What is the best way to get a book published? Fiction?

Answer 1

There are two types of publishing, traditional and self-publishing. If you choose to go with self-pubbing, I would recommend http://www.lulu.com as a great site. They don't pretend to be anything they are not, and have excellent service. All the decisions will be in your hands. However, going with a company like this is a difficult road and it is not considered a publishing credential if you look to go traditional down the road. Here is some other information about the downside of self-publishers (also known as vanity presses):
http://www.sfwa.org/beware/vanitypublishers.html

As far as novels go, different publishers specialize in different things, and fiction is a broad world. You have to try and sell your material to companies that produce similar works (ie, don't try and sell a fantasy novel to a romance publisher). So do your homework. Take a look at the most recent "Writer's Market"... or even better, try the "Guide to Literary Agents".

I absolutely suggest getting an agent instead of approaching publishers directly. I'm assuming you are not a contract attorney, so you will need someone to look over any offers and to guide you through the publishing world.

No publisher or agent should charge you any money up front! That is the sign of a scam! They make money by selling your book. Agents work on a commission (generally 15% of the amount of money the publishers pay you).

Make sure that you follow their exact submission specifications. You can't send them your book, but you should be sending them a query letter (Nicholas Sparks has a good example on his website). Don't copyright your book first, it looks amatuer and would cause them trouble down the line when you do the revisions they ask for.

You will need a parent or legal guardian's support if you are not old enough to sign contracts. They will have to do it for you until you reach 18.

New writers will never have all the publicity taken care of. Publishers will do some, but you will have to have a web presence and do book signings, among other things. No one is going to push your book if you don't push it yourself!

Here are some websites that can help. Read them thoroughly and research, research, research! Pay special attention to Miss Snark, because her archives can answer any question you ever have about publishing:
http://www.nicholassparks.com/WritersCorner/Index.html
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
http://www.agentquery.com
http://www.misssnark.blogspot.com

And be warned of the people on this list:
http://www.sfwa.org/beware/twentyworst.html

Good luck!

Answer 2

1. Be a rich and famous celebrity and write anything.
2. Be part of the jury on a high-profile murder case and write your experiences into a similar, yet fictitious plot.
3. Consult the current year's Writer's Market manual to see how to go about querying a publisher and about getting an agent.

Here is some advice from Penguin Publishers: http://www.penguin.ca/nf/shared/SharedDisplay/0,,52164_8,00.html

Answer 3

it is not required yet is cautioned. purely writing some thing isn't good adequate hundreds of folk typical choose their e book revealed he has to edit it rather in any different case the revealed reject it in the present day. additionally it rather is achievable to placed up books with no fancy business enterprise. The aspects under is a do it your self even though it may basically be offered on line. Borders additionally has a self-publishing component that does carry of their shops even though it may value everywhere from a hundred and fifty to almost 3 hundred if i'm not improper. e book merchandising is extremely not effortless particular if that's found out that the everyday e book basically sells approximately 500 copies. verify you're boyfriend is acquainted with that he's definite approximately publishing his e book and be very careful on you're determination. ultimately at e book shops there are books you ought to purchase that have a itemizing of publishes and their thoughts in what books they are searching for. i desire this facilitates you, and better of fantastic fortune on the e book!

Answer 4

I can give you a few tips:

1. Don't self publish. I am serious about this. Self publishing may seem to be good but is rather expensive. They also don't market you book out for you. Marketing, by the way, does not mean advertising. It means distributing and selling to shops, etc. Publishing houses are the best way to get published because they are well known and they market it out for you.

2. Think about your genre and chosen audience. If you're a teen, don't try to write an adult book! That's a rather odd position. It may turn out well, but mostly it doesn't. Make sure you have what genre it is (fantasy, contemporary, etc.) and audience. Is it meant for children? Keep it in mind. Control your audience with your writing.

3. Write whatever suits you best. For example, as a contemporary writer I don't write fantasy or historical fiction. Why? Simple enough, isn't it? Don't make up stuff unless you are "allowed" to make up stuff. Eg; fantasy stories. If you're writing about a country, don't make things up! It confuses the reader and is a bad "habit".

4. Keep writing! Never, ever give up. Ever! You write and write and write, but don't lift your head up for a second. Just type, type, type. Or write, write, write. Don't go back and edit. Because that little pessimistic voice in your head will say that it's disgustingly boring, or phrased badly. Maybe it is, but edit it when you're done! Just keep going!

5. Stuck for ideas? Writer's block, it's called. Take a drink of water. Then sit back down and just write anything related to your topic down on a piece of paer. Anything. For a minute, don't think about it, just write whatever comes into you head. Otherwise, just sit there and type. It'll come to you. Most author have this. I call it the Idea Rush. You'll find if you just type, what happens next just pops ito your head.

6. Finished your story? Edit. Edit. Edit. Finished editing? Edit. Edit. Edit. Finished editing twice? Edit. Edit. Edit. Finished editing thrice? Edit. Edit. Edit... It can't be stressed how important it is to edit. Fifty times, if you have to. Give it to others to read. Different people will find out different mistakes. Never trust yourself to edit your work.

7. Time to publish. Publish it on the internet. Places like kidpub.com allow you to submit pieces once you are a member. Go to stonesoup.com for a list of internet sites. But if you want to publish big time? Publish through a publishing house. As I said before, never publish through a self publisher. They're bad! Now, how to publish through a publishing house, you might ask. Easy. Search them up, first. Research them. Kids books in UK? Perhaps Chicken House (www.doublecluck.com). They accept unsolicited material. This means that you don't have to go through an agent to submit it. Most houses only publish solicited material. Agents usually edit it further, and then help you submit to (a) publisher/s. However, most of them don't accept unsolicited clients! You have to write a letter to them, stating your story plan, etc. But it's like a never ending circle! Normally agents only take past authors or their own clients they know...But not all of them. Get one interested and they'll do it for you. However; search whether the house you want accepts unsolicited material or not. Get an agent if it doesn't, or move to another house to study on. Another one, if you live in Australia, is Allen&Unwin (www.allenandunwin.com). You actually don't have to live in Australia, but it's an Australian firm. International publishers, such as Penguin (www.penguin.com), may or may not accept unsolicited material. Penguin allows unsolicited material for children's books. Normally you would send a sypnosis - a summary - of the story together with the first three chapters or first 5000 words. If you want feedback on your writing, and advice, visit www.mreradicator.blogspot.com. It's a new site, but Eradicator corrects your manuscript and gives you feedback. He is a sort of critic, though, so expect critizism! He doesn't count as an agent, though, even though I would recommend him.

So there you are! Simple if you think about it.