Publishing Christian Books
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Today's Christian Publishing Market
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While there has been a steady increase in recent years for Christian-based literature owing to interest in spiritual themes increasing as readers get older, the revenue generated from book sales is typically far lower than sales for nonfiction titles and trade paperback fiction.
Publishing Options
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The traditional route of getting a book published has been significantly affected by both the downsizing of editorial houses and the increased access and affordability of self-publishing. The latter includes vanity presses, print on demand, ebooks, CDs and electronic downloads.
Marketing of Christian Books
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Whether a writer's work is self-published or released by a Christian book publisher, it's incumbent upon the writer to actively participate in getting the word out to prospective buyers through word of mouth, websites, church newsletters, advertising in Christian publications, and/or direct mail.
No Agents Required
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With the exception of the Christian romance market, it's not necessary to have an agent pitch your book proposal or full manuscript to a publisher. Agents tend not to get involved with this genre because of the low revenue generated. Nor do prospective publishers offer high advances to new authors because of the uncertainties about recouping the investment.
Knowing the Competition
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Before you write your Christian themed book, it's important to know (1) what has already been published, (2) how your own concept either complements or contradicts the perspectives of your fellow Christian writers, and (3) who was the publisher of these books.
Testing the Waters
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Follow the submission guidelines of the Christian book publishers whose current interests and prior releases suggest a strong match for your particular theme. Submission requirements for each house can be found at the Resources listed at the end of this article or in annual publications such as Writer's Market (published by Writer's Digest Books).
Do It Yourself
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If you decide to go the self-publishing route, do plenty of comparative research first. It's important that you choose a publishing company that allows you as much creative control as possible, allows you to set your own pricing structure, and provides editorial and technical support as you work through the process. Likewise, if you plan to print your own book, you'll need to get quotes first from different printers in order to find the best price and best quality.
Publicizing
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Let the members of your congregation know about your book project and solicit ideas on how the church can help you to promote it. You'll also need a professional-looking website with excerpts from your book, a bio about you, and a way to order your book. Establish yourself as an expert by writing articles for religious publications, participating in chat rooms, and doing Amazon reviews of Christian books. Offer to be a guest speaker for civic organizations, schools, and other congregations. Always include your book's title and a link to your web page as part of your signature block on all outgoing correspondence.
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Related Searches
Resources
- Photo Credit Photo by Christina Hamlett
