How do you get a book publised?

Question

a children's book
or a Poetry book

Answer 1

First you have to write them. No reputable publisher or agent will look at unfinished work from an unproven author. It is HARD work writing a book, so unless you are very famous you need to sit down and write. Publishing comes later.

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.

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

Like newyorkgal said, u get a litirary agent, but if you don't have that kind a patience, you can also just submit it to any publishing companies you like...it's hard to get noticed because there are so many other wanna-be-writers in the world, but if you just keep on submitting, believe in yourself, and don't get let down when you get rejected (Which everyone does JK got rejected 4 times before someone excepted 'harry.P 1) and you'll make it, I'm sure of it!

Answer 3

That new york gal is right. When I had thoughts like that I went to Borders and selected about 3 books from a whole section on the subject. They tell the steps you need to go through to get published.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

You get a Literary Agent.

The Literary pitches the book to a publisher.

If the publisher likes the book they will publish it.
It is NOT easy to get a Literary Agent or a Publisher