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OUTLINE FOR PROPOSED MANUAL, TO THE BLACK WRITER: BEFORE YOU SIGN 

INTRODUCTION
1. Brief description of the Black Academy
2. Reasons for developing manual, i.e. exclusion of blacks from all phases of the publishing industry.
3. Brief history of black writers vis-a-vis getting published and recognized

CHAPTER I - WHAT DO YOU WRITE?
Types of writers (poets, novelists, essayists, playwrights, scholars)
Improving skills (schools, writers' workshops, associations)
Financial Support (foundations, fellowships and grants)
Protecting Your Work (copyrighting procedures)

CHAPTER II - GETTING PUBLISHED
Agents - pros and cons, procedure
Mailing to publications - pros and cons, procedure
Mailing to Book publishers - describe hierarchy, best method

CHAPTER III - WHEN A PUBLISHER IS FOUND
Contracts and advances (magazines, book publishers, journals) average contracts provisions for movies and other rights
Promotion and distribution (describe variations, advise)
Public Appearances

CHAPTER IV - WORKING WITH YOUR PUBLISHER'S STAFF
Editing and rewrites (how much is customary?)
Customary arrangements - checking artwork, jacket designs selecting photographs
Galleys - page proofs

APPENDICES
I. List of Writers' workshops, associations and schools with excellent departments
II. List of Available Grants
III. List of Black Publishing Groups
IV. List of Agents
V. Sample Contract
VI. List of Black Bookstores