How to Get a Book Published

If you've been working on a manuscript or are considering starting one, you're probably curious about how to get a book published. Some people equate getting a book published with winning the lottery. And while it is not quite that difficult, you should be honest with yourself. Getting a book published is hard work. It's like a band trying to get signed to a record label. There are many other writers out there who are trying to fulfill their dreams as well, so the competition is fierce. Understanding what you are getting into is important, but you shouldn't let it discourage you from trying. There are ways in which you can work smart and increase your odds of getting published. This article will cover some essential tips that will explain how to get a book published.

There are numerous steps required to transform your book from the idea inside your head to the bound text sitting on the shelves of a bookstore. Check out these ideas to help you move your manuscript efficiently through all the stages.

1. Understand Where Your Book Fits in the Market – People usually start writing a book in one of two ways. There are those who start writing out of a pure inspiration to write. These folks usually don't think about selling the book until later in the writing process when they start to think that what they have created is pretty good. Then there are those who have an idea for a book that they think people would buy and they set out to write that book. No matter how you have arrived at the decision to get your book published, the first thing you need to understand is who would want to read it. Is your book fiction? A memoir? A cookbook? Self-help? History? Make sure you understand what it is you are writing, because when you talk to publishers the first question they will have is, What kind of book is it? You will have to be able to answer this question with clarity.
2. Find Several Publishers – There is no use wasting your time trying to sell a cookbook to a publishing house that only publishes poetry. You need to pick your targets and focus your energy on publishers who are the most likely to be interested in what it is you're writing. One of the best ways to do this is to pay a visit to your local bookstore. Find books that are in the same genre of the book you are writing, and make note of who published those books. Another idea is to visit the websites of different publishers and look through their catalogs. Make a short list of five to ten publishers that you think would like your book.
3. Contact the Publishers – Using the Internet, you can locate the contact information for the publishers you think might be interested in your work. Contact them directly and see if they take submissions from writers. Smaller publishers will sometimes allow writers to submit manuscripts themselves without having to go through an agent. If the publisher is larger and expects to receive submissions through an agent, you might have to include that step in your process. Finding an agent involves writing the agent a short cover letter that explains your project and sending them a sample of your writing. Websites like writers.net have discussion boards where writers discuss their experiences with agents and help put one another in contact with people who can help you.
4. Submit, Revise, Submit – Unless you are extremely lucky, you will likely receive a number of rejections when you start sending out your work. Don't be discouraged. This is part of the process. What you want is to receive a response that suggests certain revisions. This means that the publisher likes the basic idea of your book, but might see the final project somewhat differently than you do. At this point, you enter into a creative relationship with the publisher. While you don't want to completely cave in on your original idea, you should be open-minded and listen to what people have to say, particularly when you are trying to get your first book published. Any positive response is good, so keep all your options open.

It takes years for some people to get their first book published. Some of the most famous writers endured hundreds of rejections before they got their first break. The moral to the story is to stay persistent and not to give up. If your book has merit, you will eventually find someone who will be willing to publish it.

• Erotica Writing Prompts
• Mystery Writing Prompts
• Creative Writing Prompts for Children

• Quickest Way to Make Money Writing
• Tips on Writing a Memoir
• How to Write a Concrete Poem
• Free Creative Writing Software
• Writing Essay on Myself

• Category:About Freelance Writing
• Warnings About Self Publishing Companies
• Main Page
• List of Self Publishing Companies
• Major Book Publishers