How I published two books in Japan: A guide for aspiring authors

Many of you write about your experiences on social media or blogs, but imagine if you could actually sell your stories. I published two books in Japan and still receive royalties today–an incredible journey inspired by a good friend’s simple idea–why don’t you publish?

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Unsure where to start, I wrote a proposal in Japanese to publishers including these key points:

  1. Why am I writing this book?
  2. What is my experience?
  3. What benefits does this book offer readers?
  4. Who is the target audience?
  5. Table of contents

During the process, I learned that publishers receive more than 10 proposals a day, so keep yours concise—like an elevator pitch!

With a good combination of strategy and luck, sharing the word with your friends and colleagues might also give you a much-needed boost. This really worked for me because I gave my proposal to a friend who then passed it on to the CEO of a printing company, and then forwarded it to a publisher. They liked it! You never know what connections will work in your favor.

Once you have a contract, it’s time to write, write, and write! I spent over 200 hours researching and intricately building the content, often working in quiet libraries to avoid distractions and temptations ever present at home.

If you need help crafting an effective proposal in Japanese, I’d be happy to assist when I have time.