How to Get Christian Literature Published
Getting a piece of literature published is a difficult endeavor in the broader, secular market. Doing so in the Christian niche or any other targeted field can be even more so. Have a plan before embarking on your quest to publication. Once you have that understanding, your chances of success are far greater than if you head into such a venture blindly.
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Things You'll Need
- Manuscript
- Query letters
- Christian literary agent
- Literary attorney
- Publisher
Instructions
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Polish up your manuscript. Re-read it several times yourself before you submit it to your prospective agent. Do not submit unedited or incomplete manuscripts. This sends the message that you are unable to complete a job. If possible, have your manuscript professionally edited. It's also a good idea to have it reviewed by a Christian leader, such as a local pastor.
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Target your query letters to each specific agent. For example, if you know agent A has good relations with Thomas Nelson Publishing, look over Thomas Nelson's recent output to see if your work fits there, and then address that in your query letter. You will want a Christian agent, as secular agents do not normally have the networking abilities with nonsecular publishers that their Christian counterparts have.
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Submit your manuscript and query letter to the agent(s). Expect agents to be brutally frank regarding your work.
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Be prepared to do rewrites on your work based on the agent's critiques. After your final rewrite, the agent will submit the manuscript to one or more publishers, who may offer you a publishing deal.
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Hire a solid Christian literary attorney. Some agents will provide one for you or can recommend one. However, speak with the attorney yourself, to ensure you are comfortable with her before signing off on her involvement. Check the attorney's references and Better Business Bureau standing as well.
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Voice your desires to the agent and attorney regarding the contract. Remember this is a negotiation, so make sure you are flexible in your desires. Do not assume you will get a certain royalty percentage, advance amount and marketing plan with a book tour. If these are things you want, ask for them before you agree on the final deal.
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Have the attorney and agent go over the final contract with you, section by section, before you sign on the dotted line. Make sure you understand what you are getting into before you sign.
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Be patient. After the contract is signed it could be up to two years before your book hits the shelves. It is best to have other work lined up ahead of time, so you can spend the time from contract to publication furthering your fledgling career.
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Do not rely on the publisher to spread the message. Once the book is published, bring your own resources to bear in promoting it. Tell friends, family, co-workers, church peers and social networks.
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If you cannot land an agent or a book deal with a standard Christian publisher, some companies, such as Xulon Press, allow you to self-publish the book. Self-publishing puts more onus on you for the book's success. This route won't give you the advantage of a large publishing house's resources, such as store placement and marketing, but it will give you access to a professional printer and easily navigable distribution method.
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