Where to send you`re book to be published...?

Question

Its not done yet, so please don`t give me something that needs to be done right away, but I`m a perfectionist and I rarely write something thats good enough for me to like enough to try to get published (even though worse books have been published, I really couldn`t stand publish I book that wasn`t up to my own standards, that would be stupid). I actually have a lot faith in this one. I wrote a lot of fanfictions and got tips on how to write better, my most creative friend told me how she thinks of ideas and I found a good one, I`ve only written a page and a half, but I have a good feeling about it.

Point being, where could I send it when I`m done to possibly get published? Best answer gets ten points, so give a good answer!

Answer 1

Try visiting writersmarket.com or going to your local bookstore or library to find the print version of their book. They come out with a revised edition every year which allows you to search listings of publishers for a company that will be best suited to your manuscript. Writer's Market is really the leader in this sort of thing, and for me was well worth the investment of a website subscription (but I've found most local libraries will have a copy you can check out).

I'd also suggest their book Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, for details on what you will need to do when you're ready to publish. Every publisher has a different set of requirements, so it's important to do your research.

Good luck with your story!

Answer 2

Once the final draft is finished, she sends it to an agent who deals with whatever kind of book she's writing (probably fiction, fantasy, YA or 9-12). She sends a short, 1 page letter about her book, her book's possible audience, plus the first 5 or so pages of the story. Hopefully the agent will see that it has potential, and will make your friend a client. Then the agent will try to sell the book to publishers. Your friend doesn't have a good enough reputation to sell straight to the good publishers, which is why she'll very likely need an agent. The agent works REALLY hard to sell the book, and once a publisher buys it, then the agent gets 15% of whatever the publisher buys it for! Then your friend would work with an editor to fix up the story to get it ready for publishing. Hope that helps!

Answer 3

If your story contains copyrighted characters or setting (such as a Naruto or Harry Potter setting) you will need to get permission to use them. If it's a fanfiction, I would side with what someone has already said and publish it on http://fanfiction.net/

On the other hand, if it isn't a fanfiction, then you should try to send it to major or minor publishing houses. Self-publishing is not the way to go (you get a much smaller pool of readers) and even though it is more expensive and *difficult* to get it published by a publishing house it's a much better direction to go in the long run. Whatever happens don't expect to live off royalties from your book. Very few actually gain enough popularity for the author to be supported by their writing alone.

I wish you good luck on your writing.

Answer 4

Try http://www.lulu.com

Getting published is not easy at all, and hundreds of rejections are part of the game. So, going this route may not be a bad idea to "test the waters".

Lulu.com is a self publishing website where you can create, upload, and store your book for free using their database; choosing the type of binding, adding your own cover art etc. Lulu will register an ISBN and for every book you sell, Lulu gets the portion necessary to cover their printing costs for that one book and necessary profits, and you get the rest.

Its a great way to test the waters.

Another great resource if you're desiring of traditional publishing is the Writer's Market guide.

It'll help show you where to start... many publisher's won't even take your submissions if you don't have an agent... knowing what is or is not worth your time, and where to send submissions to as well as what format is necessary will be your saving grace.

Good luck!

Answer 5

First of all, you will never think your writing is good enough, so swallow your personal criticism and just send it out. Second of all, most literary companies rarely accept unsolicited manuscripts. However, if it is a fantasy fiction piece you're working on, Ellora's Cave (now in paperbacks all over bookstores,) and samhainpublishing.com is also accepting manuscripts.

If you are seriously thinking of publication, I would advise you to start sending short stories out so you build up a reputation for yourself as a writer. There are very few lucky duck breakthrough's in the world of writing anymore, and the more well-known your name is on the smaller circuit, the easier it will be to get your larger piece published.

Answer 6

I too am trying to get published. I'm starting out with copyrighting my characters. This can be done on line. There are also many publishers looking for new talent on the web. You can do it all from your computer. Everything , that is except sending in the finished work. Good luck!

Answer 7

Regardless of how you decide to publish (on your own via lulu.com or finding a publisher via literarymarketplace.com), you MUST check out National Novel Writing Month (3rd link) - it's very inspiring.

Answer 8

You can publish your fan fiction on fan fiction .net. It's a really good website. It's fun to read other stories about your favorite books or movies. It really gets the imagination going.

Answer 9

Theres a book that comes out annually called literary market place. Give that a look...

Answer 10

http://www.publishamerica.com/
http://www.wheatmark.com/

Hope that helps...