“Whether your book is about pregnancy, porn ….

[Kare Anderson]

… or plastic surgery mistakes” your writing doesn’t end when your book’s done, says Isobella Jade, author of Almost 5’4”. Next, one must get the attention of a publisher, perhaps as Jade did, using free online tools.

Jade was a homeless model. She wrote her memoir in an Apple Store. She wrote on Fridays when she had time off her job. First she self-published it through Amazon.com's BookSurge program. Next she secured and dropped an agent, chronicling that adventure in an irreverent tone that Dooce would love. Finally, a British publisher, The Friday Project, partnered with HarperCollins to publish her book in 2009. How did it happen? Jade knows "how to pitch your book when you're broke."

Here’s three bits of advice, summarized from Jade and from mediabistro’s Ron who’s been following her journey to a signed book deal.

1. Have a blog.
2. Make guest appearances on other blogs, along with vlogs and podcasts.
(This convinces agents and publishers that you're capable of being an active participant in the marketing of your book.)
3. Your goal in doing #1 and #2 “isn't to tell people you have a book out, but to let them know you're ‘an interesting person who has something to say.’”