About finding a publisher for my book??

Question

alright i wanna know how this works. Do i write the WHOLE book THEN send it in? or just half of it to get the advance money? i know this is after getting it editied copyrited and all that.

Answer 1

You need a completed manuscript before you begin shopping it around for an agent or a publisher. No one will give you the time of day without a finished manuscript unless you're writing a non-fiction book. Don't expect an advance on sales. New writers rarely get an advance because they don't have proven sales records. No need to copyright your work before you actually sell it. When it comes to your work and publication, you have 3 avenues to travel down.

1) You can self-publish it. This is the shortest avenue. It offers instant satisfaction if all you want is for your work to be available to friends and family. Lulu.com is a free service and is easy to use. Since you've clearly stated you want to avoid this route, the information is here just as an FYI sort of thing.

2) You can seek an agent to represent you. Agents are difficult to obtain, but are necessary if publication from large publishing companies is what you're seeking.

3) You can submit your manuscript directly to small, independent publishers who accept submissions from unagented writers.

To obtain either an agent or a publisher, use books like the Literary Marketplace or the Writers Market or web sites like Preditors&Editors and writerswall.com.

Search for agents or publishers that represent or publish books in the genre you've written. Follow their submission guidelines to the letter, that's why they supply them. Use only the format they ask for. Make certain your work is perfect--free from errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Learn how to write a sensational synopsis and a query letter. Each agent or publisher will ask for a query letter and/or a synopsis. Very few will want the entire work in the initial package.

Be patient with the submission process. Expect some rejections, but make sure you don't allow them to discourage you. Instead, learn something from those letters that can make the next contact even better.

Never, ever pay an agent to represent you. That's not how it works. Agents get paid when they sell your work!

Don't pay ungodly amount of money for someone to edit your work before you begin the submission process. Once your work is accepted by a publisher, you will be assigned a book editor who will offer you editing suggestions. Usually, you'll make those changes. 96% of the time, you'll make those changes. However, if there are changes s/he suggests, you are allowed to say no and state your reasons for not wanting the changes. You and the book editor will discuss the objection. In some cases, you'll win the 'argument' but in other cases, you'll make the correction. It's really a fairly easy task once you get started.

The important thing for you to concentrate on right now is getting the manuscript completed and error-free. No point in submitting to agents or publishers without a completed manuscript. They don't want ideas. They want the finished product.

Good luck to you! :o)

Answer 2

Unless you are really good, the publishers will just read a little part of it, then they'll decide whether they should publish it or not.. It takes a long time, so I suggest you ask people around you to read your book and comment it.. So that way, you are going somewhere instead of waiting for the call..

Answer 3

You send a Treatment of your book to a Literary Agency.
If they like the book they will send it to a publiser.
Do not expect to get published.
Most Treatments are thrown in the Trash Can, because most people are not ready to write professionally.