i am a writer. what is the procedure to publish a book?

Answer 1

Consult the Writer's Market or Novel and Short Story Writer's Market books at your library. They are also available at bookstores.

Within are lists of literary agents and publishers that will state their preferences in genre, type of manuscript, and methods of submissions. A literary agent is the best approach for an unpublished author. Always check their websites for additional guidelines.

Another must-have reference grammar tool is "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and Williams.

Format your manuscript in accordance with acceptable guidelines--always double-spaced with pertinent contact information on the cover page. Find the booklet, "Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript" by Cynthia Laufenberg. It is an invaluable tool for the writer.

Edit your story and then hire, if you must, disinterested editors to go through it and catch those areas that you did not or cannot find. Don't ask relatives or close friends to edit your manuscript; they will hesitate to be truthful with you because they already have their biases. Concentrate on catching errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Any manuscript submitted prematurely without corrections will surely be scrapped immediately upon receipt.

Learn how to craft a powerful query letter; they are the door openers to representation.

Unpublished authors having no credible writing references stand a severely limited chance at publication.

And then there are always the vanity publishing companies that will publish your manuscript for a price and you will then have to market it by yourself.

Answer 2

Easy, actually. First, complete the manuscript, make sure it's double-spaced and your last name and the page number is at the top of every page. Make sure it is written to its best!!!! Use the most recent copy of Writer's Market to make sure everything is correct, then look up a publisher for your genre of novel or, if you don't write novels, find another publisher for what you DO write. Follow the guidelines very carefully and submit the manuscript as said in the section of Writer's Market that tells you how. Mail it off, including a query (a one-page letter stating your book's name, a short synopsis, and your plans)...then wait. You'll get a letter from the editor saying whether or not he want's to see what you've written and the rest is up to God. But you have to do your part by signing the contracts and such. It's best to wait until after what you've written is accepted before you go off trying to acquire an agent. Good luck!

Answer 3

First you need to finish the book and edit it (repeatedly). I recommend that, once you finish, you put it away for a month without looking at it. Then go back and reread it, and begin to edit and rewrite. That extra time will give you more perspective and a fresh look on what you wrote.

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 synopsis 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!

The publisher you'll use does not have to be located in the same state you live in (in fact, most authors do not live near theirs). So don't let distance be a worry!

You do not need to copyright your book before you query agents. The publisher who prints your story will take care of the official paperwork, but the copyright is already yours the moment you put the words on the page. Don't waste your time or money copyrighting something which you will most likely have to edit and rewrite repeatedly after you get an agent and publisher.

Here are four websites that can help. Read them thoroughly (especially Miss Snark-- love her!) and research, research, research! These can help you determine if the agent is legit or not:
http://misssnark.blogspot.com/
http://www.agentquery.com/
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com

And don't think about taking an agent from this list, they are SCAMS:
http://www.sfwa.org/beware/twentyworst.html

Good luck, and happy writing!

Answer 4

You've been given some good advice about finishing the book, having it edited, approaching agents with query letter and synopsis (assuming fiction), avoiding agent scams, and the difficulties of getting published by traditional, large publishers.

Also, there are many small presses you can approach without a literary agent and there's always the self-publishing route.

Most important, enjoy the writing process.

Answer 5

#1 Finish the book

#2 Copyright it

#3 Write up query letter and synopsis

#4 Research publisher of choice and make sure you've made all their requirements. Then find the correct editor and address and send the query letter and synopsis and the first three chapters of the book (optional).

#5 Wait for a response. If rejected, don't take it personally and stay determined. Keep trying until you find a publisher that will accept you.

Answer 6

of route you need to. basically positioned the decision you need to be needing for use on the cover internet web site once you position up (yet your actual call on contractual documentation and contact information) and ensure your author is acquainted with.