7 Steps Toward Publishing: How To Get Your Book To Print As A First Author
Congratulations! You 've finally finished your first book. Or have you? Is it really ready for print? Is it good enough? What do you do now? First off, take a deep breath and give yourself a pat on the back. Next, make a checklist of everything you need to do, beginning with the following seven steps:
1. Polish Your Manuscript
Publishers can 't be sold on an idea, even if it 's an amazing one. Your manuscript must be complete, including editing, before you can present it to anyone professionally. Test the book on readers whom you know personally, first, then take the next steps, provided their feedback is enthusiastic. Once a professional editor has gone through …show more content…
Even if you believe your work can cross demographics and other audience categorizations, a publisher has specific, often scientific, rules of play. You, therefore, must be able to quantify the content of your book exactly and in just a word, such as "horror" or "sci-fi".
3. Research Your Potential Publishers
You wouldn 't try and sell a bicycle you invented to a grocery store, and the same principle applies to book publishing. Certain companies specialize in fiction or non-fiction, children 's books or romance. Although some publishing businesses cross genres, you need to find that out before you contact them. Determine a few publishers within your subject and take it from there.
4. Utilize Industry Insiders
Certain magazines and websites have authority and respect, because they have been around for a while and earned the respect of people in the industry. These are the places you want to learn from and solicit advice from. Pose questions about potential publishers, carefully analyzing the answers, as opposed to seeing only what you might want to see. Many young or new authors are too quick to rush into a deal simply because one was made to them. Learn to trust the opinions of those who have gone before you and to carefully examine all your …show more content…
Approximately 80 percent of published authors use agents to act on their behalf, even the ones just starting out. An agent can ensure your manuscript is polished to perfection, use inside contacts to reach the desks of people you probably couldn 't on your own and they can also negotiate expertly, whereas you might not be fully prepared. Any agent you choose to represent you must be carefully vetted through known industry channels, such as by being recommended by members of an authoritative online group or reputable author 's
Congratulations! You 've finally finished your first book. Or have you? Is it really ready for print? Is it good enough? What do you do now? First off, take a deep breath and give yourself a pat on the back. Next, make a checklist of everything you need to do, beginning with the following seven steps:
1. Polish Your Manuscript
Publishers can 't be sold on an idea, even if it 's an amazing one. Your manuscript must be complete, including editing, before you can present it to anyone professionally. Test the book on readers whom you know personally, first, then take the next steps, provided their feedback is enthusiastic. Once a professional editor has gone through …show more content…
Even if you believe your work can cross demographics and other audience categorizations, a publisher has specific, often scientific, rules of play. You, therefore, must be able to quantify the content of your book exactly and in just a word, such as "horror" or "sci-fi".
3. Research Your Potential Publishers
You wouldn 't try and sell a bicycle you invented to a grocery store, and the same principle applies to book publishing. Certain companies specialize in fiction or non-fiction, children 's books or romance. Although some publishing businesses cross genres, you need to find that out before you contact them. Determine a few publishers within your subject and take it from there.
4. Utilize Industry Insiders
Certain magazines and websites have authority and respect, because they have been around for a while and earned the respect of people in the industry. These are the places you want to learn from and solicit advice from. Pose questions about potential publishers, carefully analyzing the answers, as opposed to seeing only what you might want to see. Many young or new authors are too quick to rush into a deal simply because one was made to them. Learn to trust the opinions of those who have gone before you and to carefully examine all your …show more content…
Approximately 80 percent of published authors use agents to act on their behalf, even the ones just starting out. An agent can ensure your manuscript is polished to perfection, use inside contacts to reach the desks of people you probably couldn 't on your own and they can also negotiate expertly, whereas you might not be fully prepared. Any agent you choose to represent you must be carefully vetted through known industry channels, such as by being recommended by members of an authoritative online group or reputable author 's