What is the best way to approach a publisher?

Question

When you're writing a book, what is the best way to approach the publisher - before or after you finish the book? Via an agent? If so where do you find a decent agent? All help gratefully received.

Answer 1

If you mean a fiction book then you should first finish the manuscript, then the best route is to submit a query letter and or sample to agents in your genre. www.agentquery.com is a good place to start. Some publishers will accept unsolicited queries or manuscripts and this information is usually found on their individual websites. The agent, if they choose to represent you, can get your manuscript the kind of attention you need, rather than it sitting on the bottom of a slush pile.

Answer 2

Wait until the book is finished. It is incredibly difficult to get publishers to look at any book-- only the famous authors can get a deal for an unfinished book.

Writer's Market", along with "The Guide to Literary Agents" are my two suggestions for diving into the traditional publishing market. I suggest looking for an agent first because they are the best step through the publishing door. You will create a submission package that matches the agents preferences (some, for instance, just want a query letter and summary in your first contact with them while others want more). Once you find an agent that is willing to represent you, they will market your book to publishers. Remember, in traditional publishing you should not be paying for anything! They get paid when you get paid!

To help keep yourself away from scams, check out Preditors and Editors:
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/

Answer 3

Always wait until you have a completed and polished piece of writing before you send out queries to editors and agents. Most large publishing houses require agented submissions but smaller presses accept queries from unagented writers. First, get a current copy of Writer's Market, available in any good book store and the reference section of your public library. For agents, keep in mind that no reputable agent will charge you any reading fees or any fees of any kind - agents get paid after they accept you as a client and only AFTER they help you sell. They typically receive a 15% commission off your sales.

The following links will help:

Answer 4

The short answer is "However they tell you to approach them."

All publishers have established submission guidelines based on how they do business. You should check out the publisher's site first to see if these guidelines are posted. If not, send a query letter requesting the guidelines. When you get the guidelines, read them and follow them. Some publishers want only dead tree format submissions, double-spaced. Others want you to send a CD or floppy disk in rich text format. Some are now moving toward having submissions uploaded to ftp sites. How you submit the work is entirely dependent on how the publisher wants it submitted.