How to Publish a Novel

Every aspiring novelist strives to see his name on a book cover. In the information age, there are many ways to make this happen. While more self-publishing and print-on-demand (POD) services are becoming available, traditional publishing still has the tools and manpower necessary to put your novel on the shelves of more bookstores and in the hands of more people. The process takes time, dedication and perseverance, but the rewards can be enormous. No matter which way you choose, though, you must always start with a good manuscript.

Things You'll Need

• Lots of paper Computer with a quality printer

Instructions

Traditional publishing

1. Get to know agents and editors that represent your genre. Network with writers in your area through formal and informal writers' groups. You are more likely to get an appointment for a face-to-face pitch if you are referred by someone the agent or editor knows personally. Publications like "Writer's Marketplace" are also a great resource for finding agents and editors if you are unable to network.

2. When preparing for your pitch, write a short synopsis and a long synopsis for your manuscript. The short synopsis should cover the basic story, while the long synopsis will give a scene-by-scene summary of the plot. Agents and editors will not have the time to read your entire manuscript along with all the other submissions they receive, so your synopsis is very important to selling your story.

3. Get an appointment with an agent or editor for a face-to-face pitch. Some writers' conferences offer face-to-face pitches for attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. These professionals are busy, so your time with them will be very limited. Bring your novel manuscript and your synopsis. There are many formatting guides, such as "Writer's Digest Guide to Manuscript Formats," available for your reference to make sure these items meet accepted standards. A properly formatted manuscript printed on a quality printer tells the agent or editor you are serious about getting your novel published.

4. If you're not able to get a face-to-face pitch, you can still present your manuscript by mail. If you are a seasoned author, you can simply send a query letter and a long synopsis to your agent or editor, but a first-time novelist will almost always need to submit a full manuscript as well.

5. Continue to pitch your novel to agents and editors until it is accepted and published. You can even pitch your novel to the same agent or editor after it has been rejected. It's best to wait about six months before resubmitting, but the requirements placed on these professionals change constantly and something that was originally rejected may now be in high demand.

Tips & Warnings

• Other options for publishing are available, such as self-publishing and POD. These options allow you to publish more quickly with less stringent requirements on your novel manuscript, but they also require you to be your own publicist and promoter. You can get your novel in print, but you will have a more difficult time selling it.

• Agents and editors often have their own personal requirements. Pay attention to these when you are preparing your pitch. An otherwise flawless manuscript can get thrown out because you submitted a six-page synopsis when the agent wanted no more than five.