What is the best method of finding a publisher for written work?

Question

There are so many 'Do it yourself' sites out there that allow you to self-publish... but what about submitting your work for review to a publisher in the hopes that they will like it and 'sponsor' you? How do you find out who these publishers are?

Answer 1

The right publisher, or type of publishing option, will depend upon several things.

First, why do you want to publish your work? Next, what skills, interests, time, and money do you have to invest? Last, evaluate your manuscript, its best audience, and the likely market potential.

Some books are simply not "commercial." If you want the ms in book form for a small audience, at lowest expense, try a subsidy press (aka POD publisher) like Lulu, Booksurge, Booklocker, etc.

Some people are charismatic dynamos, with far-flung networks, and money and business management skills glowing from every pore. They will probably enjoy publishing. While even they aren't going to get rich from this business, they may have so much fun, that they won't care. These people should probably self-publish. That means that they need to do some research, buy an ISBN block from Bowker, hire some pros to edit, layout and design the thing, and start publicizing it.

Some folks just want to share their words. The least expensive way to do this, is to make them available as a download from a web site. Then, they need only publicize the address and subject, in the appropriate special interest groups on the net. They'll spend less money that way. If they want to make a little, they can collect a token fee for the electronic copies, or they can offer them on paper through a digital printer like Lightning Source. (The latter means that they'll need an ISBN from Bowker.) (NOTE: there's a big difference between a POD printer and a POD publisher. Be very careful.)

Most authors, with a salable ms, will do best with a traditional publisher. They should first find an agent, following the standard procedures. Those procedures are detailed in many books. Most will cover most parts of the sequence, including the right way to write a query letter, and a proposal, within each type of publishing, and the way to find the right kind of agent, and many more esoteric things

Publishing is complicated. You aren't going to get very far with the snips of info available here. Read books (on publishing, or getting an agent) before trying to make books. Read more than one book. You'll avoid most of the classic mistakes.

Answer 2

There are rip off so-called publishers on line who will demand up front money from you before they "review" your material for possible publication. They will start by asking you to submit samples of your work. Then they will come back with a very professional looking letter saying they are very interested; will you please submit a full draft of your proposed book and send XX dollars to pay for further review and editing of you material Do NOT use them, they are a scam. No respectable publisher will ask you for money of any kind.

As most other answerers have said, be persistent and do some research on what each publisher wants. If you don't get twenty or more rejections before someone shows interest, you haven't tried hard enough. Also check out the Writers Digest [See source.], it is full of good advice on getting published.

Answer 3

Just stay away from Vantage Press they are a rip off... Never did it myself but several friends wanted to get publisher and fell into their trap... The real publishers are money people also, but it is their money so they are very hard to get them to sponsor your work unless they feel it has great potential as they are not betting men. What is your work? what category is it in. There are publishers who only publish certain types of work so get a handle on that then start looking on your search engines for reputable publishers. Do not get discouraged as persistence is the key.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

First do research as to what publishers like your genre. My advice is to get an agent. http://writers.net will give you good info. Don't give up! It can be a daunting process, but it's well worth it.