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How to Publish a
Book
It seems easier to
win the lottery than to actually get a book published. Many agents
and publishers say most of the book manuscripts that come
along their way are sub par. In fact, 95% are not good enough to
make it out of the slush pile based on grammar issues alone, not on
the story itself. Many wannabe authors are not taking the time
to polish their novel before they ship it off to commercial
publishing houses. Writing a book takes commitment but it's only the
first step toward your writing goal. Writing and editing go hand in
hand and many first-time authors forget that tidbit of information.
So edit a book as
though your writing career depends on it, because it does. With the
advent of email submissions, it's possible for writers to send a
manuscript without
shelling out for
postage. With no financial risk, publishers are receiving more
manuscripts than they can read.
If you want to get your book published then write a decent story and
polish it until the words are squeaky clean. When you take care in
the final product, your work will standout amongst the vast majority
of submissions. There's no room for impatience when it comes to
publishing. Make sure your novel is in tip top shape before you send
it out. That's the first step becoming a published author.
Find a Literary
Agent
For fiction, you
don't need a book proposal, but for narrative fiction and nonfiction
you do. Most agents request a a query letter along with the first
five pages of the manuscript. Once your manuscript is complete, take
the time to search for literary agents who represent your genre.
Follow the submission guidelines carefully of the literary agency
carefully. Every agent has their own protocol for the query letter
submission. Conduct an agent interview to ensure the two of you
mesh. Ask the agent for the names of novels published under his or
her representation.
Find a Publisher
Some writers decide
to seek a commercial publisher on their own. That is a legit route
to get your novel published, but be careful. If you receive an
offer from a publisher, have a literary attorney look over the
contract. Do not sign your rights away by mistake. Have a
professional who is knowledgeable read through the contract
carefully. There are far too many writers out there who are willing
to sign any contract, good or bad, just for the opportunity to have
their name on a book cover. Put your ego aside when you are in the
middle of negotiations. Understanding your rights and royalties is
important. Also understanding kindle and ebooks rights is vital in
this age of digital media. Book publishing is a business. Only sign
a contract that is in your best interest.
How the Publishing
Machine Works
After the contract
is signed an editor is assigned to you and he or she offers
suggestions on how you can improve your story. You have the right to
refuse any changes, but keep in mind that if you are not open minded
the editing process will go sour fast. When an editor makes a
suggestion you find foolish, give the suggestion 24hrs of thought
before you flat out reject it. Editors are good at what they do and
their advice should be taken seriously.
When the book is complete, the editor passes it along to the
proofreader. The proofreader looks for grammatical mistakes. Once
the proofer has your novel and makes suggested changes, there's no
going back to make structural changes to the book. At that point
only minor edits are permissible.
You will receive a galley of your book via email or a physical copy.
The galley is not the final version of the book and may contain
errors. The purpose of a galley is to allow the author and reviewers
an opportunity to read the book in book form. The galley will have a
vanilla cover with the title and author name only.
As far as the book
cover design, you probably won't have a say on its look or
layout. Decisions like these are made with marketing and publicity
in mind.
As per your contract, the novel will be published on a specific date
and you should receive copies (hardcover or softcover) a month
before publication.
And that's how you get a book published!
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