missed Deadlines

Missed deadlines hold up all our departments down the line, so be realistic about your other time commitments and writing speed. If you find yourself falling behind, check with an editor to make sure you are on track with the right content. FabJob may also be able to provide you with research assistants if the project warrants it.

It is imperative that you contact us to let us know you are having personal or professional difficulties with a proposed deadline.

2. The FabJob Style

Your guide should be written in a conversational style, as if you were sharing advice with a good friend. You can use the word “I” when you cite your own experience in the industry, and you can address the reader as “you”. This draws the reader into the industry you are preparing them for. For example, say, “You will need a distinct set of tools to organize professionally” rather than, “Professional organizers use a distinct set of tools”. The first draws the reader into the world of organizing, while the second leaves them on the outside looking in.

Information should be presented in a step-by-step manner in plain English so it can be understood easily by someone with no previous experience in the FabJob. When you use terminology that is specific to the career, it should be explained, even if you intend to include a glossary of terms.

Overall, the guide should have a positive, inclusive, encouraging tone. Every reader should feel uplifted, as if a friend was saying, "You can do it! Here are some ways to get started . . ." The guide should avoid suggesting that it is "impossible" for people without certain attributes to succeed in a particular career. After all, 5 foot 3 inch Muggsy Bogues was a successful professional basketball player in the NBA!

The guide should also avoid focusing on the negatives of a job. No matter what the downsides, a FabJob beats the heck out of being a convenience store clerk, a waitress, a telemarketer or a swamper (someone who unloads heavy boxes out of the back of a truck).

Likewise, your manuscript should not focus on how tough it is to break in. Our purpose is not to try to scare people off; in most cases they already know how tough it is to break in. They are buying our guide because it will tell them how to beat the odds and get hired for the job of their dreams.

3. Content Requirements

You will need to ensure that your guide's content includes each of the following 5 elements:

3.1 It Offers Insider Information

Your guide should share insider information from people who have succeeded in the FabJob. It should be packed with helpful hints and creative ideas to put the reader miles ahead of "the competition." Ideally, it will include information that might take an inexperienced person months or years of trial and error to discover on their own.

To accomplish this, you as an author must interview professionals in the field and include their advice in the guide. You can get good information by asking questions like:

What was the one thing no one told you when you were starting out?
What were some unexpected setbacks you experienced, and how could you have avoided them?
What advice do you have for up-and-coming _____?
What is your favorite “industry secret”?

These interviews seem to be most effective when integrated into the text of the guide, rather than transcribed verbatim at the end of a section, but use your own judgment. The advice of these professionals will lend your guide increased credibility and clarity, and will offer a variety of viewpoints on topics that are controversial within the industry.

Note that there is also such a thing as over-reliance on outside sources. You as the author need to position yourself as an expert in order for the reader to believe you know what you are talking about. Speak with confidence on your topic, and use your experts to corroborate your advice. Explain things in your own words as much as possible, and have your colorful quotes drive the point home. An over-reliance on the advice of others leads the reader to question what authority you have to write the book, so use only your best quotes, and explain the bulk of information in your own words.

Your advice is much more credible if you can offer anecdotal evidence (i.e. true stories) to support your claims. These can be your own experiences and those of your interview subjects. If they are longer stories but break up the flow of the section, you can make a note that they are intended as a sidebar.

3.2 It is Complete

Your guide should cover breaking into a career at all levels (particularly how to land an entry-level position) and include as many career options as reasonably possible. While describing the routes most commonly followed to break in or achieve success, the guide should also mention if there are unconventional ways to achieve the same goal.

The best way to ensure that your guide is complete is to follow your proposed table of contents. If you come across some “insider information” during the writing process that seems key to success, don’t ignore it because it wasn’t in the TOC—bring it to the attention of the editor for consideration. A FabJob researcher may also be able to step in and lend a hand to make sure the guide meets FabJob standards of completeness.

3.3 It Offers Concrete Advice

Your guide should offer detailed and precise information. For example, it is not sufficient to say something like "Practice, practice, practice. The more you do, the better you get." Readers need to know how to practice and what to practice, and how to measure when they are ready to take the next step.

All advice must be explained step-by step so there is no point when readers “hit a brick wall”—meaning, they would think to themselves, “I wouldn’t know how to do/find that.” If you and the editor have decided that it is not practical to explain a particular topic in detail within the parameters of the guide, it is appropriate to offer the reader resources (e.g., websites, books, courses, etc.) so they can learn more about it if they feel they need to.

Key resources should appear in the section they pertain to, rather than grouped at the end of a chapter or the guide. General industry resources can be included at the end.

3.4 The Information is Current

A selling point of FabJob guides is that they contain up-to-date information. The information in your guide should ideally be based primarily on first-hand knowledge and research using current sources. Any information from books or other secondary sources must be verified before including it in your guide, and you should cite the source of this information for the FabJob editor. FabJob has a program in place that is set up to ensure timely updates of guides once they are published.

For example, when the FabJob Guide to Become a Motivational Speaker was being prepared, one of the many sources used was a book about the seminar business
purchased from a major Internet bookseller only a few months earlier. When the seminar companies listed in the book were contacted to verify information, more than half were no longer in business. Further research has produced a guide that is far more timely than previous print publications.

3.5 It Has a North American Focus

The vast majority of FabJob readers are American, with a smaller but notable percentage of Canadian readers. Your guide should therefore focus on how to break into and succeed in a FabJob in the United States. You should also research appropriate information for Canadian readers, and include it if it differs from the American process.

You may also include information from other countries where appropriate, particularly England and Australia.

4. The Editorial Process

The way it works is this:

You will take some time to research your assigned topic, and put together a proposed Table of Contents that reflects the FabJob style. To assist you in preparing your guide, we will provide you with samples of one or more FabJob Tables of Contents that have been approved. If your guide will be substantially different from the standard, you should discuss it with a FabJob editor before writing the outline.
You will also estimate the word count, estimate how long you will need from the day of assignment to write the guide, and detail what sources you will use to research the guide. This part of the process generally takes a week or less.
A FabJob editor will review your submission and make revisions and suggestions until you and the editor come to a mutual agreement on the proposal. The suggestions are likely to involve expanding the scope, refocusing the topic, etc.
The editor will bring the proposal to the FabJob Editorial Review Board, who will evaluate the salability and timing of the guide, suggest any necessary changes, approve or reject the project, and decide on a payment.
The editor will present their offer to you. If you accept, we will send you a signed contract and you can begin writing. Be sure to sign your portion and return one copy of your contract in a timely manner.
The editor will work with you to develop the manuscript, be available for questions, and periodically review your work at an agreed-upon schedule.
You will submit the book and periphery materials on or before the proposed deadline. The editor will review it as soon as it can be scheduled in, to make sure it covers everything in the outline.
You will be requested to make (hopefully minor) revisions or changes to bring your draft into line with these guidelines, and then will submit a final draft.
A FabJob editor will review and copyedit your guide. There may be a few small clarifying questions emailed to you for quick response. If you would like to review the final product before it goes to the production department, please indicate this preference to the editor when you submit your final draft, otherwise the book will go right to production. Your book will also be proofread once the design is complete.
Your manuscript has to be termed “acceptable” by a FabJob editor before you will get paid. If you have followed these guidelines carefully, met your deadline, and made changes where requested, there should not be a significant delay in accepting your manuscript as complete and getting it up for sale in a reasonable timeframe.

5. Sections of the Guide

Most FabJob career guides follow a standard format consisting of Chapters and sections. Note that the Chapter is the main heading (there are usually 7 Chapters), and sections are the subheads of each chapter. Both the Chapters and the Subheads are numbered, like so:

1. Introduction

    1.1 What is a Celebrity Personal Assistant?
         1.1.1 ‘Celebrity’
         1.1.2 ‘Personal’
         1.1.3 ‘Assistant’
    1.2 Benefits of a Career as a CPA
         1.2.1 Pay
         1.2.2 The Perks
         1.2.3 Future Possibilities

The main Chapters you will use are the following, and are explained in detail below.

1. Introduction
2. What a ____ Does
3. Developing Your Skills
4. Getting Hired
5. Starting Your Own Business
6. “Running Your Business”
7. Conclusion

NOTE: If Your Guide is Not Typical

If you are producing a guide that clearly does not fit into the above guidelines, our editors will work with you to determine an outline that suits the FabJob.

Chapter 1: Introduction

This is a brief chapter that makes the reader feel excited about the career and glad they have purchased the guide, by explaining why this career choice is truly a FabJob. You will describe the career (brief history, a typical day, etc.) and its benefits.

The information in this section should help to market the entire guide. You are getting the reader “pumped up” about the career and the industry. Here is a sample paragraph from the introduction to the FabJob Guide to Become a Makeup Artist:

No matter if you work with beauty queens or brides, you will be helping people achieve their dreams by enhancing their image. With the right makeup, you can take people back in time, make fantasies believable, and make everyday life shimmer with excitement—if only for one enchanted evening. This is a gift that makeup artists share with the world: touching lives with beauty and glamour.

Subdivisions of the chapter will include the following, or adaptations of them as agreed upon with your editor.

1.1 The Importance of ______

1.1.1 What ________ Is
This section defines the main topic of the guide. For example, in the FabJob Guide to Become an Interior Decorator, this section explained the difference between interior decorating and interior design. In the FabJob Guide to Become an Image Consultant, we explain what "image" is.

1.1.2 Why ________ Matters
In this section we explain the importance of the topic in people's lives, and how a career in this field will make you go to bed happy at night. For example, the FabJob Guide to Become a Doula (birth assistant) explains how you will help moms-to-be and new moms cope with one of the most exhilarating and overwhelming experiences of life, and the gratitude you will experience, especially from women who don’t have a strong support network of their own.

1.2 About the Profession

1.2.1 Overview of the Career
This section gives an overview of the types of services provided by a _______ as well as the types of clients they serve. You might list common specializations and what the earning potential is.

1.2.2 Growth of the Industry
Give factual information about the demand for professionals in this career and explain why the industry is growing in popularity (or at least remaining steady). This section can also include a brief sidebar (maximum 250 words) on historic milestones in the industry.

1.2.3 Benefits of a Career in ________
List specific benefits (why this job is Fab) with at least 200 words describing each. Common benefits in FabJob guides are working from home, income potential, exciting work environment, helping people, making a difference, low start-up costs (a.k.a., You Can Start Right Now), doing a job you love, meeting
celebrities and important people, and having a position of respect in your community.

1.3 Inside This Guide

This briefly explains what each chapter in the rest of the guide covers in upbeat, “Bet You Can’t Wait to Read THIS!” tones. This gives the reader a roadmap of what to expect, and assures them that their pet topic will be covered. Make sure the key issues and hard-to-find information are covered, such as where to train, how to break in without going back to school, how to ace an interview, how to write a business plan, etc.

If you are unsure what the key topics of your guide should be, take a look at your Table of Contents and see where you have allotted the majority of information. Wile you can draft this section at the beginning of the guide to help you write, you’ll want to revise it just before you submit your guide.

Here is a sample from the FabJob Guide to Become an Event Planner:

Chapter 2 will explain in more detail the role of an event planner, and give you step-by-step guidance on planning an event – from the initial planning stage to the day of the event.

In Chapter 3, we’ll outline the talents and skills you will need in order to be a smashing success as an event planner, and offer suggestions on how to develop those skills through formal and continuing education and self-study.

Chapter 4 focuses on event planning jobs. You will discover who hires event planners, how to find out about job openings, how to prepare an effective resume and cover letter, and how to do well in an interview. You will even discover how to create your own job!

Chapter 2: What a ________ Does

This chapter of the guide explains how to do the job. The guide need not explain every detail, but should explain basic information about how to do each important task involved in the job and refer the reader to the best resources for learning more.

In a few cases, it is well known what the job involves (e.g. acting or modeling) so this chapter is relatively short. However, in many other cases, readers will expect step-by-step instructions. For example, the "What a Wedding Planner Does" chapter in the FabJob Guide to Become a Wedding Planner is 75 pages long and covers:

Services provided by a wedding planner

Preliminary steps to plan a wedding (how to prepare a budget, schedule, and checklists)

How to plan the ceremony (selecting the date, obtaining the marriage license, ceremony vows, music, rehearsal, etc.)

How to plan the reception

Working with vendors

The guide should include forms, checklists, and samples to assist the reader in doing the job. By the end of this section, the reader should have a very clear idea of what they will do on the job, and how to do it, including resources for further study on complex topics.

Typical subheads in this category include:

Services provided
Important distinctions and definitions
Your basic tools and supplies
How to prepare to do the job (planning stages)
How to do the job (task by task; further divided step-by-step)
Typical day-to-day operations (for businesses)
Atypical or special events or services

Here is a sample Chapter 2 outline from the FabJob Guide to Become an Event Planner:

2. What an Event Planner Does
    2.1 Services and Specialization
        2.1.1 Social Events
        2.1.2 Corporate Events
        2.1.3 Industry Events
        2.1.4 Special Events
    2.2 Preliminary Steps to Plan an Event
        2.2.1 Consult with the Client
        2.2.2 Set Objectives
        2.2.3 Choose a Date
        2.2.4 Decide Who to Invite
        2.2.5 Create Your Theme
        2.2.6 Set the Event Agenda
    2.3 Get Organized
        2.3.1 Establish an Event Committee
        2.3.2 Timeline Schedule
        2.3.3 Critical Path
        2.3.4 Budgets
        2.3.5 Crisis and Backup Planning
        2.3.6 The Rehearsal
    2.4 Venues
        2.4.1 Finding a Venue
        2.4.2 Space Requirements
        2.4.3 Creating an RFP
        2.4.4 Site Inspection
        2.4.5 Site Confirmation
        2.4.6 Pre-Event Meeting
    2.5 Vendors
        2.5.1 Types of Vendors
        2.5.2 How to Find Vendors
        2.5.3 Choosing Vendors
        2.5.4 Vendor Contracts
        2.5.5 Tips for Specific Types of Vendors
        2.5.6 Coordination with the Suppliers
    2.6 Marketing
        2.6.1 Advertising
        2.6.2 Publicity
        2.6.3 Sponsorships
    2.7 Event Day
    2.8 After the Event
        2.8.1 Event Evaluations
        2.8.2 Other Activities

Chapter 3: Developing Your Skills

This chapter explains the skills needed to succeed in the job, and offers advice on how to develop those skills. FabJob guides emphasize (where appropriate) that extensive retraining or schooling is not necessary for all careers, and is not the one and only way to success.

One effective way that FabJob guides help people self-analyze is by offering an aptitude quiz for the career. Readers can score themselves on natural aptitude and areas for improvement. A quiz is an optional but fun way to introduce the reader to the necessary skills for the career. Quite often these skills involve interpersonal skills, communications skills, and others that are particular to the job.

This part of the guide also explains how to learn the job, through traditional routes such as educational programs, and self-study or online education. It gives the reader advice on how to decide what training they require, how to find and choose a program of study, and estimated costs. Quite often readers want to know what is available near them, so it is important to list the geographical location of the programs, as well as a website and phone number for them to follow up. Please note that this information cannot be cut and pasted off the internet—you need to compile and verify it yourself.

When there are too many training programs to list (e.g. Human Resources Professional), then the guide should provide criteria to judge programs by, and supply a list of the top-respected programs in the U.S. and Canada based on a recent study or set criteria, or in the opinions of experts in the field. (It should NOT be based on Google-ing a search phrase for your industry.)

For those readers who prefer not to return to school, the self-study section should include a wide variety of learning options such as: information interviews, trade shows, books, professional associations, websites, etc.

If the career requires special certifications or licenses such as food handling for restaurant managers, cosmetology for hairstylists, or CPR for daycare owners, licensing requirements should be addressed in this section, with a region-by-region breakdown of what is required, and contact information for the regional governing authorities (since regulations are subject to change).

This part of the guide should also include ways to learn by doing. This might include getting a part-time job in the industry, volunteer opportunities with non-profit organizations, internships, "just doing it" (e.g. learning interior decorating by doing decorating for friends and family members).

Here is a sample outline for Chapter 3 from the FabJob Guide to Become a Fashion Designer.

3. Developing Your Skills
    3.1 Skills you will need
         3.1.1 Communication Skills
         3.1.2 Textile and Sewing Knowledge
         3.1.3 Sketching by Hand
         3.1.4 CAD Skills
         3.1.5 An Eye for Fashion
         3.1.6 Creativity
    3.2 Formal Education
         3.2.1 Degree and Certificate Programs
         3.2.2 How to Find and Compare Them
         3.2.3 Tips on What to Look For
    3.3 Informal Training
         3.3.1 Work With Clothing in Some Way
         3.3.2 Study Fashion on Your Own
         3.3.3 Attend Fashion Events
         3.3.4 Design for Fun
         3.3.5 Create a Fashion Network
         3.3.6 Apprenticeship or Internship

Chapter 4: Getting Hired

Since a typical FabJob is highly desirable and therefore not advertised, this Chapter of the guide is particularly valuable for beginners. This information should not be general job-hunting advice, but should be specific to that career and based on personal experience or interviews with industry insiders. This chapter should cover the following:

Types of Employers

When you list types of employers, make sure you understand and explain why that employer would need the services of a ________. For example, if you say that hotels, PR firms, and government agencies hire etiquette consultants, explain why their services would be required, as the reasons for hiring at each of these would be radically different. Include:

Overview of each type of organization that hires people for this FabJob or related entry-level positions that can give valuable experience and lead to the FabJob (e.g. Speakers are hired by: conference organizers, professional associations, local and national seminar companies, corporations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, continuing education departments, schools, colleges, and cruise ships)
Typical salaries
Where to find lists of contacts for each type of organization (directories, etc.)
If there are a limited number of employers, include your own list with links to their websites (Again, do not "copy and paste" lists from other sources as this may violate copyrights, and such lists may contain inaccuracies. Any lists you include in your manuscript must be compiled and verified by you.)
How to contact these employers and who to contact (which position in the organization)

How to Find Job Openings

This section should be an eye-opener for the reader. For example, the FabJob Guide to Become a Celebrity Personal Assistant includes information on a certain Hollywood job sheet that only people in the industry know about. If you only supply readers with hyperlinks to the same job boards they already search (Monster.com, Hotjobs.com, etc.) they will feel that they could have found all this information on their own. Include:

Advertised positions (include websites and professional associations with job boards for this particular career)
Unadvertised positions (tips on networking and insider advice on little-known avenues to break in)
Placement agencies specializing in this career (with links and phone numbers for those agencies)
How to “create a job”

Job Hunting Materials

A typical faux-pas when writing this section is when authors don’t follow their own advice. For example, if you tell the reader to create a non-traditional resume that focuses on skills rather than experience, the sample you provide should reflect that. Include:

How to prepare a resume for this particular job (include at least one sample from an entry-level applicant, or more showing different levels of experience)
How to showcase your talent with little or no experience
How to prepare a cover letter (include at least one sample)
Detailed advice on how to prepare any other job-hunting materials that are used in this career (e.g. portfolio, demo tape, references and recommendations / testimonials, etc.)

Interviews

The number-one thing to remember when writing this section is that readers do not want cookie-cutter answers you’ve cobbled together from browsing MSN Careers and Monster.com. The section should be insightful and industry-specific. Include:

What employers are looking for, based on interviews with agencies, sample want ads, and interviews with decision-makers

How to dress

The process (number of interviews, skills testing)

Questions to expect (with sample answers to wow employers)

Potential pitfalls and how to avoid them

Tips to make a great impression

Following up (with sample note)

Other Information

Include any other information relevant to getting hired for this job, such as:

How to get an agent (if appropriate)
How to get into a union or exclusive professional organization
Unconventional ways to break in
How to be promoted out of an entry-level position
Insider tips for success or growing your career

Chapter 5: Starting Your Own Business

If it is possible to start one's own business in this FabJob, the guide should include a chapter (or more) on this topic. Depending on the career, this chapter may be equal in size to, or longer than, the Getting Hired chapter.

Readers don't mind some generic information on the basics of starting a business if they feel it saves them hours of time tracking it down. However, it is essential that a guide also include information that readers feel they would not be able to easily track down on their own.

Following is the type of industry-specific information that will need to be tracked down. This part of the guide must also include samples the reader can adapt and use for their own business (forms, checklists, letters, contract, ads, invoice, etc.) These samples should be adaptable for use in the readers’ business, and will be included on the CD-ROM of print books.

Your Business Concept

This section encourages the reader to take some time to decide on what kind of business they want to run. They plan the concept and idea before they put anything on paper. For example, in the FabJob Guide to Become a Restaurant Owner, readers were given options for types of restaurants from burger joints to elegant dining. In the FabJob Guide to Become a Bookstore Owner, the reader is provided with numerous checklists to help them pin down their idea. Include:

Specializations
Types of Clients
Choosing a name
Choosing a location
Options for Starting the Business
- Buying an existing business
- Franchising
- Starting a new business

Your Business Plan

The level of detail required in this section varies, depending on the type of business the career requires. The FabJob Guides to Become a Restaurant Owner and Bookstore Owner have lengthy business plan sections with samples, while the FabJob Guide to Become a Makeup Artist offers a more basic approach. Discuss with your editor the level of detail required for your guide. This section explains each of the following, with samples if necessary:

Executive Summary
Description of Business
Description of Management
Description of Operations
Market Analysis
Marketing Plan
Financial Plan and Statements
Appendices (resume, personal finances, etc.)

Start-up Costs

It will be very important to the reader to get an idea of how much money starting this business is going to require. In many cases, this is the first section people will flip to, to see if starting this business is feasible for them.

It is not enough to say that starting costs “vary”. Explain what factors affect cost (size, inventory, market, etc.) and ranges that the reader can expect, even if they are only percentages based on averages or square footage. Include:

What are the top five (or more) expenditures, and how much should the reader expect to spend on them?
What are some unexpected costs, and how can they effectively be managed?

This section should include itemized sample start-up cost breakdowns.

Funding Your Business

Once the reader knows how much money they will need (or how to figure this out), they will want to know what sources of funding are available to them.

In general, these will include banks, investors, personal savings, and friends and family. In some cases they will also include grants. Also include:

Options to start the business with limited funds, such as starting part-time, from home, or partnering with an existing business
Real-life examples of how existing businesses in the industry got their funding

Legal Matters

Choosing a legal structure that fits your business (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC)

Business licenses (what ones are needed, how are they obtained)
Insurance (what is necessary, what is “nice to have”)

Chapter 6: Running Your Business

Depending on your topic, your book may or may not include the following subsections, or may focus on one in particular. You will determine, in conjunction with your editor, which of them to include and/or highlight.

Titles of this Chapter vary depending on the focus, but can sometimes be called Marketing Your Business (most businesses, including retail, service, etc.) Finding Clients (service business) or Operating a Successful Business (any with large staff or complicated procedures).

In certain cases, any of these topics that is less key to operations can be integrated back into Chapter 5. You can put these topics in the Chapter in order of importance to the
career you are highlighting.

Setting up a Retail Space

Choosing a location
Leasing or buying
Equipment you will need
Renovating
Determining your layout
Building and fire codes
Hours of operation
Theft prevention

Setting up Your Office

Determining space requirements
Home vs. outside the home
Key equipment and supplies
Estimated cost

Your Inventory

What types are there
How much to start with
How to estimate cost
A healthy turnover
Keeping records of inventory
Dealing with shrinkage

Budgeting

Operating costs, including samples and a list of considerations
A time line for when the reader can expect to start making money
Financial matters (bookkeeping, financial planning, banking)
Taxes (what types are due, how and when are they paid)
Daily sales reports
Long-term sales goals
Money-saving tips from the experts

Staffing and Contractors

Determining staffing requirements
Hiring good employees
Training and motivating employees
Establishing policies and procedures
Hiring on a contract basis

Working with Suppliers

Types of products and services that will be needed
How to find good suppliers
How to purchase wholesale
Working with suppliers to ensure they deliver as promised

Manufacturing a Product

Quality control
Packaging and design
Developing systems
Warehousing
Importing/exporting
Government regulations and inspections
Outsourcing

Marketing Your Business

This section of the guide should provide specific information about how to market to the most desirable markets, in addition to traditional techniques like advertising and networking.

One or more of these marketing sections may apply to your business. For example, The FabJob Guide to Become a Hair Salon Owner will cover marketing services (hairstyling) as well as hair products.

IMPORTANT: Do not limit yourself to the marketing topics bulleted in each section below—as the expert, you will identify the unique marketing opportunities for your guide’s career.

Identify Your Target Market

This section of the guide reminds readers that to go after “everyone” as a market is illadvised, and encourages the reader to refer back to the concept and business plan section of Chapter 5 to hone in on their market. For example, the FabJob Guide to Become a Brewer looks at the different markets of bars, restaurants, and beer retailers. It should also look at the market competition, and help readers identify their Unique Selling Point (USP) that will make them competitive in the market.

Here is the outline of this section from the FabJob Guide to Become a Fashion Designer:

     6.1 Define Your Market
         6.1.1 Product or Service
         6.1.2 Type of Garments
         6.1.3 Who Will Wear Your Designs
         6.1.4 Your Price Range
         6.1.5 Your Unique Selling Point

Promotional Tools

This section should include information on the following promotional tools, as well as anything specific to the industry. They should describe what these things should look like, offer insider tips on making them stand out, and estimate costs for preparing them.

Website
Brochure
Business cards
Samples of past work

Again, here is the outline of this section from the FabJob Guide to Become a Fashion Designer:

     6.2 Promotional Tools
         6.2.1 Business Cards and Brochures
         6.2.2 Garment Samples
         6.2.3 Line Sheets
         6.2.4 Website
         6.2.5 Catalogs
         6.2.6 A Press Kit

Marketing Your Service Business

Where to get contact information for prospective clients
Advertising
Website
Networking
Free media publicity
Donating your time and services
Strategic alliances
Trade shows
Industry events

Marketing to Corporations

Where to get contact information for prospective
Position or department to contact
Using referrals
How to get through to a decision maker
Scripts to use for success
Preparing an Information package
Setting up a future meeting

Marketing Your Product Business

Advertising
Website
Free media publicity
Networking
Trade Shows
Special events
Sponsorships and donations
On-site promotions
Free product
Industry events
Hiring a sales rep
Distribution

Marketing Your Retail Business

POP & signage
Window displays
Website
Press Release
Sales events
Advertising
Trade shows
Word of mouth
Loyalty programs
Sponsorships and donations

Marketing Yourself

Your image
Your materials
Who to contact
Showcase events
Networking

Working with Clients

How to turn a prospect into a client
What to bring to a client meeting (e.g. a portfolio, testimonial letters, etc.)
Identifying the client's wants
Preparing a proposal (including sample)
Client contract or service agreement (including sample)
Scheduling work
Tips for ensuring client satisfaction

Operations Policies and Procedures

Hours of operation
Return policies
Handling complaints
Maintenance and cleaning schedules

Setting Fees/Prices & Making a Profit

Different types of fee arrangements (e.g. hourly, per project, per item, initial consultation, etc.)
Typical fees or prices charged. It is not acceptable to say something like "fees vary so check around to find out what is charged locally." Readers expect the guide to give them clear guidelines about how much to charge, especially as this is the type of information that is difficult for most beginners to track down on their own.
A formula for determining how much you need to charge to be profitable
Invoicing and getting paid (include sample invoice)

Growing Your Business

Professional associations
Making long-term plans for the business
Continuing education
Being seen as an expert

Chapter 7: Conclusion

Here you can summarize your key points, offer some final words of encouragement or advice, and/or relate a few unusual or spectacular success stories to inspire the reader. The conclusion is also the place to list general resources for further study in the field, as well as online resources such as hyperlinks to online message boards and websites.

6. Writing and Style Guidelines

Here are some important guidelines to keep in mind as you prepare your manuscript for submission. If you submit your manuscript and it does not conform to these guidelines, it
will be returned to you to complete.

6.1 Web Links

Please use the same format for links as the sample below, and note the use of the http:// prefix.

      Title of web page
      (or a brief description of what's on it, if the title isn't       suitable)
      http://www.website.com/actualwebpage.html

It is important that the link be to the particular page referenced, and not just the home page of the website. Part of the value we provide to our readers is saving them the legwork of tracking down information themselves. If however, the hyperlink is particularly long, you can include a less-direct address with directions to the reader to find the direct page (e.g., click on “Careers”, then scroll down to “Good Jobs”).

Please note that links with a comma in them do not work in the PDF format the guide is published in, so they should not be included in the guide. Also, as links change often, make sure all your hyperlinks are working before you submit your final manuscript. You will be asked to find suitable replacements for any that are broken.

Web links can be very helpful, but beware of using too many. As we have learned, customers will ask for refunds if they feel there are too many links. Unfortunately, rather than seeing the links as a source of additional information, some customers perceive that they could have looked the information up themselves on the Internet. Wherever possible, write the information into the text of your manuscript instead of using a link.

6.2 Sources and Copyright

You must include the source of ALL facts and statistics you use in your manuscript. This information will not appear in the guide (unless you feel it should) but will serve as an aid to our fact-checkers. You can include it within the text of the guide, or as a separate document.

All manuscripts must be original works. If you include any information, even a single distinct phrase or definition, directly quoted from other sources, you must indicate where it is from. If you would like to quote more than one or two sentences of someone else’s material, or include an image, ad, brochure, etc. you did not create or you sold the rights to, you must obtain and supply written permission from the author or publisher of that material.

IMPORTANT: Please note that information on the Internet is generally not “free to use” in your guide. You cannot “cut and paste” material from the Internet and include it in your manuscript without indicating where it is from, and obtaining permission to reprint it in our guide.

If you find something published in print or online that you feel would contribute to your manuscript in a way that you cannot replicate yourself, we will consider reprinting the material. The author (that is, YOU) is responsible for getting written permission from the copyright holder to use it in the published FabJob guide. You must supply these copies of permissions with your manuscript. Please note that this is “bonus” material that does not count towards your required word count.

Be sure that you identify exactly what you are requesting in the letter, and how it will be used. You should request rights for first and subsequent editions in both electronic and print form. If you cannot get permission, you may consider including a link to a website if the information is online.

We are aware that there are some sources that are copyright-free and can be used without permission, such as some websites of the U.S. government. If you believe this to be the case, please research and ensure you are correct, and make a note to the editor.

FabJob will not accept excuses for plagiarism, and takes the matter very seriously. If you plagiarize material for your FabJob guide your manuscript will be rejected, you will not be paid, and we will reassign your title to another writer. Use extreme caution and serious consideration in this area. If you are in doubt, consult a copyright attorney before you submit your guide.

6.3 Subheads and Spacing

FabJob paragraphs do not have a first-line indent, and there is a line space between each paragraph. Please use only one space after a period.

As FabJob guides are meant to be read on a computer, keep your paragraphs short—three or four sentences is usually the maximum. Use subheads to break up your sections so they don’t run on too long, and to call attention to key ideas. These guidelines are laid out as an example.

Although our published guides show subheads to 4 levels, please submit your manuscript using only three. It is too cumbersome if sections are moved around to renumber so many subheads, so an editor will add fourth-levels in.

If you are using a level 3 subhead, make sure there is at least one paragraph of introduction before you begin a level 4 subhead. Also, don’t use a numbered subhead for a section that is only one paragraph.

Try not to write more than six or seven paragraphs of text without some visual interruption, such as a bulleted list or new subhead, or a TIP (see below). If it looks dense to the eye, readers feel overwhelmed and unable to tackle the information, especially on a computer screen.

6.4 The TIP

The TIP is a FabJob convention used to identify particularly useful or hard to find information. They may be surprising, funny, or just really Fab information for the reader. They are set off into their own paragraph. Don’t put too many TIPs in, or you devalue them. Also, make sure the TIP is truly valuable information, and not something banal or commonly known, like “most people keep their socks in the top drawer”.

Here is a sample TIP from the FabJob Guide to Become an Etiquette Consultant:

TIP: If your client is seeking etiquette skills to enhance their business skills, consider adding some industry-specific questions to the questionnaire. This shows your client that you have researched their specific situation and have some understanding of their industry.

6.5 FabStyle

As FabJob authors come from all walks of life and all across North America, we do not expect you to have a particular style book on hand. That said, some words are spelled a certain way in FabJob guides, including:

FabJob (capital F, capital J, all one word) Guide to Become (not Becoming)

resume (no accents)

email (no hyphen, not capitalized)

website (no space, not capitalized)

web page (one page of a website)

start-up (as in a start-up business)

Internet

a.m. and p.m.

online

FabJob guides use bolding for emphasis, not italics or underlining.

Bullets are preferable to numbered lists. Since FabJob guides use numbered subheads, a numbered list can be confusing.

FabJob guides use cross-references to let the reader know if information has been covered elsewhere in the book, or will be covered in an upcoming chapter. For example: “Section xx on Creating a Resume will detail this process for you.” Don’t reference the number of the section, as these numbers are likely to change in the editing process—if you want to include a number in the final version, insert xx as printed above and an editor will correct it for you. Alternately you can briefly re-explain a topic, but mention that it has already been addressed and don’t cut and paste from the earlier reference.

Please note the difference between a hyphen and a dash. A hyphen looks like this: cross-country. A dash looks like this: I think—if you don’t mind—we’ll go on a trip. Don’t insert spaces before and after either of these marks.

When listing phone numbers, please use the following format: (xxx) xxx-xxxx. Include the 1 in 1-800 numbers.

6.6 Things to Avoid

Avoid references to competing books and publications. The reader should have confidence that your book is the one that will give them all the guidance they need on succeeding in this career. You may reference other books if they provide information that complements the guide in a related vein, rather than competes with it.

While it is often helpful to reiterate key or complex concepts, don’t start and end every paragraph with a paraphrase of the same thing. You will quickly find your 50,000 word submission edited down to 25,000 words, and you back at the writing desk.

Avoid clichés and phrases that have become trite from overuse: These include

location, location, location!
think outside the box
“surfing” the web

Avoid overuse of key introductory phrases:
“As a professional _____, you will….”

FabJob tone is informal. Avoid using buzzwords or business jargon to replace normal words, unless there is a specific reason why the buzzword is more appropriate. Some our editors detest include:

Synergy
Utilize
Facilitate
And/or (when one or the other will suffice)

Don’t use sidebars for material that is simply out of place. If you have used the phrases “a note on…” or “a side-note on…or ”by the way”, chances are the material that follows is not in a logical place in the text. This is not always the case, but should send up a red flag that you may need to move the material elsewhere in the book.

Avoid over-using dashes when you write. Quite often the sentence can be rewritten without them, and they lose their effect when there are too many of them. A recent manuscript submission had 820 dashes in a 250 page book. That’s more than three dashes a page! If you are going to use them—and we really don’t mind if you do—use them sparingly.

Avoid over-using brackets in your writing. These constant “asides” throw the reader off their train of thought. Before using brackets, see if the sentence could be rewritten without them, and please do use them when necessary.

FabJob will not print any writing that negatively singles out or excludes people on the basis of ethnicity, sex, religion, sexual preference, or any other discriminating factor, even if it is only implied or meant as a joke. FabJob guides are inclusive, not exclusive in tone and style. If you are using “he” please balance it with “she” in the next paragraph or section, and vice-versa. Using his/her is awkward, and should be avoided.

7. Submitting Your Guide

Deadline
Complete manuscripts along with peripheral information are to be submitted on or before the date indicated in your contract with FabJob. if you do not get approval for a deadline extension from your editor, your manuscript will be rejected, you will not be paid, and we will reassign your guide to another writer. FabJob Inc. has a zero-tolerance policy for missed deadlines. Deadline extensions will be granted only to proven FabJob authors with a history of meeting deadlines with us.

Format
Submit your manuscript by email as one single and whole document (not chapter by chapter), preferably as a Microsoft Word attachment. If you do not have MS Word on your computer, then save the file as an RTF attachment. If you're not sure how to do that, please check with the company that supplied your word-processing software. We do not work with hard copies, and all submissions must be received by email. If your email is not functioning on your submission date, you are responsible for finding another email address to send from. This is not an acceptable excuse for a missed deadline.

Please submit your manuscript in 11-point Arial font, as this is the font it will be printed in. Title the file with the career name—while calling it “FabJob guide” might help you identify it, it sure doesn’t make it stand out to us.

TOC
Please submit a revised Table of Contents at the start of your manuscript. We just need to know the sections, so you don't need to include page numbers.

Graphics
Do not submit graphics embedded into your manuscript. FabJob will add color, bolding, photographs, and other design elements. If you have small graphics you would like us to consider, you may send them as email file attachments when you submit your manuscript. Please do not build complicated tables and graphs, as we cannot import them into your book. Lay them out in an uncomplicated way that our designers can reproduce easily. Discuss with an editor what the best format is for submitting suggested graphics.

Proofing
Your guide must be proofread before submission for spelling mistakes, grammar, style, flow, consistency and logical flow. If you are a “stream of consciousness” writer you will
have to stick closely to your proposed TOC. While we do edit our guides, if your guide is not organized logically or has sentences or ideas that are clearly incomplete, it will be
returned to you for further preparation and your publication will be delayed or rejected.

Bio
Along with your guide, please submit a professional biography. It should be 200-300 words, and should emphasize your experience as it relates to the Fab career. It can also detail any writing experience you have, particularly instructional or career-related writing. Bios are written in the third person, and pen names are not acceptable. As explained in your contract, FabJob shall have the right to use your name, photo and biographical material for the purpose of advertising, publishing and promoting the Guide. You bio will be edited as we see fit, and we may add any details you provided to us in your proposal to write the guide if we feel they better help us promote the guide.

Photo
You will submit a quality color headshot of yourself taken indoors—no full body shots, snapshots or poor-quality photos will be accepted. If you have a creative idea for your photo, please discuss it with an editor well in advance of your deadline. Please submit this photo as a jpg attachment by email, minimum size 2”x3”, 240 dpi (resolution).

Acknowledgments
You will submit a list of people you interviewed for the guide to be listed in the acknowledgments section. Please supply this list in alphabetical order by last name, with the name of their company and/or any website or book they want to promote following the name. E.g.: Jen James, www.jenjames.com, author of Spa Solutions; Bob Zorf, owner of Zorf Brackets Co. www.bobzz.com; etc. Please indicate if you have offered a free copy of the e-book to any of these interviewees (max. 5) in exchange for their help, and provide email addresses for these people so we can send them when the guide is published.

Permissions
You will submit letters of permission to use copyrighted material, as explained earlier in this manual. Please keep copies for your own records until we confirm they have been
received. You may submit these as separate documents by email, or hard copies (if emails are not available) can be mailed to the address provided by the editor.

Promoting Your Guide
If you have any testimonials that you feel would be suitable to promote your guide on the website, please supply them within two weeks after your deadline. While FabJob will promote your guide as we see fit, you are of course able to pursue promoting the guide yourself. Please ensure that when doing so, you refer to your guide with its full and proper name: i.e., The FabJob Guide to Become _____. FabJob also offers an affiliate program to authors with their own website. Details of that program are available on FabJob.com.

8. FabJob Submission Checklist

Book has met minimum word count
I have covered all topics in TOC
I have included a revised TOC
I have proofed my own work to the best of my ability
I have reread my submission from start to finish
I have included any graphics as attachments
I have supplied my list of acknowledgments
I have supplied my author photo
I have supplied my 200 word author professional biography
I have included a source for all my statistics and facts
I have verified that all hyperlinks are currently working
I have obtained and included all necessary permission letters
I have included a minimum of eight forms or checklists the reader can print and use

The guidelines on this page describe our expectations. Please follow them carefully to ensure acceptance of your manuscript and few, if any revisions on your part. If for some reason you feel one or more of these guidelines do not apply to your manuscript, please discuss the situation with a FabJob editor before you begin the creative process.

Please note that all contents of this manual are subject to change, which we will make our best efforts to keep authors informed of if this occurs. If there is any information presented in your contract that conflicts with this Manual, the contract shall be taken as the final authority. For more information about any of these guidelines please contact us using the form at the bottom of our writer's page. This version of the FabJob Author Manual effective as of April 27, 2005.