How do you publish a book ? Is it hard?

Question

STEP BY STEP

Answer 1

Yes it is very hard to publish traditionally. And you have been given a bit of wrong info here. ..

First of all, you have to have a complete, formatted manuscript.

Your book must also be edited. For that you need to hire a professional editor to take your manuscript and hone it so it is in marketable shape. That means far more than just checking your punctuation and spell checking. It means making margin notes with regards to things like the pacing of your story, the style, description, character study etc. Unfortunately most of the novice writers who come to this forum feel they have no need for editors. They think they can spell check themselves and that they write well enough to forego a professional edit. That is a HUGE mistake. There has only been one author in history who wrote without the use of an editor and that was O Henry. So unless you are turning out work the quality of The Gift of the Magi (and I assure you none of us are!) you NEED an editor. Confidence in your abilities is good - overconfidence is professional suicide. Those who choose to skip over the editor part will learn that lesson the hard way -- when the rejection letters start rolling in and just don't stop. Their loss. Have your work edited.

Then, you can either use Writers Market (which you can buy for 30 dollars) or Literary Marketplace (use it at the library's reference section - it costs 300 a year.) and seek out agents or small publishers who are seeking works in your genre. Note - You cannot get through to large A List Publishers directly. Only A List agents can. They do not accept unsolicited submissions.

When you have found a couple that interest you - research them! Google the hell out of the name. Start with Preditors and Editors site and Absolute Write Water Cooler Bewares and Background Checks forum for any information on the publisher/agent. There are a lot of fakes, frauds and companies on the brink of bankruptcy out there. When writers have been hassled by a publisher/agent, we write about it! You will find information in these forums involving other writers issues with the publisher/agent. If so, find others and steer yourself away from problems.

What you send first is a query letter and synopsis. Each agent and publisher has their own set of submission guidelines and they must be followed to the letter. You will get rejected if you do not submit properly.

You have to learn to have a hide as tough as a herd of elephants because you will get rejections. It's the nature of the beast. Gone with the Wind got 50. Just send out another letter to another agent or publisher and try again.

Eventually when you get a "bite", they will ask to see either a full or partial manuscript and a book proposal. That is a very specific document. You can get books on how to write one.

This is one of the ways using a professional editor comes in handy. They will also be able to work with you on your book proposal. That is the document your agent will use to sell your book to a publisher. An editor knows how to prepare and sell a book. They know what sells. They cost money, but it costs money to make money. But it's extremely worth it. It will take a good book and turn it into a GREAT book. Very few of the overconfident wanna-be authors here even know what a book proposal even looks like let alone how to write one.

Then you wait again. There is a lot of waiting involved. While you wait, you keep writing and working on a new book. If you wind up not getting any bites on your first novel, try another one. Very often, an author has one or two books they never sold. Consider them practice novels.

You can also go to Resolved Questions and search keywords publisher and publishing. There are a lot of answers here - some good some not so good. But they are good to print out and study. You have to learn to advocate for yourself. The more you learn, the better off you are.

Good luck. Pax - C

Answer 2

Buy an ISBN number from Bowker. Cheaper over the long run if you get ten at a time. I got ten for $250.
Register with Lightning Source and set up your book to print through them... print on demand.
Sign up with Amazon (Amazon Advantage) and list your book... ooops... you didn't ask as far as that.
What you didn't ask was whether it's worth it to do this on your own.
You can also submit your book as an ebook and sell it through places like Lulu.
However, this is not the way to go to make money unless you have a lot of resources to spend on marketing, etc.
I have published four books this way, two as ebooks, two as paperbacks. It's a LOT of work and NOT that expensive. You will keep more profits than if you go through a traditional publisher, but a traditional publisher will give you some kind of an advance.
Perhaps you wanted to know how to get a traditional publisher to print your book. That wasn't what you asked, but if you want to know that, check out a copy of Writer's Market at the library and take it from there.

Answer 3

You take two years to write a book

You find an agent who can get you a publishing agency.

There will be people doing the covers, lllustrations, font.

And of course, there will be printing.

Then, delivering. Then selling.

It depends on what hard means to you. If you really want something to be done it will be hard, won't it?

Answer 4

try making a print and then consult a publisher
and best luck