How hard or easy is it to publish a book? Does it cost any money?

Question

I have a few book ideas that I'm going to write. I'm already in the middle of writing one of them, but I'd like to know how hard or easy it is to publish it?

Answer 1

You have 2 options

1. Find an existing publisher who will pay you to publish it. This requires you to submit your manuscript to various publishers according to their guidelines. (Their guidelines are always posted online.) It is easier to be accepted by Electronic publishers.

2. Publish it yourself. If you publish it yourself, don't go to a vanity publisher. Go to a POD publisher (print on demand) publisher like Lightning source:
http://www.lightningsource.com

Lightning Source is a legitimate press who is affiliated with Ingram. Your books can be ordered on Amazon.com and from bookstores if you publish through them.

Bear in mind that if you go through a pod publisher, you might want to hire a professional editor to make sure your book is formatted perfectly.

It will cost you money to use a pod publisher, but it is money that goes directly toward publication. Don't confuse a pod publisher with a vanity press.

A vanity press will charge fees to publish your book, but they are essentially a scam whose main goal is to milk your desire to be a published author, and make money off of you.

Listed below is an article on vanity publishers:

Answer 2

To be truthful, very complicated. the international of valid publishing is amazingly complicated to get into because of the fact the availability of manuscripts some distance outweighs the call for of what's printed each and every twelve months, and that's under a million% of the hundreds submitted. frequently, you opt for an agent because of the fact publishers do no longer seem at unsolicited artwork and in simple terms return it unread. An agent is likewise complicated to acquire fantastically for a beginner such as you curiously are. they do no longer take too many possibilities on unproven writers, so except you're writing the subsequent perfect broker, you have gotten a confusing time convincing an agent that he or she could desire to take you on as a customer. sure, it expenses earnings case you pass the conceit path (this is what each and all of the little ones do right here on line - those cheesy conceitedness websites that post the place absolutely everyone artwork - or they pass to a shallowness writer who has been around for years, pay to have copies of their e book revealed, and then they are frequently caught with them. that's no longer real publishing besides. this is printing, yet no longer publishing. there's a huge distinction). the real publishing international is a annoying one, packed with various artwork, sadness, and utter frustration. maximum human beings in no way make it in that field, and consequently each and all of the conceit publishers have proliferated (the place you pay and the place they take absolutely everyone artwork). the conceit publishers be responsive to that the possibilities of you being legitimately printed are very narrow, and so as that they financial employer on the actuality you are going to be so wanting to work out your call in print you will pay for the privilege. undesirable concept. Writing a e book isn't possibly for somebody who has no different writing experience. additionally, you may desire to study approximately outlines, question letters, and a synopsis. returned, a e book is a huge venture - doing it precise, it is - in case you have in no way performed the different writing (extreme writing). stable success!

Answer 3

I'm only speaking from having read a book on publishing, some articles, and visiting the websites of publishers and literary agents...but it's not easy and it's not impossible. It should not cost money unless you are self-publishing (last resort sort of thing) and literary agents should never charge you a reading fee. I think agents can charge for like office stuff? not sure about that though, or what it would entail, like copies and postage? Literary agents make their money (a percentage of what the author makes) when they sell your book to a publisher (and get a higher cut for hooking up with a foreign market). I THINK (sooo do not hold me to this, look around cause it has been awhile since I've researched this) that the normal, nobody, newbie writer gets 5,000 upfront for a book (fiction) and that is taken off your first royalties. Good luck with your dreams, and just remember to be damn cautious of supposed book doctors ("editors" sometimes a "literary agent" will refer you to that will try to charge a reading /editing fee, it's usually a scam...)

Answer 4

It depends on how dedicated and how talented you are.

You don't need an agent, in some cases they help, in others they're a hinderance. It varies from publisher to publisher.

I suggest the 07 Writer's Market Guide, but if you'd rather, you can search up publishers by genre on the internet. Then, just pick one and check their guidelines. They can ask for just a few chapters and a summary page or the entire manuscript.

Costs will be what it costs to print the manuscript and what it costs to mail it out.