How do I get a book published? Do I need a literary agent first? Or can I send it directly to publishers?

Answer 1

Most real publishers (ie those that do not charge you money for publishing your book) only accept submissions from literary agents. However, some accept direct submissions. DO NOT send to authorhouse or Publish America or lulu as these are vanity publishers, not real publishers. They will publish any old garbage and charge thousands of $. A box of books will arrive in the mail and then it will be your job to sell them.

Get a copy of Writers Marketplace and read.

Answer 2

Lots of misinformation here.

What's your goal? Do you simply want to hold your real book in your hands? Then a vanity press like authorhouse, lulu, etc., where you pay to publish, might do, but it'll cost you plenty.

Do you want your book in the local bookstore--all over the country? Do you want them to pay you rather than the other way around? Then you need a legitimate publisher. The big-name publishing houses don't deal with authors directly but with their agents. Smaller publishers do not require agents.

Once you have a completed, polished manuscript, you can figure out if you should seek a big "name brand" publisher, in which case you need an agent, or if a small publisher will do just fine.

You can find publishers in the most recent edition of Writer’s Market (US) or Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook (UK). Each listing will indicate “agented submissions only” or not.

Remember, reputable agents charge the author NOTHING up-front. Some agents may deduct the costs of doing business (copies, mail, phone) from your first check, but nobody legitimate needs that in order to get started.

You can determine whether an agent is reputable at sites like Preditors and Editors (http://www.invirtuo.cc/prededitors/) and the AAR (http://www.aar-online.org/mc/page.do). Besides being a real agent and not a scammer preying on writers’ dreams, you also want to research an agent’s recent sales of books in your genre before sending a query letter.

Researching whether a publisher is the real deal is easier. Go to a bookstore. See any of their books? Good. No? If it’s a small press, it might still be legitimate. The biggie is that no publisher needs money from the author. None at all. Any publisher who does is cause to run the other way.

You do not send your manuscript out, but a one-page letter attempting to interest the agent or publisher enough to ask you to send all or part of your manuscript for their consideration.

Answer 3

DON'T send direct to publishers! You're only setting yourself up for disappointment. Most of them won't even acknowledge receipt - they'll just chuck it on their "slush pile" - a huge pile of unsolicited manuscripts - and never look at it again.

There are a few publishers who will accept direct submissions, but even then you can't send them the actual manuscript. They will only accept a query letter and a synopsis (summary) of the book. If they like the sound of it, they'll ask to see some chapters.

I found some good info on the net about agents and why they're important. The easiest way to give it to you is to follow the links on this blog post:

http://getthatnovelpublished.blogspot.com/2007/09/why-do-you-need-agent.html

You'll find a lot of other information on my blog about how to get published, as well as links to my articles on writing.

good luck!

Answer 4

Your questions are answered in Writers Market which also lists all the royalty paying publishers.

For your information, Author House is now a vanity publisher and will publish anything if it has a stack of bills on it.

Answer 5

Grab a copy of Writer's Digest. They have articles each month by agents on how to get an agent and what NOT to do. Go to your library and get a few back issues. They will help I promise. Start here though to help you get prepared. Good luck

Answer 6

An excellent source of publishers looking for books is the classified section of poets and writers magazine. The magazine can be read for free at their website www.pw.org. and the classifieds always have requests from editors looking for new voices for books, short stories and poetry.

Answer 7

hi...do you have a copywrite on the book...do not send it out without one...keeps people legit...no you do not need a literary agent..but the library is the first place to stop and get a publishers guide

www.AuthorHouse.com

Answer 8

send directly to publishers, i am in the process of doing the same. im going through authorhouse

Answer 9

send publishers a draft, then agent if you want be prepared for knockbacks

Answer 10

send diectly to publishers