I'm looking for a publishing company....(read on)?

Question

I'm looking for a publishing company somewhere in the United States that either specializes in or has no problem with publishing under-age works such as books, stories, or poetry. I'm 16 and am just interested in what is out in the big world for me to expand my horizons and maybe publish some work. :)

Answer 1

Number one, the world of legitimate publishing is very hard to get into, and people work years to do it, and frankly, most never make it. Publishers do not accept unsolicited material (regardless of what you read in Writer's Digest, or similar books and magazines), and most stuff that is submitted is returned unread with a form rejection. Less than 1% of all the manuscripts submitted ever see publication. Agents are also hard to acquire and are very selective about whom they take on. They would not deal with a minor such as yourself. Of course, the vanity presses are going day and night (they are the ones where you actually pay them to have your work printed, then you have to try and sell to bookstores, etc.). The on line sites also proliferate, and again, this is not considered real publishing (really more just printing, and there is a huge difference between that and legitimate publishing by a recognized publisher). As for poetry, publishers stopped publishing it decades ago as there is no market for it. Think about it. How many poetry books do you find in major bookstores (I mean recent poetry, aside from compilations by Emily Dickinson, Maya Angelou and that ilk)? You don't because there simply is no market for it. Again, you can go to the on line sites but those are just places where they take everyone work and usually you pay to have it printed or displayed. Short stories are also becoming obsolete, with a few minor acceptions. You really need an agent for a book these days, and before you try and get one, you must be of legal age, have written the next big blockbuster, know how to write an effective query letter, synopsis, and outline, and also how to research the markets. Your MS has to be in perfect form and submitted either in hard copy or on CD. It is very difficult to write a book and especially one that might prove to be a best seller. You need much writing experience before you tackle this task. Your peers will tell you your stuff is wonderful and not to let anyone ruin your dreams, but honestly, the real world of publishing is fraught with roadblocks and the road there littered with the dashed dreams and hard work of would-be authors. The supply is also far greater than the demand, meaning that thousands upon thousands of manusscripts are submitted each year to publishers, and all but a very few (if that) are returned unread to those who wrote them. And the poster who told you that your English Teacher would have a list of companies, that person has not got any clue as to the real world of legitimate publishing. Again, publishers are listed on the Web and in places like Writer's Digest, but the harsh reality is they almost never accept unsolicited work, and especailly not by unknown wirters such as yourself. Publishing is a business like any other where the main aim is of course, to make money.

Answer 2

As an editor, I have found very, very, VERY few teenagers who have honed their craft well enough to be publishable. I am grateful, however, you actually crafted your question in honest to goodness English. You've seen some of the questions, so you know what I mean!

Editors don't care about your age. They care about whether or not you can produce quality work. Keep in mind publishing is a business, not a charity. Nobody care about helping you "expand your horizons." They care about publishing books people will want to read.

A little information about the industry in general:

Traditional route, large publishing house: You will need an agent. An agent is someone who knows how to work with the big publishers. An agent will read your manuscript and suggest changes to increase it's chances of publication. Most large publishers will only accepted agented submissions.

An agent can even start representing you before your book is finished. A good agent can get you a deal before the book is complete. So you don't even need a final manuscript to work this way.

An agent is paid on commission, and is only paid if they place your book. Generally they will get a 10-20% cut of the royalties. An agent that asks for money up front, or tries to sell add-on services, is a scam.

And contrary to popular myth, it is NOT impossible to get an agent. Agents are always hungry for new talent. Remember the mantra "Every published writer was once an unpublished writer."

Traditional publishing, small press: Most small press publishers will review non-agented submissions. However, you must query first. If they are interested, they will ask to see the completed manuscript.

In either traditional route, it will not cost you one dime. The publisher will use it's own editors, proofreaders, book designers, and salespeople to design and market your book.

Non-traditional publishing, Subsidy: Subsidy publishing in any form is a scam. In these scenarios, the alleged publisher asks the writer to "invest" in the project. They may ask you to pay for special services. Or nickel and dime you by charging you for proofreading, editing, etc. This is not how a traditional publisher works. Subsidy publishing should be avoided.

Self-Publishing: With self-publishing, you act as your own publisher. This is a good option if:

1. You have a "niche" book that would only be of interest to a small market (i.e. A book on the history of your hometown, a book on shovel collecting, etc)
2. You have a strong understanding of how to market. You will need to write your own ad copy, press releases, etc. If you don't know how to market, you won't sell books.
3. Have a strong understanding of the process. Publishing involves more than typing up the story. There is proofreading, editing, book layout, cover art, even silly things like font choices, blurbs, etc. If you don't know how to do something, you will have to pay a professional to do it for you. Which brings me to...
4. Have a budget. Self-publishing costs money. Even if you use Lulu, which has no upfront costs, you will still have to spend money. You will have to buy copies of the book to send to reviewers. You will need to send comp copies to bookstores to encourage them to stock the book. You will have to buy advertising. If you need professionals, you will have to pay for them.

I have actually worked with a few underage authors and artists. Most I didn't even know were underage until it came time to sign the contract. Their age wasn't an issue. They produced good work, so that was all that mattered!

Answer 3

Your English teacher should have a list of education approved companies