For everyone who has ever been told, "You should write a book," but has no idea how to get started, here is an essential, no-nonsense guide to every step of the writing and publishing process. In The Author's Toolkit, veteran writer, editor, and book doctor Mary Embree provides readers with an all-inclusive lesson on what it takes to create, develop, and promote both fiction and nonfiction books--from nurturing the seeds of a book idea, to outlining the flow of the book itself, to taking the finished manuscript to possible publishers. She details the fundamentals of the creative process--such as how to delineate characters, organize the plot, find the "hook," and avoid common writing pitfalls--and provides detailed guidance on such practical business matters as registering copyrights, understanding contracts, seeking literary agents, publishing electronically, creating a professional-looking manuscript, promoting and marketing the finished book, and much more. Aspiring and veteran writers will also discover a wealth of real-world resources, including leads for professional advice, information on writers' websites and publications, listings of writers' organizations, and much more. Handy, to-the-point, and organized in a straightforward step-by-step format, The Author's Toolkit is a resource no author should be without. - Details the entire process of writing a book: from the basic idea to the finished manuscript - Provides a wide range of resources for writers, such as publications, web- sites, writers' groups, and more - Concise, easy-to-follow, and filled with valuable information for both beginning and veteran writers