Book Publishing?

Question

I have an idea for a non-fiction book. Once I get it written how do I go about getting someone to publish it?

Answer 1

If you want a good publisher in your field of non-fiction, you must prove that you are an EXPERT. Write articles for trade magazines in your field.

You see, a publisher does not want a ONE BOOK Author. It takes time to build up a good author, so it sells enough to make money.

You might consider Self-publishing. Visit http://www.booksjustbooks.com Sign up for the free newsletter.

Learn more at seminars and such. Join us at CAPA -U see http://www.aboutcapa.com

Dan Uitti
President
Connecticut Authors & Publishers Association

Answer 2

If you want to publish it privately, you can do so via vanity publishing. This means you pay a private publisher upfront to produce a certain number of copies, which you can sell or give to your friends.

If you want to publish it commercially, by which I mean the kind of thing that gets reviewed in the press and sold on Amazon and in bookstores, that's much more difficult. Most authors put together three chapters and a proposal outlining the rest of the book, and then take that to a literary agent. It's not necessary to write the whole book at this stage, especially as that can be very research-intensive with non-fiction.

To find a reputable literary agent, you need to look in something like The Writer's Handbook, or another big, reliable publication. Once an agent agrees to represent you, he or she will take your project to various publishers, who will (hopefully) bid for your finished book. If you're lucky, you'll get an advance -- the publisher will offer you money now (deductible against any eventual royalties) to write the book.

Getting a decent agent is the most difficult part of the process for most authors. It really is worth putting a lot of research into which agents might suit you, and making your proposal as good as possible. You should also think hard about your 'market' -- who you think will buy your book -- and what other books are out there that have a similar market to yours.

Some authors still manage to sell books without an agent, but it's very rare.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Since it is non-fiction you are more than likely able to find comparative material already written on the subject you choose to educate the world on. Do a web search for your subject and write down some points you see others making. Compare it to the points you have dveloped in your mind and put those down on paper. Keep a notepad handy whenever an idea on how to 'target your audience', or how to flavor your factual piece of literary work, and most importantly to not let those ideas get away: record them on a microcassete recorder if you can afford one, they are rather inexpensive and make great addendums to the creative expression. Make sure you reference your sources used to describe your factual piece should you investigate your subject and find much more about it than you ahve currently offered. Check your grammer, style and spelling and be professional.

Good Luck !

When you are done you could always feature it at the online publishing site I work as a freelancer for where you can receive residual income for every piece they publish. It is a free site and works well for supplemental income BUT you won't get millionaire rich status there !

http://www.gather.com/viewArticles.jsp?memberId=81565&nav=Namespace

sharing the light,
erica

Answer 4

you go to a list of publishers (Writers Market is a good source and they have an online market that does have a price tag, but not a very big one. You can search the lists for want you want and get the information you need to make a query, and then a submission). there are other sources and lists, http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors.htm preditors and editors list editors and agents with comments from the experiences of other writers. Good luck.

Answer 5

Write that book first, then worry about getting it published.

At the moment you are putting the cart before the horse.

So my advice is to JUST SIT DOWN AND WRITE.

When you are finished, come back and ask the question again.

Answer 6

Hire me. I will publish it for you.