what do i need to do to get a book published?

Question

after writing a book what would i need to do to get it published and put into stores?

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 A literary agent is the best approach for an unpublished author.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Unpublished authors having no credible writing references stand a severely limited chance at publication.

The other alternative for you is to publish your book through vanity publishing houses--those that charge you to print and publish your works, but you are responsible for all marketing strategies. Such publishing could cost anywhere from $6,000 to $20,000, dependent on the novel size and type covers you want.

Answer 2

Try to get a good agent first. They are the ones who present it to publishers, etc. "Writers' Digest Magazine" is a good place to start (they also put out a huge book--Writers Market, it is called-- of practically every known agent, publisher, magazine, etc. in the country--on a yearly basis, I think--and these listings tell what type of book or article they are looking for/needing, what their percentage is of your earnings, and just about anything you'd need to know). There are also listings of places who will help you do what's called "self-publishing"--where you do all the work of not only writing it but designing the cover, printing it, etc. and then finding some place willing to put it in their store. Good luck. :)

Answer 3

Patience, perseverance, and an agent.

You might also want to get yourself a copy of this:

Writer's Market 2007 (Writer's Market) by Robert Lee Brewer

It'll help guide you to the best places to try and sell your writing. It's updated annually.

Good luck to you!