How often do teenagers get books published? Is it hard 2 get a book published?

Question

I want 2 publish a fictional novel i am writing eventually, but i am only 15.

Answer 1

Yes, it's hard to get a book published because publishers want to make money (i.e. it's a business). At your age you will need an adult to represent your interests and make submissions -- likely to an agent as fiction is very hard to self represent.

However, if you want to do something NOW, you could consider cafepress.com. If you're good with computers you can format the book using desktop publishing, upload it to their site, and then price it and sell it. you'll still probably need your parents help to set up an account there - but this allows you to get your work out and maintain control of it.

Finally, I strongly urge you to submit short stories to various fiction magazines to build a readership. Writing is a wonderful profession, but it doesn't pay well - so also have a back up plan in place (a second career that pays the rent). That way you can have your passion and stability.

Best wishes!

Answer 2

It is extremely difficult to get a book published, unless you're a sports star with nothing to say. The fact that you are 15 might actually give you an edge, as some publishers would be keen to sign a very young talent. You can't know something like that up front though. What I advise you to do is to first finish a manuscript in its entirety, then pick a best paragraph and with the beginning of the book send it off to ten publishers or so. Don't send an entire book in one go, as it's a waste of their time and your stamps. Besides, you need to get them in a mood where they want more. Be tantalising then, which means being a bit vague on everything that might be irrelevant (your location, background, age et al), but quite concrete on what is definitely relevant (plot, characters, audience etc). Don't disclose what might not be relevant then, be very picky and quite conscise in your communications to a publisher. When I was 15 I felt like I outshone every other writer in the world, dead or alive, and I acted like it too. Though I am now 28 and truly better than anyone I've ever heard of.. It'd still be wise at your age and experience to act like a kid, but to be shrewd and calculating when it matters ;o)

Answer 3

It does happen. Keep working on the novel. If you are in North America, you may want to try finding a literary agent. I understand that they are not as essential in the UK but this could be old info. Submit outlines of the story and see if you get any interested takers. The publishers are looking for material that will sell at a profit, the bigger the better, so you need both originality and a plot and characters that will grab mass interest. If you are also doing lots of reading, then you will see the kinds of things that are moving.

Answer 4

It is difficult to get a book published, but you shouldn't let that stop you. Just last year I read a good fantasy novel that was written by a young man who was only then turning 18. Good writing is good writing, and the age of the author is irrelevant. Besides, the publishers don't have to know that you're a teen until you're ready to sign a contract with them, and by that point, they've already decided that they want to buy your book.

A word of advice: No one is going to make exceptions for you because of your age; publishers won't overlook errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc., because you're still a teen. Make sure that your work is as good as you can make it before sending it off.

Answer 5

I am in the same position as you. I am writing too, and i think it might take a bit to get your book published, but you should try as many publishing companies, together. Some of them might be a bit hard, but eventually someone would help. :)

Answer 6

One of my best friends got a book published and he was only 21 years old. He doesn't have any writing experience but wrote one anyway. Go to authorhouse.com and they should be able to hook you up. The only problem with them is that their books are expensive so it will be hard for you to sell them.

I THINK that authorhouse.com will publish just about anything.

Answer 7

Yeah, it's hard, but it is possible. You could start by sending some short stories to magazines. Just give it a try. S. E. Hinton published The Outsiders while she was a senior in high school. Go for it girl.

Answer 8

Christopher Paolini, the author of Eragon sequence DID now not get released interior the start via way of a typical author. His dad or mum self-released the e-e book and seeing how attempt grew to become into as quickly as located into it and how maketable it grew to become into as quickly as (using his age as merchandising), a author picked it up. He spent 2 years and grew to become into as quickly as 19 whilst he gained released via way of the 2d author. He grew to become into as quickly as praised now not for his e-e book in spite of the shown fact that for the age whilst he wrote the e-e book (15-sixteen).. in spite of the shown fact that real, critics stumbled on the generic 2 books lacking in intensity and suited shape and observed it greater as a mixture of enormous call Wars and Lord of the jewellery. As for publishing: Of direction you're able to desire to get released at any age. I understand 7-9 years historic getting their poems released.. yet while they reached the age of 13? wager what, the income of publishing abruptly grew to develop right into a living hell. on account that that they have been youthful, the marketplace for poems of their age would not be competetive.. in spite of the shown fact that at age of teenhood... this is brutal. Publishers variety lots. some will discriminate using actuality that of age as age maximum frequently foretell the story written. babies write fantasy comments, youthful adults write the two romance or action, Adults and greater mature author write greater multiple matters. various books are starting to be rejected after the % out is learn or after the generic internet website. the rest could desire to be rejected by way of the generic financial ruin. purely a pair could desire to be left. My recommend? do not hurry to become oftentimes happening using actuality that your a so generic as teenager prodigy... compliment using actuality which you wrote while you're youthful is hypocrital. take a whilst and rewrite the e-e book. One author, his % out I forgot, wrote a e-e book for 15+ years and he wasn't even an adolescent then.

Answer 9

It usually doesn't happen because most of the stuff that teenagers write tends to suck.