I am in the process of writing a book. How do I go about getting it published and how do I receive payment?

Answer 1

Go to the "Resolved Questions" here and spend time reading the answers to this question - which gets asked about 100 times a day. There is a wealth of info stored there. Dont expect any advance on a first book unless it is very very special. Most publishers wont pay advances to new authors. You will make 10 - 15% of the net of your first 5000 copies - depending on contract. If you self publish you make nothing unless you sell the4 books yourself. That's it, Remember that only about 5 or 10% of authors make a living writing. Surf Resolved Answers. You will learn a lot. Pax - C.

Answer 2

I used to work at a publishing company. I answered this question many times. Also, I am a graphic designer and we operate on the same plan when we illustrate books.

First find the right kind of publisher. There is a book published yearly called "The Writer's Market Guide"
Go to amazon or your local bookstore and look for the 2007 issue. Browse the book and make a list of the publishers that take the kind of book you are writing. They may even be categorized for you.
The book does all the hard work for you. It tells you how that publisher likes to recieve the manuscript and when you can expect a reply. Prepare the manuscript for the ones you want to try and send them in.
Here is how it works. You send the typed manuscript in the form that they like best. Usually you include a self-addressed stamped envelope in the package. Within the time that is mentioned in the book they will likely send you back a letter telling you if they are interested or not. Please do not be bothered by the length of time this takes. Publishers get so many manuscripts that if they take the time to review each one personally. (the one I worked for did) then you can imagine how long it takes to get to each one.

Please also know that there are two kinds of publishing. The kind that is most common and that almost all of the books in stores are published with is where the publisher chooses the books they think will sell and they publish those.. they contact you.. set up a contract and you get your payment and or royalties.
The other type of publishing is the Self-publishing market where you pay a printer to make your manuscript into an actual book. You pay per book and you then get the books and sell them yourself. The publisher is actually just a book producer for you.. they do no marketing or selling of the book. It is surprising to me how many people do not know that.

I hope I have helped. Good luck on the book. Hope it is a big hit!

Answer 3

Well you can try to get an agent (try agentquery.com) If you want to go it alone try sending a query or a proposal (depending on fiction or nonfiction, respectively) to different publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts (not a lot). You can find these publishers by getting a copy of Writer's Market, which has the addresses, emails (most times) and sometimes even the price that they are willing to pay for a manuscript. Hope I've been some help. Good luck!!

Answer 4

The first response given is right on target. But keep writing and perfecting the craft. Learn how to write powerful query letters and be prepared for a lot of rejections.

When you finish your book, make it fit an agent's requirements found in the Writer's Market. Check the website for pertinent information on submissions and follow the instructions to the letter.

First and foremost, edit and re-edit your book before you submit the first three chapters to anyone.

I wish you much success.