How to get a book published?

Question

I've been working on a book for a little more than 2 weeks now, and I have 65 pages done of it, almost a quarter of it!! Anyway, I want to get it published when I'm finished. I know that the process may be hard, but do you know where to start?

Answer 1

My dear ... one quarter of a book in two weeks?? It takes the average bestselling author about a year to 18 months to write a book. So you are planning on having this book done in 8 weeks?? Hardly. I am sure you will need many many revisions before you are even close to being able to show it to anyone. Then you will need an editor.

From what you wrote in your question, you have problems with sentence structure and syntax. You mean you have done 65 pages of it so far - not I have 65 pages done of it so far. You NEED editing!!

When you are ready, there are many starred Q and A on my profile regarding writing and publishing. Many people are printing them out and making their own free reference guides. You can add me as a friend and keep up with all the questions I star. I add more all the time.

I advise you to read Stephen King's masterwork On Writing. I have given it to a few of my friends on CD so they can listen to it in their cars. It will help you tremendously. It will also convince you that you are no ways near a quarter of the way through a book. It takes a lot of time. Have you done any research? Have you done character studies? Outlines? All those things are very important in the process. Books take time. A very famous journalist once said "Writing is easy. You just sit down in front of a keyboard and open a vein." Have you opened a vein yet? I kind of doubt it.

Remember this -- all authors went through cutting their teeth on novels and short stories they never showed anyone. I wrote my first at 15 and if I still had it today I would probably be horrified at how bad it was. At the time, everyone adored it. Tell me this -- when you learn to play the piano, do you go play a concert at Carnegie Hall after your first lesson? Nope. You practice and improve until you have enough skill and talent to have people actually pay money to listen to you play. Same thing goes with novels. Usually your first novel is training ground. Maybe your first two or three. It takes a lot to get to the point where you are writing for people. I think it was Oscar Wilde who said "Writing is like being a prostitute. First you write for yourself, then for your friends and when you get real good at it, you do it for money."

Just keep writing and learning. And yes, the publishing process is hard. In fact, it destroys many novices. As you are learning to write, you also have to learn how to develop a really tough hide to deal with rejection and criticism. That is the nature of the beast. That which does not kill you makes you stronger. Nietzche.

Pax = C

PS Happy Birthday fellow Virgo. 2 weeks until mine.

Answer 2

Agents won't contact whatever that's already Published (if it is a respectable organization) niether will they submit matters which have been positioned at the Internet. Synopsis's is ok however if you happen to add chapters then no. Also with self-publishing you may have doomed your self. Your booklet is not getting at any place so that you write whatever else and procedure an Agent. They wish to grasp whether or not you may have any matrerial Published, then they wish to grasp whether or not it bought. Yours has now not, they surprise why and wont receive your paintings. You have got to ask why your paintings hasn't bought. Self-Publishing could make or holiday you and really probably it breaks you, now you can battle to submit whatever together with your History. I can not urge folks sufficient to verify each angel of Publishing and in my sincere opinion keep away from Self-publishing. Sorry to deliver you best unhealthy information, however it is not your booklet that wont be authorized however you as good. I can not even let you know what to do and you can now not get out of it I'm afraid. I'm now not an Author myself I paintings for the 'Dark Side', folks should not be so terrified of Agents we do not chew that tough.

Answer 3

1. Research publishers that publish your type of book
2. Research similar books, read them, know about them
3. Of course write a good book, have a beta reader (preferably someone you don't know) read it to give an unbiased opinion
4. Edit, edit, edit
5. Optional: Get an agent
6. Query publishers (learn how to write a good query letter) to get publishers interested in reading your book