If I wrote a book, how could I get it published?

Answer 1

It's a catch-22. Typically, you can't get published unless you have an agent, and you can't get an agent unless you're published. Weird, huh? There are ways around this. You can submit into the slush piles of the few publishing houses that don't require agented submissions. www.writersmarket.com has a list. However, you can only submit to one publishing house at a time, and they normally take about 6 months to let you know if they want to see the whole manuscript, and can take a whole year to review the manuscript.

I think the best bet is to network with other writers. They'll teach you tricks and tips to get through the slushpiles. There are a bunch of writing workshops out there. Because publishing houses have specific things they're looking for, those workshops really help. Even if you don't write romance, I recommend the RWA local chapters workshops, because often their speakers teach how to improve your writing, query letters, synopses, and pitches. The author of How to Write a Damn Good Novel spoke at one recently.

Normally, getting published takes a few years of rejection letters, cursing a lot, learning from those rejection letters, rewriting, and starting over with a fresh manuscript with all your new skills.

It's easier to get published first by a smaller publishing house, then get an agent, then get a NY publishing house.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

Hello -

The first thing any writer should do when trying to get a book published is find their market. What publishing houses publish the kind of material you produce? Is there a market for my writing? Who else is doing it?

Then get the Writer's Market and source for agents (some publishing houses only accept work by agented authors) and research research research.

Once you have everything you need together - then submit to those houses that appeal to your material. Follow the submission guidelines to the letter - or it will spell immediate rejection.

Then - expect rejection. Every writer gets rejected at some time. In the creative world its about 10 rejections to every one publication. It isn't a personal attack on you as a writer, but writers get rejections for all sorts of reasons - they have too many submissions, they don't like the name of your character, it's too long, its too short, blah blah blah.

The best advice I've heard is this - The worst thing a publisher can say is yes.

A yes will mean more work and more opportunities for people to hate you than a no.


Good Luck!

Answer 3

You'll need a literary agent. It's not impossible to get one. I did. Your work needs to be top-notch, though. Here are the steps:

1) Finish the first draft of a manuscript. Let trusted friends read it. Revise.

2) Read these two books:
Noah Lukeman's THE FIRST FIVE PAGES
and
SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS by Rennie Browne
Then edit your manuscript again.

3) Once your manuscript is perfect, it's time for the query letter. You can google "sample query letters" to get a feel for how they're done. Make sure your query letter is perfect. Post it on writers.net or absolutewrite.com for critique.

4) Once your query is perfect, start to research agents. Look in books that are similar to yours in the acknowledgments--authors usually thank their agents there. You can use agentquery.com to find out what genres agents accept and whether they are looking for new clients. Also, sign up for the free newsletter from publishersmarketplace.com and you will read some deals in there. Pay attention to which agents are making deals for debut authors.

5) Most importantly, check Preditors & Editors before you query each agent and make sure the agent is ok! If the agent is not recommended, do not query them. Here is the link:
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/

The rule is... money flows to the writer. You should not pay a cent to get published. A real agent takes 15% of the sale and does not charge you unless he/she makes a sale. Do not pay anyone anything.

After you sign with an agent, they will submit the manuscript to publishers.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Pay close attention to Vanessa Gilfoy. She knows of which she speaks.

I am a book editor, unfortunately for a subsidy company (where the author pays to print their book) but I do know the business, and she is dead-on with her advise. Look for the small houses, the ones that publish maybe 15-20 books a year. They're more likely to give you a reply that can help with rewriting. And good luck.

Answer 5

that's complicated to get revealed. maximum agencies basically settle for books submitted with the aid of brokers, and it relatively is complicated to get an agent. whilst they take unsolicited manuscripts, regularly basically one individual reads it (an intern of a few sort each each now and then) and in the event that they do no longer think of that's totally super and could make somewhat some money, they gained't pass it directly to the real people who submit. you notice celebrities submit SUCKY books via fact their call will sell it; you're becoming to be the excellent e book ever yet no person is conscious you so as that they gained't right this moment purchase your e book. It fees plenty to industry a e book and carry it contained which you would be able to purchase or in spite of, so the publishing agencies do no longer take opportunities on new skills regularly, yet Stephen King could desire to write a e book of undesirable jokes and it may sell. J.ok Rowling have been given grew to become down various cases for Harry potter, and look how effectual those books are. it relatively is extremely some success and timing and robust success to you! Oh or you could self submit yet those books are actually not taken "heavily" and that they are referred to as arrogance press.

Answer 6

make it a chain book and mail it to five people. sorry. you could publish on the web, either via a blog or perhaps as some form of download. But then you would have to defer getting rich until enough people discovered your genius that you made the talk show circuit. But then, for a while after that, you could ride the wave and write pretty much any old crap. Kinda like me here. Westward Ho!

Answer 7

writers market dot come
or smtin like dat
idk
im riting a book too and found the site once
google it
orr
go to stepheniemeyers.com
and she has the site on her page.....thats where i got it

ooo and she says that its like hell when u r getn the book published so have be confident and just send the copies to as many companies as possible and the rite one will find U...



LATR

Answer 8

if you want a big publisher to do it, you will need a literary agent. If you want to pay for it yourself, there are comnpanies such as Morris Publishing in Lawrence KS.