what do I do now that I have finished writting my book?

Question

where do I go from here?

Answer 1

Get it edited. You will find many starred Q and A on my profile about writing and publishing. Print out a bunch and study them. There are a lot of great answers for you to learn from. You can add me as fan and get updates as I add more stars. Pax-C

Answer 2

Hi Tracie,

Congratulations on finishing your book!

And now you begin the wonderful process of editing. The first 100 rounds of editing should be done by you, with a big red pen and a heavy hand. Then maybe ask a few trusted family members and friends to look over it before it goes to the editor. THEN go hire a professional editor. They will do the most good if the book is already as clean and tight as you can get it.

After that - and this is something the others above have not yet mentioned - you find a literary agent.

Many new authors don't fully understand the role of the literary agent and think they can bypass this step (after all, who wants to give a cut of your profits to another guy? Why not cut out the middle man, right?). But a good literary agent is worth his weight in gold. The literary agent goes up to bat for you. He knows the industry and uses his knowledge of and relationships with publishing houses to socialize your manuscript and get it in the right hands. And he negotiates the best terms possible for you - royalty fees, book signing fees, international rights, sequels, etc. He works on commission, so it behooves him to get the best deal for you.

If all that doesn't sound like reason enough to hire a literary agent, then consider this: most reputable publishers no longer accept unsolicited manuscripts (i.e. manuscripts NOT handled by an agent). Period. In this day and age, unless you're self-publishing or publishing at a rinky-dink publishing house, you're pretty much required to have a literary agent.

The good news is that the literary agent will take care of most of your questions from that point on. But you must sell your work to a literary agent just like (or almost like) you would sell it to a publisher.

The reason an agent is choosey about the works he takes on is because he only makes money if and when your book finds a publishing house. This is good news to you. You don't have to pay him unless and until your book succeeds (and then it's only in the form of royalties) - and it's his job to help make that happen.

So, if you ever encounter a literary agent who asks for fees in advance, like "manuscript reading fees" - run like hell. A reputable, honest literary agent will never ask you for fees up front. The only money he will ask in advance are legitimate monies to cover his costs, like postage fees and making photocopies of your manuscripts to send to publishers. These costs should be reasonable. If he says he's making 500 copies, run like hell. No reputable literary agent sends a manuscript to 500 publishers. Depending on the genre and niche, they should send it to more like 5 - 25 publishers.

Once you've found your agent, you're well on your well and there's a reasonably good chance that you'll get published - if you didn't have a good chance, the agent wouldn't have taken you on to begin with.

So good luck, happy editing and enjoy the process! Hope to see your book on the bookshelves soon!
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Answer 3

I am in that same boat, I have books I wrote that are years old just collecting dust, never published, I tried self publishing but it cost so much I said I can't afford it! Besides they say you have to go to all the stores and get them to sell your book your self. So you can't just write a book sit back and collect the money after it is published like most authors can if you go that rout it will take much money and lots of work to get your books out there. There has to be a better way I missed someplace! lol

Answer 4

Go back and start editing and revising.

If you try to submit to a publisher or agent--now--all you'll do is get shot down for soliciting unedited and amateurish work.

Strengthen your storyline, enlist the help of friends or fellow writers--get a second, third, and fourth opinion.

Then, take everything you have and start seeing whether or not you can *improve* on your book.

You don't want to publish a first-gen lemon, do you?

Answer 5

If you have finished writing the book, but have not proof read or edited it, then you need to do so at least once. And probably several times. Once the final draft is done, if you wish to have it published you need to start looking for a publisher.

Answer 6

I agree with your first response, you need to edit. You can hire an editor, some charge by the page, some just a flat rate. My mother edits books, she's a retired school teacher and she now does editing to supplement her retirement. Even the best sellings author's out there have editor's. Good luck to you.

Answer 7

First, basically calm down. you will possibly could desire to take destroy from writing that e book for a mutually as. you may desire to get an theory later. Or- basically attempt to maintain writing and tell your self to jot down for no less than 5 minutes on your tale on a daily basis.Then, perhaps the tale will (in a fashion) write its self. you may desire to jot down numerous issues you prefer to happen in the past the e book ends and picture of diverse strategies they each could desire to happen. Then do the comparable element for a fashion your e book could desire to end. whether a fashion of ways it ends could desire to be unhappy, basically undeniable stupid, or truly weird and wonderful, a cliff hanger. something truly. basically jot down each theory you may think of of and take a glance in any respect of them in an afternoon or 2? Do any of them catch your eye? Do you spot one that is clever for what your characters might actual do? desire those recommendations help. yet, do no longer foret, in case you like a destroy, basically take one. perhaps you may desire to surrender writing on that e book for each week or some thing. basically attempt out some fairly some issues and it may help alot!

Answer 8

Proof-read, Proof-read,Proof-read! Then find yourself a publisher or agent.