How to Get a Publishing Deal on Your Book

Publishing companies can be tough to break through. Editors and agents alike receive manuscripts and book ideas by the hundreds every month. Without a reputation or celebrity status, authors must have an abundance of tenacity and an interesting angle to get noticed. Advances for unfinished manuscripts or book ideas are even scarcer for unpublished writers.

Things You'll Need

• Editor Agent Funds to self-publish Sources

Instructions

1. Hire an editor to proof your final draft before you start shopping it around to agents and publishers. Simple spelling and grammar errors early in the book can turn off a prospective editor before she can get through the first chapter. When editors see too much editing ahead, they begin to question the validity of the author, despite how good the story may be.

2. Get an agent. The market is tough, and agents have contacts and relationships with publishers who trust their judgment. An agent works for you on a commission basis, which provides the agent with motivation to work hard for you. Many of the larger publishing companies do not even talk to authors, instead relying solely on agents to bring them new work.

3. Submit your manuscript to a smaller publishing house that accepts books from unknown writers. Romance book publishers and other niche market companies that publish books on sports, business and inspirational themes accept unsolicited books directly from authors without an agent.

4. Research the market by referencing the Literary Marketplace, a source of book publishers that provides information on the markets in which publishers works, how publishers prefer to receive book pitches and the contact information. Look at other books produced by a publishing house to see if your work fits the profile of works published by that company.

5. Publish your book through a self-publishing operation, and begin circulating the finished product to friends and family. Use social networks, speaking engagements and a website to create a buzz about the book. Many successful authors have started with a self-published book and ended up being pursued by publishers wanting to buy the rights to the book and market it to a larger audience.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you secure a book deal with a small independent publisher, you should hire an agent to negotiate the details of a contract.

• Don't work with an agent who requests upfront payments. The only money an agent should require from you is mailing and copying charges.

Resources

• Literary Marketplace