How do I publish my book?

Question

I am wanting to publish a book of poems and stories included with the poems. How do I do this? I am wanting a fake name also to go with it because it has poems in there that might upset family of mine. Plus is there anyway I can raise money online to publish it? I don't have a lot of money to spare especially with a child on the way. I just really want to do something with this book, it would make me so proud.

Answer 1

Publishing should not be a financial burden! You are selling a product you have created.

There are two types of publishing: Tradition and Self-Publishing. You will first need to decide which of these methods you want to pursue. Each has advantages and disadvantages that need to be researched. For instance, traditional publishing can be a very long road, littered with MANY rejections. Self-publishing will guarantee you a printed copy of your book, however you will not see it in a brick-and-mortar bookstore.

http://www.lulu.com is, in my opinion, the best self-publisher around. You can set up your book on their website, for free, and they will print copies as they are purchased. They do not edit your book, so you will need to take care of that on your own. This will also NOT get your book in a traditional bookstore, although you can purchase a very affordable package that would allow sale of your book through online bookstores like Amazon.

"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!

Also keep in mind that this can be a long process. You will probably not get a lot of positive responses right away, and the rejection can be disheartening. But keep it up and you will find a home for your story (once it's finished, that is!)

Last piece of advice: check out the website Preditors and Editors. They will help you avoid any scams which will make the road that much smoother:
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/

Answer 2

That's a good question..
here is a site I found with some info...

http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/publishbook/publishbook.html

Answer 3

go to a publishing company and tell them u wanna go by a pen name

Answer 4

you gotta know someone in the business