How to Publish a Travel Book
To become a published travel writer, having a great idea for a travel book or even writing a whole book is only half the battle. You'll also need to find potential publishers and convince them that your book is worth their investment. Learn how to publish a travel book by identifying the right publishers for your type of book, presenting an attractive book proposal and working with a publisher to complete your book.
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Things You'll Need
- List of appropriate publishers Book proposal Sample chapters of your book
Instructions
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Look for potential publishers. After you have a well-developed idea for a travel book, you can begin looking for publishers that publish books on topics similar to yours. For example, if your book is about hiking in the Pyrenees, look for publishers of books about southwestern Europe, hiking or adventure sports. Visit libraries, bookstores and online booksellers and note the publisher of any book you find that's related to yours.
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Read the publishers' requirements. Read each publisher's submissions guidelines to find out more about exactly what types of books they're interested in. First check which genre they focus on. Some publishers specialize in tourist guidebooks, cultural books, or travelogues that provide an escape for the armchair traveler. Also note the specific subjects, writing styles, formats and lengths they accept as well as whether or not they accept unagented submissions. If your book falls outside a publisher's guidelines, strike that publisher from your list.
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Send out book proposals designed to interest publishers in your travel book. A proposal generally includes a two- or three-page overview, a chapter outline with a detailed description of each chapter, and a bio stating your qualifications. Your bio should describe any personal experience that makes you qualified to write the country and as well as your knowledge of the country's culture and language. Also include marketing information, such as your target readership, competing books and your plans for promoting the book. Each publisher has its own requirements for proposals, though, so make sure you follow these requirements exactly.
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Submit samples from your book upon request. A publisher interested in your book will usually ask for either three to five sample chapters or the full manuscript. They may also request slides, transparencies, or digital copies of photographs. Choose samples that show your ability to provide engaging, accurate accounts of first-hand experiences in ways that transcend cultural differences. Send images that are remarkable and particular to the location. Format your submission according to the publisher's requirements and send in the chapters along with a brief cover letter. If you don't hear back from the publisher after two or three months, follow up with an email or call to ask about the status of your proposal.
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Carefully review the contract the publisher offers you. When offered a contract, read the entire document to find any points you want to negotiate. Pay particular attention to foreign translation rights and rights for geographical regions. Because travel books have international appeal, publishers will be interested in buying these rights. Make sure you're duly compensated. Develop reasonable alternatives for anything in the contract you disagree with. If you don't feel comfortable negotiating the contract by yourself, look for an agent or lawyer who can help you.
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Finish or edit your travel book according to the publisher's requests. If you haven't finished your book yet, the publisher will give you a deadline for doing so. Even if you already sent the full manuscript, the publisher may still request edits based on their knowledge of what sells well and what their readers prefer. Keep all related travel journals until your book is ready for print so you can refer to them while editing.
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Tips & Warnings
If your book deals heavily with politics, cuisine, history, art or another non-travel subject, seek out publishers in those areas, too. Be patient and persistent. Finding a publisher and getting your travel book to print can take a year or longer. If you only want to print a few copies for friends and family or for a small audience you'll market the book to by yourself, print-on-demand (POD) publishing is a faster option.
A traditional publisher won't ask you to pay for publication. Paying to have your book published is known as self-publishing. Because booksellers and reviewers tend to take self-published books less seriously, self-publishing your book can make it harder to sell.
