After you write a book?

Question

What are some of the first steps to getting it published? Please feel free to add any other advice. its greatly appreciated!

The jerk off who considers himself helpful, for the sake of defaming another should be burned at the torch (FYI:He wrote some foolish statement below)! I however do appreciate others who gave the best possible answers!!!!

Thanks again! This site is great, when people honestly care about how the respond to questions.:)

Answer 1

i would honestly recommend reading "a complete idiot's guide to publishing a book"

it's simple, easy to read...and it's very very useful

i would also recommend purchasing the "2007 writer's and author's market" it has a list of all editors and agents out there. it's AWESOME. every writer should have this book.

also, be persistant. it pays off. EVERYONE gets rejected several times before being published. it can be a real blow to your self-esteem.

most publishers ask for a query letter, which is basically something you might read on the back cover of a book to help "sell the story"...you must have something fresh and not over-used. what can YOUR book contribute to the huge ocean of books already out there?

good luck to ya!

Answer 2

Peac:
Don't let any discourage you. 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

Sadly, the best answer I've seen is the nasty editor. You have slim to no shot unless you're breathtakingly amazing or hook onto some fad a la Grisham or Dan Brown.

I've written a book and it's quite good. I've come to terms with the fact that I'm an English teacher with that writing dream that will probably never come true. I don't think there's a problem with pursuing your dream, but I hope you're keeping it tempered with reality.

Answer 4

Right now I'm editing my own book.

If you know someone who reads a lot, and you trust well enough to not send your work to the US copyright office in the name of mickey mouse, then let them read it and give them a red pen to scribble down their every comment and nuance about what separates your work from being marketable.

The more they hurt your feelings and tell you what you don't want to hear, the more valuable they are to you as a critic.

When you have got it refined enough, There's a form u can get at the Library of Congress web site. Print it, fill it out, send it in with a $45 check and your work is copyrighted. You establish it as your work, legally. Then, buy a copy of The Writer's Market 2007 at the book store. It'll give you a list of publishers and agencies.

Answer 5

That person who called you an amateur needs some therapy. Don't let that kind of response get you down.

It's true you could go the agent route, but you can also self publish. There are plenty of self-publishing houses. Here is one site that a friend of mine used:

http://www.lulu.com/

Good luck with your book!

Answer 6

Get an agent and a copy of the current Writer's Market. Check out Writer's Digest and other writers' magazines. They have lots of advice. Good luck.

Answer 7

Try getting an agent. Also, there are many websites to help you out. Never pay anyone to edit your manuscript or represent you. They get paid when you 'script gets bought by a publisher. Also, try sending it to a publisher that accepts unsolicited manuscripts.

Answer 8

Let is cool

Read it fresh

Re-write it as required.

With both Editors and Agents the first reader is generally a college intern in their last year and they want to be a writer also, so you have to be pretty good to get past them.

Answer 9

You can publish you book manually (But that woul be very hard to do by your self.) You can also send your story to a writing agent. They are very helpfull. Just make sure you copywrite your story.

Answer 10

I asked a similar question yesterday and got beat up by some literary nazi who thought I had no business inquiring about such a thing, so i hope you dodge that bullet!