What's the best way to get published?

Question

I'm writing a book. I've read a lot about self publishing versus the agent/ publishing group method.

Anyone had any experiences they like to share on which is the best way to go?

Answer 1

I operate a small press and use a POD (print-in-demand) service to process books.

Traditional Publishing:
1. The author pays nothing to produce the book.
2. The publisher handles all editing, marketing, and distribution
3. Author normally receives an advance and royalties
4. However, traditional publishers demand excellence. While some people claim publishers don't publish first-time authors, that is not true. Every author ever published started as a "first-time" author! They do, however, demand a certain level of professionalism.
5. The wait is long. It can take months to get a response, and a year could go by before the book is actually released.

Self-Publishing:
1. The author is responsible for all aspects of the book. You will have to handle editing, design, proofreading, marketing, and distribution.
2. POD sites like Lulu allow you to "publish" immediately. This is good if you have a niche or time-sensitive book you want to release. However, it also allows for sloppiness as people rush to print without insure the work is marketable.
3. Free to experiment. If you have something new or experimental you want to try, self-publishing allows you to do that. For example, we published an anthology (Dead Men (and Women) Walking) that was all about zombies. The only reason we did it was because my little sister loves zombies, and I can't tell her "no". Since we handled everything in house, I didn't have to get another person's OK to run with the project.

Answer 2

Peman:
I wrote two books and self published both. You can go to the net and check with Publishers and or Agents. They will tell you what books they publish and how to send your manuscript. I must tell you though, It is very hard to find either. I sent out manuscripts to many, many publishers and only three answered to the negative. I now know my books are okay because of the over 300 emails I have received from my readers. Even so, the publishers did not see what my readers saw. This is why I went the self publish route. I am doing okay, only because I have the time to do many book signings. (The only way to sell your books.) If you look for a publisher or agent be sure to check (Warnings & Cautions for Writers) There are bad people out there just waiting to steal your $$. If anybody goes the self publish route I will help you for free. [e-mail]
Wayne Russell, The Vagabond Writer

Answer 3

I think this really depends on what you want and how much work you want to put into it.

Self-publishing is the quickest and easiest way to get published, but I read somewhere that the average self-publisher sells about 100-150 copies of a book. (I apologize. I can't recall the source now.) If you go this route and sales are a priority, you have to be willing to do your own marketing or to pay someone to handle it for you.

If you want to find an agent, and you are not already connected in some way to the publishing world - it's very difficult to get your foot in the door. BUT not impossible. You have to be willing to do tons of research to find the right agent, and you have to be open to rejection/intense editing/long waiting periods, etc.

The one published novelist that I am in contact with is a successfully self-published writer. I think she had the money, though, to invest in the project - and she hired people to help her market her books. Her books are availbable at Wal-Mart, and they can be ordered from any bookstore. At one point on Amazon.com, her book was paired with one of the Harry Potter books as a sales strategy. I believe she began with a different self-publisher and ended up with Synergy Books.

I am not an expert, though, and this is just some food for thought from all the materials I've been reading and my own limited knowledge.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you well!

Answer 4

Getting in the door for traditional publishing is getting harder and harder to do.

You have a shrinking open market for new and promising authors to deal with, tighter and tighter sub guidelines to hassle over with each new query letter sent out, and to top that off, fierce competition between houses--in order to see who can come up with the best-selling book.

If you look around at the local bookstore, you'll find many of those new authors published each year don't always come back for an encore.

Self-publishing isn't the curse many mainstream publishers and their hardline critics make it out to be. The honest truth of the matter, is that self-publishing is becoming much easier to do these days, and you don't have to wait years to become published in order to do that.

If you must self-publish, just remember to get your ms professionally edited, find a good and reliable book cover artist, and be prepared to spend quite a bit of money doing it. (Upwards of about $5000 or more.)

Most writers who self-publish don't spend more than $600 on average. And their results *results* in a painful blemish on their budding career as an author.

They think that most people can get by with reading a substandard novel and that they'll be taken seriously as a writer.

Doesn't always work out that way.

Answer 5

My Oma wrote and illistrated an interesting book about a school bus. She has sent them to a coouple different publishing companies, but hasn't heard back from thm yet....
So I guess that's not much help...
But that's what I think your best bet would be at the moment.

Answer 6

go online and search for small publishers. these will have an icon to click on for submissions. the bigger boys will only take from agents or if you belong to the Writer's Guild.

Answer 7

well. i met Bruce Coville and he went to a publishing agency. maybe you should do that ^^