In last week’s post, we talked about selling a book to schools. My friend, client, and associate Morri Stewart wanted to try that with her fantasy novel Faltofar, envisioning a multi-faceted curriculum that could be used across several subject matters. She called it Far to Fall, a play on her book’s title.
So far so good. One problem. Neither she nor I had a clue about what to do next when it came to selling a book to schools. So, I reached out to my friend Deborah Allen, who had spent years designing curriculum before becoming a creativity coach. The eight-part series that will run for the next two months has been culled from a plan of action she created for Morri and her fantasy novel Faltofar. The original was pretty daunting, so hopefully, these bite-size pieces will make it easier for you to take action.
Teachers are held to a higher educational standard than most professionals. As a result, they can be exclusive, even though they specialize in creating inclusive learning environments. They can be quick to judge, which is a skill needed in the classroom that doesn’t translate well in the adult world. So, you need to have thick skin.
Teachers often use the analogy that my backpack is too full; I can’t add more to it. Translation: Why do I need to add new curriculum that will create more work into my annual curriculum planning and instructional delivery? When new curriculum is taught, there is a learning curve. To sell your book and curriculum, you need to target why the learning curve is worth it.
If you focus on who teachers are as a group, why they do what they do, and teacher mindset in your planning, tactics, and strategies for selling your book and book-based curriculum and materials, you will be successful. The timeline will take longer than expected because the academic calendar year has local, state, and national deadlines that preclude a principal or school district from making a purchasing and curriculum decision that becomes effective in the academic year in the year the decision to purchase was made. Meaning, decisions made today will be executed the following academic year, or even two years out.
In addition to the functions of the school year calendar, annual budget decisions are finalized in July in every state. Budgets are due to the state by the end of July. In August, state departments of education will review and approve budgets that will be turned in to the (federal) Department of Education.
Of course, before you get to that point, you’ll want to have made your best stab at selling your book to schools. That starts with convincing them that your book has merit and fits into their curriculum. We’ll get into that next week.
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