I have a book ready to publish and i'm going under a pen name. anyone know how?

Question

I have written, over the last several years, a book series of five books and i'm working on finishing book six, which is the last one. Book one is almost ready to be sent out for publishing. What i would like to know, if anyone can tell me, is if they know of any publishers that commonly publish fantasy-dragon writing.
Also, i know this is long but hear me out, I will be using a pen name but i'm not quite sure how that is done. does anyone have any ideas how authors get thier pen name established with a publishing company and the readers?

Answer 1

That can all be established during the contract phase.

As far as how you get the name established with readers - that is simple - just write a best seller.

I would give you one bit of advice. When you are ready to send in your query letters, do not tell publishers or agents this is a book series. You sell the first book ONLY. No publisher wants to get involved in a multi book deal with a first time author. If your first book tanks, they do not want to get stuck having to publish five more. The trick is you sell ONE book and then if it does well, you ask for and get a multi book deal. It makes publishers very nervous getting involved with first time authors and book series.

As far as publishers, be ready for rejection letters. The fantasy thing/dragons etc. has been done SO often and right now, there are a lot of publishers and agents specifically stating they don't read fantasy. It will take you a lot of queries before you get a bite. So you should get in the habit of changing your wording. You aren't sending your book out for publishing. You are sending queries to a publisher or you are looking for a publisher. It can take 2-3 years or more before your book is actually even close to being published. Just keep trying.

Also if you check my profile, you will see I star good Q and A on publishing and writing. Search through them and print some out. There is lots of good, helpful information there for you to use.

Pax-C

Answer 2

There is a process to getting published that usually includes submitting query letters and parts of manuscripts. The field also comes with a lot of rejection. Some publishers will not accept unsolicited manuscripts, so it best to find a literary agent first. You use your real name for this process, and when you get an agent or publisher, you let them know you want to use a pen name.

Go to the fantasy publisher's websites and see what their submission guidelines are. TOR has an open submission policy, meaning you can submit a manuscript without an agent. However, they "consider tens of thousands of projects a year," so the likely hood of your book being chosen is not high.

There Writer's Market is a good source, but it is always a good idea to double check who you should address your letters of query to, the information in the book can change after its publication for the year.

This is a long process, sometimes it takes years for a new writer to break into the industry. Good luck and keep writing.

Answer 3

My book, Journey Into the Night, is published under a pen name. My publisher and I made all the arrangements for the pen name when we finalized the contract. All you have to do is send your query letters out, when a publisher responds with send me the manuscript, obviously, send it. If they like what they read you enter the negotiation phase. Once all the details(such as pen names, free author's copies, royalty payments and so forth) are worked out, you sign a contract with your publisher. From there your book goes through the publishing phase. It's an amazing process and for me, it was a dream come true!

Answer 4

I also wrote a book and it is in the process of getting published. I didnt have to do anything to use a pen name, as the person below stated, use your pen name in the excerpts in the book, BUT when dealing with the publisher and your agent, obviously your real name. I attempted to contact publishing companies myself and it was a no-go. I even had one company who will remain nameless...try to steal my book. I had to have it copyrighted first and foremost, that way the rights are all MINE. Then I worked on an agent and through them I was able to get a publisher. The process is not quick, Ive been waiting on getting published for 2 months but by November it shall be done. Congrats on your book!!

Answer 5

You start by querying literary agents. This is done with a one page letter describing yourself and your book. Sometimes the agent will request you include the first few pages or chapters, but that is an individual preference.

There are several websites out there that will help you find an agent, my favorite is QueryTracker.net at http://www.querytracker.net/ . It is free and has a list of literary agents and also tools to help you keep track of who you already queried and who you haven't, plus more.

They do a good job of keeping the crooks off their lists, but it is still a good idea to double check at http://www.sfwa.org/beware/twentyworst.html.

There are a lot of crooks out there. Never pay anyone to read or publish your book. A real agent will never ask for money except as a percentage of your royalties.

Keep in mind that finding an agent and getting published is not an easy process. Some people have to query hundreds of agents before they find one who will accept them (sadly, some never get accepted), but be persistent and keep trying.

You should also visit http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums one of the largest forums for writers. They can be very helpful.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Hello, and congratulations as well! First of all, please visit your local library and read through the latest edition of Writer's Market, you'll find all sorts of useful information. This will be a reference book, you will most likely not be able to check it out so come prepared to take lots and lots of notes and/or make copies (most libraries will allow patrons to copy a certain number of pages from reference materials without charge).

Please check out this website as well:

http://www.evanovich.com

Janet Evanovich is the author of the Stephanie Plum detective series (very funny, if you are not familiar with them) and several other light romance/comedies, both alone and with co-writers. At the top of her homepage, there are dropdown menus for Novels, New Online, and Fun Stuff; under Fun Stuff, she has a section on Writing Q & A, she gives lots of practical advice for writers with works in progress, and on all aspects of getting published, finding an agent, query letters, etc; it is also possible to email her with questions or comments. Best of luck to you, hope to see you in print in the near future!

Answer 7

at first, you do no longer purely deliver your e book off to the publishers. maximum publishers purely settle for books subsidized by an agent. in case you have been to get an agent, they'd manage all the pen call stuff.

Answer 8

you want an agent first. do some research on that. forget about contacting publisher directly.
just put pen name on your books, but use your real name in your letters to agent and publisher.

Answer 9

Hi

Good luck!

I think that there are several publishers. Thor, TSR, Bantam and others.

I don't know about setting up a pen name.

Answer 10

Really???Does your book contain a lot of fairly suggestive sexual encounters? Good luck.