How can I find a publisher for a fictional book?

Question

I am writing a fictional novel and I want to get in contact with a publisher. Anyone know how? I would greatly appreciate any help.

Answer 1

Wanda gives very good advice. Please note that self-publishing is NOT a good option for fiction, unless you already know a lot about the industry. As a self-publisher, you would be responsible for editing, proofing, designing, marketing, distributing, and promoting your book at your own cost. Unless you already know how to do these things, it is not a good option for most people.

A note about agents:
Most major publishing houses only look at agented manuscripts. An agent should never ask for money up front. An agent only gets paid when they place your book with a publisher. An agent that asks for money up front or tries to sell you expensive add-on services is a scam.

Answer 2

there are lots of lists of publishers and agents on the internet.

you need to research them before sending out your work. Most will want a brief query letter (they will tell you what to put in the letter). This will give them an idea of your writing skills and the content of your novel and they will decide if they want to see any parts of it. sometime they will ask for the first couple of chapters or pages, but not as a rule. Each is different. And don't look for this to happen overnight. They take a month to several months to get back to you, THEN if they want to see the book you have to wait again (could be six months to a year) THEN if they want to buy the book, it will be another year till all the edits and changes are done.. AND you will have to do the promotion.

Are you still reading? then you just might have a chance. Start with Writers Market, suggest that you purchase the online version rather than the books, because they are more current and editors/agent travel around, and you can get a lot of good advise from the Writers Digest magazine and books on getting published too.

Answer 3

You can send your manuscript directly to publishers. If you do so enclose a self stamped addressed envelope so they can send it back to you.

An agent to do this for you might be worthwhile. Make sure it's 100% sound before submitting it. If there's plot holes you have no chance. Also if it's a novel it should be above 60,000 words.

You might also consider self publishing, there is a link to some advice on this in the references, the page has links to publishing houses.