Has anyone ever had a book published, any tips?

Question

I'm thinking of finishing the book I started writing 5 years ago but is it easy to get published or with the initial rejection just not be worth the trouble? Plus does it pay enough for me to leave my job and go full time.

Answer 1

Hi, Cherry,

Like you, I'm a newbie, but I've been told by established writers that you must never leave your regular day-job to concentrate full-time on your writing. It's only a romantic notion that a published author sits the whole day writing.
It's very common to get rejection slips. The market is glutted.
As for receiveing an initial rejection, don't worry. Ernest Hemingway collected at least 60.

But I strongly urge you to follow your heart. After all, it's your novel, not mine! So, you have my wholehearted encouragement to finish what you have already begun. It's a long, long road, but keep on bravely questin'!

At the end of the day, even if your book never gets published, you've got to ask yourself, "Have I learned anything from this?"

Writing a book changes a person. It's a spiritual experience. Don't just write for the money. Write because you love what you're doing.
And truly, you'll be surprised to discover that it is really the journey that matters, not the destination.

Answer 2

The whole thing depends on your getting a really good literary agent: they negotiate the contract with the publisher. A great agent can get you a wonderful deal, involving a big marketing and publicity budget, and of course all this helps your chances of becoming a best selling author!

I suggest you read over the material you've written - then send the first two or three chapters, together with a great synopsis, and a brief covering letter, to about four agents. Get the Writers' Handbook and find the agents who represent the genre you're writing in.

If they like the initial chapters, they will either ask to see more of the book, or work with you to finish it - they will offer feedback and enthusiasm and this can make a huge difference.

In your covering letter mention any previous work you've had published.

You ask in your question whether the initial rejection will be worth it - only you can answer this. Firstly, you might not get rejected! Not all authors have a box full of rejection slips, though many do before finally getting published!

It all depends on how much you enjoy writing, and how determined you are to be published.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Being published is astonishingly difficult, I'm afraid to say. Unfortunately there seems to be more people writing fiction than there are actually reading it – and most people simply can't write.

My advice is as follows.

Look at your book critically. Would you shell out £16.99 for it? Would you honestly and truthfully pick it up over and above another novel? If not forget it.

You must be passionate about what you write and must believe in it whole-heartedly. You also have to work damn hard at it. You should aim to write every single day. If you feel yourself losing heart, I suspect your book will never appeal to anyone.

The inevitable rejection will be worth it if your book's good enough. So soldier on if you have the belief.

Oh and forget about quitting work to write. The average author makes just £2,000 a year from their novels. Unless you are superlatively talented, you're highly unlikely to make much money.

Good luck. You'll need it.

Answer 4

Hey Cherry

I am trying to get mine published. Recently I got as far as them asking to see the whole book, then got turned down. At the moment I am with another publisher who likes my book but hates the title.

There are so many negotiations to go through, tonnes of rejection slips to file away, and much self-doubt to plough through.

A lot of it, a HUGE chunk of it, it luck, pure and simple. Luck of how busy the publisher is, which person reads it, what kind of mood they're in.

But persevere. One of my favourite authors has over six hundred rejection slips in her folder. I have forty-five, so I guess I've a ways to go.

Let us know what happens x x x

Answer 5

The average payout for a first-time novel is $5000.

So, yeah, don't quit your day job.

But if you love to write, you'll do it anyway. :) If you're not sure, then it's not for you. You have to be dedicated and thick-skinned because there is a ton of hard work and rejection involved before it happens.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Answer 6

All publishers and agents care about is the old pals' act, or occasionally, a chance of making a quick $. Sad but true.

Answer 7

i think you should do it...i got some poety published and it was cool seeing it in a book...i had the opportunity to publish another full book but i didnt do it and i feel awful that i didnt you should do it...even if you get rejected youll know you did your best.

Answer 8

no but when you do let me know how it went