Publishing?

Question

I am currently working on a book that I really think deserves to be published, but I'm a little hesitant... Is there somewhere secure that I can publish it? In general, I mean, I'll just see if the place is near me or not. I don't want anyone to take credit for my work, but I have no idea how publishing works. Please offer serious answers. Thank you in advance! :D

Answer 1

First you have to finish writing it, and edit it to the best of your ability. 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.

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

First: PEOPLE PLEASE DON'T respond to things on which you have no clue. Mailing a copy of the manuscript to yourself does NOT in any way protect you. Please go to http://www.copyright.gov for the facts on copyright protections.

Second: the publisher doesn't have to be "near you." I've worked with writers in Germany, India, and England. I'm in New Jersey!

How it works:
First, determine which type of publishers you want to send the book to. If you are publishing chick lit, focus on publishers who handle chick lit. If you are publishing horror, focus on publishers who handle horror.

Next, research the publishers. You can do this by going to sites like Preditors & Editors or getting a copy of publications like Publisher's Weekly, BookPage, and similar magazines that talk about the industry. Also, I suggest getting copies of Writer's Digest, The Writer, and other trade magazines that provide information on the markets. Not all publishers accept submissions or queries in the same way. It is your responsibility to do the research.

If you intend to market to the major houses, you will need an agent. PLEASE just search YA for further information. The question is asked a million times a day.

But note: anyone who asks you for money to publish your work is a scam. Run away. Agents get paid a commission only if they sell your work. A real publisher will NEVER ask you to pay for anything. Co-publishing, subsidy publishing, and co-investing are just other words for vanity presses.

Finally: I have a little tiny press. Yet I get a dozen unsolicited submissions a week. What do you think the big houses get? NOBODY is going to steal your work. If your book is good enough to publish, they will want to do so legally. There is no benefit to a publisher to try to steal your work. The risks far outweigh any small profit they might gain.

Answer 3

A Literary Agent is the first step. If the Literary Agents feels he or she can find a Publisher for the book it will be submited to Publishers for consideration.

Go Barnes&Noble, or any large bookseller, and buy a copy of The Writer's Market.

Answer 4

First step, copyright your work.

Second step, find a publisher who writes "do sort of thing" I've found looking up the publishers of my fav books has helped.

Third, write a book proposal, that's what sells your book to publishers, they never read the whole thing, just the proposal

Fourth, submit like crazy to a bajillion companies :D

Good luck!

Answer 5

go to IthacaPress.com that's who I'm using.