Publish a book?

Question

Has anyone ever published a book? If so what is the process? I have been working on writing several works for the past 4 years and I've been in the process of searching for publishers. I purchased a big book of publishers from 2006 and I just never got around to contacting anyone. I never knew how to lay out a mnuscript or anyhting or if I needed an agent.

I was also wondering of how the books end up on the shelf of my local Borders or Walden Books- it seems so wild and unattainable. I want so badly to just sent out a manusctipt and get the ball rolling. I need some rejections and I need some feedback just to know what people have recieved my work. But I do not know how to go about doing it.

My questions are;

Who do I contact? How do I format a manusctipt? How does my manuscrupt tranform to a book on a shelf? How does it get there?!

Thank you for helping me. I need advice preferably from someone who has been there and done that.

Answer 1

You start out by finishing your book. In the meantime, buy a copy of Writers Market - best 30 dollars you will ever spend. Read it cover to cover. Start learning to advocate for yourself.

You will also find I have starred a ton of great Q and A on publishing and writing. You can access them through my profile. Print out a batch you think will help you and read them. A lot of serious authors have offered some great information here.

As for formatting, do not worry now, just write. If you get to the point that someone reads your query letter and wants a partial or full manuscript, their website will have their specific guidelines. It varies from agent to agent - publisher to publisher.

How your book ends up on shelves is is you have gone the traditional publishing route and found a publisher after a whole lot of rejections. Gone with the Wind was rejected 50 times.

That publisher does the steps. The book gets set up, a galley is printed for you to approve, then it is printed. The publisher has an arrangement with a distributor. Through marketing techniques, stores know about your book and order it through the distributor. Long and complicated process.

Whatever you do, avoid self publishing. Anyone who asks for money to publish your book is a big NO. You have to learn to use sites like Preditors and Editors and Absolute Write Water Cooler's Bewares and Background Checks to research the publisher or agent. Google the heck out of them before you send them anything. If you find information about authors' complaints, lawsuits, etc. Move on.

Start searching through the starred Q and A. All the information you need to start with is there. And do buy Writers Market. You have to learn to be your biggest advocate.
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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 2

Patience....tons of patience.
I've finished a novel....spent the last six months editing, proofreading, rewriting, and polishing.
I got one rejection...just a form letter with no real explanation.
Now, I'm waiting to hear from another publisher. They say they'll respond within the next 9 months or so.
Meanwhile, I guess I'll write the next one.
In sci-fi, it's a lot easier to get your foot in the door without an agent than in any other genre, but an agent would probably make it easier.

Since you haven't done any research, get the book I list below. It'll give you a good overview and some solid, practical information.
Also, look around for a local writer's group to join. You should check out a lot of them, because they're all different and you need one that works for you.

Good luck

Answer 3

For manuscript formating go here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuscript_format

Publishing a book is a very long and hard process. It can be harder than actualy writing the book. Publishers all have their own submission guidelines and you will need to know what they are before you submit your manuscript to them Most publishers do not accept simultanious submissions and it can take several months to hear back from them meanwhile you cannot submit to anyone else. Below is a link to a site with info on publishing and links to submisson guidelines for several publishing companies. This is a fairly new site so there isnt a lot there yet but it looks promising. good luck
http://paperworlds.googlepages.com/

Answer 4

brokers won't touch something it is already revealed (if it truly is a magnificent company) niether will they placed up issues that have been placed on the internet. Synopsis's is effective yet once you upload chapters then no. additionally with self-publishing you have doomed your self. Your e book isn't getting everywhere so which you write something else and attitude an Agent. they like to be attentive to no be counted in case you have any matrerial revealed, then they like to be attentive to no be counted if it bought. Yours has no longer, they ask your self why and wont settle on your paintings. you may desire to ask why your paintings hasn't bought. Self-Publishing could make or destroy you and intensely many times it breaks you, now you will conflict to placed up something with your history. i won't be able to urge human beings adequate to ascertain each and every angel of Publishing and in my honest opinion avert Self-publishing. Sorry to furnish you in basic terms undesirable information, even though it relatively is not your e book that wont be usually happening yet you besides. i won't be able to even inform you what to do and you will no longer get out of it i'm afraid. i'm no longer an author myself I paintings for the 'darkish area', human beings should not be so nervous of brokers we don't chew that no longer easy.

Answer 5

Well I don't know much, but I do know that having an agent would greatly boost your chances of getting your books published.

Answer 6

Hey,
I am in your same situation, I would love to hear what kinds of answers you get-
some of what I have heard is that the Writers Guide every year is a good investment.
welp good luck to you
VM