Our Process
Requirements and Strategy
How it works
Students will be provided a one-hour session once or twice per week, free of charge, to develop and write their books at an agreed upon location. Students will be accepted after a brief interview with President Chappell to determine if this program is a good fit. Recommendations from teachers are encouraged.
Because our program is free to all students, we will require that Literary Legacies receives a percentage of all book proceeds in order to help sustain our non-profit. The percentage will be set at 25%.
Our program will be completely free of cost, and that is why we need a percentage of book proceeds to help our non-profit provide for the next group of students.
Students take approximately six months to one year to finish their book from idea to print:
- Facilitate ideation & brainstorming;
- Outline plot and scenes;
- Develop characters;
- Research and develop a thesis (recommended for nonfiction books);
- Create the story;
- Build the bibliography (recommended for nonfiction books);
- Edit the story;
- Create the cover art.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it Cost money?
No, our program is 100% free.
How does Literary Legacies earn money?
We take 25% of all book proceeds, which means book sales, merchandise, movie deals, or anything that comes from the book. We also earn money from grants, donations, and sponsorships.
How long does the process take?
Our average time is about 6 months, but it varies with each book.
What are the requirements?
Every student will take a placement test to evaluate their placement into the program. This is not an academic test, but a questionnaire that measures qualitative factors. We use this test to pair the student with the volunteer.
How often do you meet with the student?
Typically, volunteers meet once a week for an hour each session.
Where will sessions take place?
We typically meet at the Morgan Hill Library, but it varies by volunteer and student. These arrangements will be made at the volunteer and student introductory meeting.
I want to volunteer. What are the steps to becoming one?
You must be interviewed by the Volunteer Coordinator and President David Chappell. Then you need to be cleared to volunteer through the Morgan Hill Unified School District system (or your local school district). This requires a background check and TB test. All volunteers under the age of 18 do not need this background check, but an adult must always be present for sessions (or in a public setting). Contact us for more details.
Who owns the rights of the book after completion?
While we require 25% of book proceeds, the rights of the book are fully controlled by the student (or guardian until the student reaches 18).
How many books are typically sold?
We are still early in the program, but our first two major releases have sold on average about 400 copies.
Do you have a celebration or party upon completion or publication?
Upon publication of the book, students will have a book party at Sinaloa Café in Morgan Hill. If you choose to have a book party with the support of Literary Legacies, it must be at Sinaloa as they are our current sponsor for book release parties.
What if I don’t live in Morgan Hill and I want to be a student or volunteer?
You do not have to live in Morgan Hill to be a part of this program. Students and volunteers can work digitally through google hangouts or any video conference app.
How much does each book sell for?
Typical standard text-based books sell between $7-$10. Picture books usually sell for more, around $8-$15 per book.
How are covers created?
There are two options: First, we go through fiverr.com to hire a designer to photoshop the cover based on the student’s theme. Second, we have an artist hand-design the cover and we upload it to fiverr.com to have them format the hand-drawn picture.
How long is each book in page-length?
This varies tremendously. There is no requirement on page-length. Each story has the unique number of pages for its content. Stories range from 50-300 pages.
Where do you sell the books?
We sell our books on every major online outlet such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and others like them. We also sell at local bookstores such as Booksmart in the Vineyard Town Center on Tennant and Monterey. Hopefully, we expand our local bookstore presence into other locations.
What are the requirements for parents?
They need to be present if the volunteer is under 18 and the location is not in a public setting. Parents also need to take a pre and post-program questionnaire for us to monitor the progress of their child. Also, parents need to commit to showing up on time and motivating their child to complete their book.
Hi Future Writer!
You have the potential to begin a life-long passion. A passion that can bring great meaning and purpose to your life. This journey will be one that will change your life and the lives of those around you. Allow us to give you the key to unlock your imagination.
Team Literary Legacies
Published Books
The Boy Battle
Riyani Patel
Ten Gates
Nathan Webber
The Troubled Cat
Derek Payne
Wild Journey
Alysa Marcial