How to go about getting a book published?
I don’t have a clue. But I’m in the middle of writing a children’s for 12-17 year olds. I think it has a important message in it and would really like to get it published.
First off, "children’s" book will make anyone in the publishing industry think of books for grade-school kids… 1st – 6th graders. Call your book "Young Adult" because that’s the term for the age group you’re going for.
Once you’re finished writing the book and it’s publication-ready, there are a few options you have. You can self-publish or you can find a publisher.
Self-Publishing is out of your pocket – you have a contract with a book-production company who will make your books for you, but you are responsible for selling the books, getting them into bookstores, making the website, creating your own marketing plan, etc. It’s very expensive and is a lot of work. It’s like starting your own business, and in order to be successful as a self-published author, you have to put in a lot of time and energy and money.
Or, you could go the route of traditional publishing. This is difficult because you have to capture the attention of a publisher, who gets a dozen stories just like yours every single week, and has to pick which ones that are most likely to make the publishing company money. Publishing companies have piles called "slush piles" which are parts of manuscripts sent to them by writers. This is different than the manuscripts they get from agents, who are representing writers. Manuscripts sent to publishers by agents are assessed more quickly and seriously because a manuscript that an agent has decided is good enough to try and sell is likely of higher quality than the manuscripts in the slush piles.
Now, Publishing companies WANT to make money. If your story is good and they think people will buy it, it doesn’t matter if it’s in the slush pile or if you’ve got an agent. An agent makes the process more efficient and easier and is more likely to get your manuscript into the hands of better publishers than you can do on your own.
To find an agent, you’d go to a place like http://www.agentquery.com and find an agent who represents your kind of book (fiction, Young Adult, literary, etc). You write a query letter to agents in order to capture their attention (( http://www.agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx )). You don’t send your manuscript to them until they’ve read your query letter and request you to send your manuscript.
The job of an agent is to sell your book. They won’t get paid until your book is sold. No legitimate agent will ask you for money before the book is sold. When your book is sold, they take a percentage of the sale.
It’s typical to send a LOT of query letters at once. Rejection is a huge part of the business. Nearly every famous writer has had issues with rejection, but that’s something you have to be ready for, mentally, in order to succeed.
If you’re not going to look for an agent, and want to go directly to publishers, your library should have a copy of Writers Market 2010 which is a book FILLED with publishers for books, magazines, websites, etc… find a publisher that publishes your kind of book, and follow their submission requirements.
Those are the basics!
Best of luck and happy writing!
This is a perennial question.
If you live in the USA you will need to contact an agent who specialises in children’s and YAs literature. You will find some advertise on the web but beware that they are just not after your money. An agent works for you and takes his fees from the money paid by the publisher, usually 15%. If you live in the UK you could approach a publisher directly. Again the publisher will need to specialise in children’s literature. You could visit a bookstore or library to find similar works to yours and note the publishing company’s details.
Otherwise buy the Artists’ and Writers’ Yearbook or The Writer’s Market manual, both of which have full listings of agents and publishers with their specialities.
Most importantly both these publications will give good advice on how to present your work.
Then it’s down to your talent and creativity as to whether you get published or not.
References :
First off, "children’s" book will make anyone in the publishing industry think of books for grade-school kids… 1st – 6th graders. Call your book "Young Adult" because that’s the term for the age group you’re going for.
Once you’re finished writing the book and it’s publication-ready, there are a few options you have. You can self-publish or you can find a publisher.
Self-Publishing is out of your pocket – you have a contract with a book-production company who will make your books for you, but you are responsible for selling the books, getting them into bookstores, making the website, creating your own marketing plan, etc. It’s very expensive and is a lot of work. It’s like starting your own business, and in order to be successful as a self-published author, you have to put in a lot of time and energy and money.
Or, you could go the route of traditional publishing. This is difficult because you have to capture the attention of a publisher, who gets a dozen stories just like yours every single week, and has to pick which ones that are most likely to make the publishing company money. Publishing companies have piles called "slush piles" which are parts of manuscripts sent to them by writers. This is different than the manuscripts they get from agents, who are representing writers. Manuscripts sent to publishers by agents are assessed more quickly and seriously because a manuscript that an agent has decided is good enough to try and sell is likely of higher quality than the manuscripts in the slush piles.
Now, Publishing companies WANT to make money. If your story is good and they think people will buy it, it doesn’t matter if it’s in the slush pile or if you’ve got an agent. An agent makes the process more efficient and easier and is more likely to get your manuscript into the hands of better publishers than you can do on your own.
To find an agent, you’d go to a place like http://www.agentquery.com and find an agent who represents your kind of book (fiction, Young Adult, literary, etc). You write a query letter to agents in order to capture their attention (( http://www.agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx )). You don’t send your manuscript to them until they’ve read your query letter and request you to send your manuscript.
The job of an agent is to sell your book. They won’t get paid until your book is sold. No legitimate agent will ask you for money before the book is sold. When your book is sold, they take a percentage of the sale.
It’s typical to send a LOT of query letters at once. Rejection is a huge part of the business. Nearly every famous writer has had issues with rejection, but that’s something you have to be ready for, mentally, in order to succeed.
If you’re not going to look for an agent, and want to go directly to publishers, your library should have a copy of Writers Market 2010 which is a book FILLED with publishers for books, magazines, websites, etc… find a publisher that publishes your kind of book, and follow their submission requirements.
Those are the basics!
Best of luck and happy writing!
References :
Go online, find a publisher you like and submit your manuscript. Remember, it takes most authors lots of tries submitting their manuscript to different publishers. Let’s say you have a publisher that likes your book and gives you a contract to print your book. Now you go through editing which doesn’t take a lot on your part. Next (if your book requires this) is illustration. Most of the time the publisher has hired illustrators to work on your book. That step is easy unless you choose to hire someone separately or draw them yourself. Now your book starts the printing process. This is your time to start the hardest part in publishing a book…MARKETING. Most people who dive blindly into publishing a book don’t get. Unless you are a famous author YOU the author are expected to do most of the marketing for your book. That means getting a website, contacting book stores, contacting media, and a lot more! This is very hard work. If you a prepared to give up a significant amount of time to promote your book, this is fine. If you expect to sit on your couch and wait for your first paycheck you are sadly mistaken. Put the effort in and it will pay off. I hope I answered your question and If you would like some more specific questions answered about publishing please feel free to contact me through my website http://www.tomatoturtle.com then click "contact". Good luck!
Thomas Strock
Author
Tomato Turtle: A Trip to the Park
http://www.tomatoturtle.com
References :
Personal experience.
We chose Lightning Source as our publisher/printer because of their distribution channels (they partner with Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Ingram Publishers) and because they print-on-demand your book very quickly upon a customer order. Print-on-demand is a very nice feature since you can offer your book online and have Lightning Source print and ship you book directly to your customer without your additional intervention.
The process for setting up a book to be printed is very straightforward and the representatives at Lightning Source are very courteous, walking you through every step of the way. (I know this sounds like a commercial, but we truly like Lightning Source and believe you will, too).
I recommend having your book cover created by a professional desktop publisher (Lightning Source will refer you to one they recommend, if you like) to make it eye-catching and appealing to potential customers.
I was able to upload (send) our PDF document directly to Lightning Source’s website as well as our professional designed book cover. It was only a matter of a few days that we received a proof of a professional-looking book to review.
If you want to sell your book on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and other online book sites, Lightning Source will take care of the whole process with very little intervention from you. You do need to acquire an ISBN number for your book – but that is also a very easy process. A good desktop publisher can make sure your ISBN is included on your book cover in the appropriate format as well.
I have written a lot more information about self-publishing go to my my blog: http://www.learn4me.com and search for "Lightning Source".
Best wishes to you for success with your book!
References :
http://www.lightningsource.com
http://www.learn4me.com
I recommend checking out the classified section of Poets and Writers magazine at http://www.pw.org. They always have editors looking for new voices and the magazine can be read for free at the website. It’s also an excellent source of information for new and established writers.
Another site is http://www.ralan.com which maintains an active list of what editors are currently looking for.
Another possibility is to look at some of the print on demand websites such as http://www.cafepress.com. At cafepress you are given a "store" where you can upload a book, including artwork and a cover, and if a copy of the book sells they print it, mail it, bill it and send you a check.
If you upload one item, such as a book, the site is free. If you upload numerous items the site is about $5 per month. Publicity for your store is up to you.
What you want to charge for the book would be up to you, but cafepress gets a set fee per page when the book sells, and anything you charge above this is profit for you.
References :