How Do You Get Your Book Published?

You finished writing your book. Perhaps years of toil went into crafting the perfect manuscript. You've edited, re-edited, and edited some more. You've had every willing person read it and provide feedback. All that's left is to send it off into the world. Unfortunately, getting your book published can be as difficult as writing it, especially if you have your eye on the big publishing houses. It certainly isn't impossible, though, especially if you begin your quest for publication armed with the right tools.

Instructions

1. Get an agent. You are unlikely, no matter how masterful your book is, to get it read by anyone at a major publishing house without an agent. Most houses won't even consider submissions that don't come from an agent, and the ones that do are likely to toss your manuscript into the slush pile and wait for interns to find time to read it. See the Resources section below for a link to a useful guide to finding an agent.

2. Try smaller book publishers. They are much more likely to read your manuscript if you do not have an agent. They publish fewer titles per year, but devote themselves to the titles they do publish. You might discover it much easier to find human contact at a small press.

3. Find out exactly what the editor wants from you. Do not send the whole book, ever, without being asked to. The editor will have very specific guidelines which you must follow down to the letter. Again, it is much easier to have an agent navigate parts of this process for you. Editorial guidelines for most book publishers can be found in a book called "The Writer's Market."

4. Consider self-publishing. With some research and a lot of self-marketing, self-publishing can launch a book career. There are many self publishers out there--some of them good, some of them less than honest. Some have you buy a set number of books and sell them yourself, and others allow readers to purchase books online, publishing them on demand. Do your research and talk to a real person at the company whenever possible. Self-published books will exist in print, but no one will know that they do unless you participate in an aggressive self-marketing campaign. You have to be your own cheerleader when you self-publish.

5. Consider entering a contest. Winning a contest for best unpublished novel, best first novel or best self-published novel can land you a contract with a publishing house or an agent. See the Resources section of this article for a book called "The Writer's Market," which lists nearly every contest for novelists in the United States and Canada.

Tips & Warnings

• Get a detailed contract for any publishing agreement made. Pay attention to what the publishers want. Don't send the full manuscript if they ask for sample chapters. An agent is your most likely road to a deal with a major publishing house. No matter how you publish, or where, you will need to do extensive self marketing.

• Be wary of self-publishing scams. Go over any and all paperwork or contracts, and talk to a real person if at all possible to make sure all terms are negotiated and all fees are revealed up front.

Resources

• Writer's Market
• Xlibris Self Publishing Guide
• Guide to Literary Agents