What to do after you've .written....?

Question

Hey can anyone tell me what to do after i've written a book?how can i get it edited and published? to make it an actual book that people can buy? thank you!

Answer 1

Please read the top contributor to this section P. Hellicat. She has all the answers you seek.

In short:

edit
edit
edit
research your market
query agent
ditto until you get a bite

Answer 2

Hi--

First, put your book away for several weeks. Don't look at it, don't think about it, nothing. Work on something else for a while. This gives your brain time to "reset." When you go back to edit and revise, you'll see what you've written with fresh eyes.

Once you've edited your book and made any revisions necessary, find someone you trust to read it and give you feedback. Friends and family are notoriously unreliable--they almost always tell you it's great, even when it's not. Another option is to find a critique group or writing partner (if you don't already have one). They can be merciless, which is exactly what you want at this stage.

Once your book is the best that you can get it, start querying agents. There are books and web sites that describe for you what kinds of books different agents represent and how they want you to approach them. Follow their instructions to the letter!! If you've written a children's book, don't query an agent who only represents military history. Query widely, and within your genre.

With luck, skill, and practice, you might get some requests for additional materials. Again, follow instructions!

With even more luck and skill, you might get an offer from an agent to represent you to publishers. Now you're on your way.

(You can also query publishers directly, but many don't take unagented submissions, and you're much less likely to get a bite from a publisher than an agent, so start with agents.)

It's a long, difficult process, and you'll need a thick skin and lots of patience. Remember, rejections aren't personal. They're business. This whole process is business, so present yourself professionally.

Good luck!

Answer 3

When i was growing up, i used to write a lot of novels. Usually, i gave it to my classmates & i'd get feedback, but i never thought seriously about publishing. However, when i got older & my writting improved, i joined two writing group where i met other writers. At the beginning of each story, i'd read the first chapter in our group meetings & have them critique it. This helped me a whole lot, especially with the editing part of writing. But after the first chapter, i kept the story to myself, writing until the end. Then, i'd clsoe the book & give it some mental space. This helped me be more objective with editing it; the grammatical & typo errors being more prominent. Editting is so difficult to do, cos it sometimes makes me feel as though am a dunce. So many things have to get cut out cos they don't sound right, or cridible, or make sense. When i'm done self-editting, then i bring in another writer to work on it for me, i make d correction suggested (or reject it), then i take it to the publisher. This is my stipulated routine, but as u know, things never go according to place. Like a publisher friend of mine says i don't necessary need to wait till the story is finished. He just needs the first three chapters. This is pretty funny cos i've chapters 1 - 6 written but almost uneditted (it's an 10 chaptered book). So, i stopped further writting of the book & began editting. Now, am done editting chapter 1, chapter 2 & 3 awaits.

Anyways, the point am making is there's no hard & fast rule abt these things. Depending on ur unique situation, u may chose what applies to u best. Just make sure u do a lot of editting, cos it u don't u book is not going to look professional (particularly if u r looking at publishing), & no one is going to read it (if they do, they won't like it). Best of luck.

Answer 4

1. Get the current Writer's Market book--either in your library or bookstore.

2. Search the endless lists of literary agents that might best accept your genre.

3. Submit your manuscript, the first three chapters, or your query letter according to the agent's submission guidelines. Be exact in what they require. Otherwise, they trash the manuscript and send only to you a "no thanks."

4. Finding representation for an unpublished author is next to impossible. Build up your credentials by submitting good articles to magazines. Here again, you must go by their submission guidelines.

5. Hone the craft of writing. Make certain your manuscript is free of misspellings, inappropriate use of punctuation, switching of tenses, and fancy fonts.

6. Get a copy of "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and Williams. Read it, highlight important instruction, and keep it near your keyboard.

Answer 5

You have to give it to someone to read it,and check your spelling and grammar.After that,you must find sponsors ,and a publisher.