i have a question on publishing books?

Question

well if you want things published how exactly do you go about doing it without falling for a scam. also does anybody know the big publishing companies that publish all kinds of work and you dont have to pay them because i dont have the money with my sis having a new baby and there was already six of us so could someone plez help

Answer 1

That's a lot to say in one sentence!

Your best bet is to talk to an agent, if you wish to publish poetry or novels for instance. If you want to publish an article in a magazine, try writing to that magazine's editor.

Back to the agents: These people see a lot of manuscripts every day, so you're going to have to make sure yours stands out. And don't send the original: You may need it in case you get a rejection slip. Send a copy, with a cover letter. And you might want to write a synopisis.

There is information available about publishing stuff. I believe a google search will turn up a lot.

Good luck with the baby, and the publishing!

Answer 2

Consult the Writer's Market or Novel and Short Story Writer's Market books at your library. They are also available at bookstores.

Within are lists of literary agents and publishers that will state their preferences in genre, type of manuscript, and methods of submissions. A literary agent is the best approach for an unpublished author. Always check their websites for additional guidelines.

Format your manuscript in accordance with acceptable guidelines--always double-spaced with pertinent contact information on the cover page.

Meanwhile, edit your story as it moves on. When your writing slows, concentrate on catching errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Any manuscript submitted prematurely without corrections will surely be scrapped immediately upon receipt.

Learn how to craft a powerful query letter; they are the door openers to representation.

Answer 3

Your best start is to query agents...most publishing houses won't take direct queries (unless they are smaller publishers). Make sure to do your research on the agents you query though. There are a lot of scams out there. Never, ever pay an agent any up front fees. Legit agents will never charge you any fees until your book is sold (ie their percentage, copying/mailing fees).

A query letter is a craft. There are many sources out there to learn how to write a query that will grab an agent's attention. There are also a lot of writers that will help you hone your query to perfection. Try www.writers.net...there are a lot of helpful people on there.

www.agentquery.com is a great place to look up legit agents. It lets you search by genre. Then, after finding some good agents, google them to see their recent sales...a legit agent will have a successful sales record. Also, look them up on Predators & Editors. This is a long list of known agents and agencies that rates them based on all of the above.

There are a lot of blogs out there written by agents and editors too, that have lots of useful advice. My favorite is http://pubrants.blogspot.com. There is also http://misssnark.blogspot.com, and http://evileditor.blogspot.com.

Good luck!!!!!

Answer 4

NEVER EVER pay an agent/editor to publish your book. Those are generally scams or con-artists.

I would recommend reading a magazine like 'writers digest' they ALWAYS have good tips on publishing.

Send to a bunch of editors/publishers who don't ask for money... you'll get a lot of rejections... but you might have one person who wants to do it...

Answer 5

try getting a copy of The Writer's Market. It will tell you who, what, where and how to send in your work. If you can't afford to buy one, most libraries have a copy in the reference section.