How can one get a novel published?

Answer 1

First - get the latest copy of Writers' Market to find out who all the publishers, magazine editors, agents are -- and what the latest going pay rate is!

1) How to get a Short Story Published

• Look up the names of magazines that publish stories similar to yours.
• Write to the editor (be sure to spell the name correctly) and ask if they would be interested in your story. Include any information that would show that your story will be unique (such as if you work at a haunted house and are sending a horror story, or you have written and published other stories before, or if it is a true story).
• If they say "no" -- go on to the next editor! If they say "yes," find out how they want you to send them the story. Most editors nowadays prefer email, but some still want a paper copy mailed to them. Do whatever they prefer.
• Once they get the story, they may still turn it down, or ask you to change some things. You'll have to decide if you want to make changes, but it's almost always going to make a better story because the editors have seen many, many more stories than you have and they know what will sell best. If they say "no," keep sending out your query letters!

2) How to get a Book Published

• If you are looking to publish a book of short stories or poems, publications often call for types of them, so find a list of publishers you are interested in submitting your piece(s) to, looking specifically for those who specialize or call for your genre of writing (e.g. poetry, short stories, fantasy, mystery, Science Fiction...).
  • Make sure you know what kinds of books the various publishing houses actually publish.
  • The best way to look for publishers is to check the books or magazines on your own shelf!
  • You will usually write the same sort of thing you enjoy reading, so find out who published what you're reading.
  • You can also buy a Writer's Market, which is a huge list of every publisher in existence - this is cross-referenced by category, genre, and tells whether or not they accept unsolicited manuscripts as well.
  • For example, it doesn't make sense to send the typescript of a novel to a publisher that specializes in law books.
• Before you get really far with writing a book, write up a summary of your book to send to the publisher or editor. This kind of thing is much more likely to be read than a long manuscript.
  • The summary shall outline the theme and the content of the book (usually only about 800 words).
  • Keep all this very short, as most publishers are deluged with requests for publication. Ask if the publisher would like you to send in a chapter - or send it with your outline.
  • Be polite and make sure everything you send is well written.
  • You may add a couple of sentences or so on why you wrote the book and why you think it will appeal to the public.
  • If they like it and are hooked by the opening, they'll read the whole book. That's when they finally decide yes or no, and they'll let you know with a reply letter or email.
• A good first step is to copyright your work, especially if you search for publishers online.
  • You do not have to file copyright with any government agency, although you may if you wish (it costs to do this).
  • Your ideas are copyright the moment you save them into your computer or print them out onto paper. However, anytime you send your work out online or on paper, you do want to include a copyright notice (the symbol ©, date written, author's name).
  • DO NOT SUBMIT WORK ONLINE WITHOUT COPYRIGHTING OR CHECKING THE BACKGROUND OF A SITE CLAIMING TO PUBLISH WORK.
  • Plagiarism is a constant problem online, and if you do not have your work protected or know who you're dealing with, hitting the send button can give someone else a completed work to market as their own.
• When you have a list of publishers, send out a copy of your manuscript/poem collection/short story with a cover letter, which is a letter explaining the basic plot of your book/poem, etc., the genre it would be categorized in.
  • This letter is the first thing an editor will see; if it interests them as something the publisher might be interested in, they will screen the book, reading usually the first five pages or so.
  • Explain what sort of work you intend to write, make it clear what audience you are aiming at and say why you think the book would have appeal.
  • This letter can be included when submitting online, usually in a "description of your work" section.
• It is very important to be professional when submitting your work.
  • Do not try to be cute or funny - don't send a horror manuscript in a box with plastic Spiders, don't send a bar of chocolate along to bribe the editor, don't turn one page upside down to see if they really read it, and don't use weird type fonts that are hard to read!
  • Check the guidelines that each publisher uses, and follow them.
• Try to get some published works under your belt before submitting a book length manuscript to a publisher.
  • Get a subscription to a couple of magazines for writers, like Writer's Digest or The Writer.
  • Consider a little freelancing. Anything to pad your resume and get some practical experience.
  • Have you had anyone evaluate your writing? No offence intended but there are a lot of 'wannabe' writers, actors, artists and musicians out there who just don't have what it takes. And there are a lot of the same who COULD have what it takes with the proper guidance.
  • When I ask if you've had your work evaluated, I don't mean, 'do your family, friends or co-workers think it's good?' There are on-line groups, forums and workshops for writers that can be great places for support, advice, constructive criticism, etc. You may want to consider joining one or two. They aren't difficult to find but here are a couple of examples: writing dot com and writersonlineworkshops dot com.
  • No matter how good you are or how good you think you are, be prepared for disappointment. Every professional writer has gotten his or her share of rejection slips. Don't let it discourage you. Learn from your mistakes and keep trying.
  • If you have written a book, you DO have book-writing experience. So now what? Study. Study the market. Read the magazines suggested above, read Publishers Weekly off the net, join some writers' forums and test it out there. Keep it away from family and friends - they'll only tell you what you want to hear, and unless they're writers themselves, what they have to say won't be of much help. Share it with a voracious reader. Consider carefully all suggestions, try things this way and then that.
  • An excellent book to help with revision is GETTING THE WORDS RIGHT: How to Revise, Edit and Rewrite, by Theodore A. Rees Cheney. If a look at the table of contents fills you with dread, you're in the wrong field. Remember, "Writing is easy. All you have to do is sit in the tub and open a vein."
• It's tough to get a publisher to take on a project. Sad but true. How about considering self-publishing?
  • If you believe there is a market for what you've written, consider getting the book printed yourself. You can do the marketing and promotion.
  • It can actually be much more profitable that way. I would suggest steering clear of having your book printed by a "vanity press" company. It will be very expensive. So avoid vanity publishing: that is for creative writing, autobiographies and the like, and it will not enhance your reputation.

Other suggestions:

How to get your writing published

• If you have 'one big idea' and want to write 'your' book, just write it.
• Find out what market it might fit in and send it to potential publishers (following their submission guidelines and all that).
• Look for a publisher who publishes the type of book you have written--for example, fiction, non-fiction young adult novels, Children's Books, or speciality subjects such as self-help, art, or history.
• Then go to the publisher's website and look for instructions, which usually appear in the "Contact Us" tab, or perhaps under something like "Editorial Guidelines," "Publish with Us," or similar wording.
• They will tell you how to submit a manuscript. Usually they will want you to send a query letter to the editorial department instead of sending the whole manuscript.
• A query letter is a letter or e-mail in which you ask them if they are interested in considering your manuscript for publication.
• Often you include a summary of your book, a table of contents or outline if it is non-fiction and information about the author's previous books and credentials for writing the book.
• Based on your query letter, either they will invite you to send your manuscript or they will reject it, saying that your book doesn't fit their publishing program.

About self-publishing

• It depends on whether it's for money, for glory or for once. If you just want to be able to say that you have a published book, but don't expect any significant audience (let's say for a book of poems or an autobiographical work about the life story of your granddad and your feelings about this), consider self-publishing.
• Self-publishing is vastly preferable if you cannot get an academic work published in the ordinary way. Try to set about it cleverly. If possible, try to get a reputable publisher to publish it on a self-financed basis.
• If you are looking for self-publishing companies to publish your book, find a few companies that practically hold court to everything a book needs from book cover design customization, layout consultation, copy-editing and even marketing requirements.
• Some self-publishing companies have practically everything an author requires whether your book is going to be in full color or black and white.
• Find a company that has been in business for several years and know what they are doing. They have programs that have all the inclusions that will turn your book of poems into book form.
  • First is that you have to customize a plan that will work best with your book.
  • List all the things your book needs such as book cover customization, editing, marketing, etc.
  • Second, find a publishing company that has everything your book requires.
  • Third, go through production process and then see if the final book form meets your standards.
  • Lastly, you might want to assess your budget, too, because if you are going to be self-publishing your book, self-publishing companies have programs which will might require a setup fee to get the whole thing started.

One writer's experience in self-publishing: My first book, which was very specialized, appeared as a supplement to a learned periodical. The editors said they would have published it in the ordinary way if they had had the money (and been willing to risk it) ... So I put up the money myself, and the periodical advertised it when sending out ordinary numbers of the periodical. In the end I even made a modest profit on it. Apart from the publisher and myself, nobody knew that the supplement was self-financed.

Comment:

This question appears under 'Academic Writing' as well as 'Creative Writing'.

In the case of scholarly writing, it really is standard practice for people to publish articles, possibly in scholarly 'campus journals', before they move on to writing a book. As far as 'Academic Writing' is concerned, I would urge you to get some articles published first, if only in order to give yourself an academic c.v.

• If you want to be a writer start writing everyday and publish multiple books, (in the sense that you want to make a living of it, as opposed to 'check-marking' and having a book published and then go on and do something else).

• Write one or two sample chapters per book and send them on to appropriate publishers. This increases your chances of positive feedback and also the chances of acceptance (since the publisher can see you as a commodity to build on, not as a one-time 'tourist'). It also allows you to work on different styles and markets and avoids the effort of writing a full book that nobody wants.

• Additionally, if you get one of the samples accepted, then you actually write a contracted book, so it's more goal oriented. On the other hand, you'll probably have a deadline, so it turns into work and is no longer a 'just for fun' thing.

Self publish, or approach publishers?

There are only 2 ways to publishing. You either self publish, market and sell your book yourself, or you try to get a publisher to do it for you.

The second option means that you need to produce a book proposal and get it reviewed by all your prospective publishers. However, the problem here is that publishers already have their hands full with book proposals they get from other people like you. Therefore, it may take months or even a year before your turn is up.

Another disadvantage of trying to get a publisher to publish your book is that you'd really need to be unique. Think about it - there are already millions of children's book in the market. How will yours be any different?

From the publisher's viewpoint, they need a strong gauge on the marketability of your book. They need to know they will be able to sell your book before they are willing to invest their money to publish it. You may need to send your proposal to many publishers before it's taken up.

On the other hand, if you are self publishing., you are free to publish your book on your own. You determine the number of copies you are going to print, or if you'd like to go on print-on-demand. And you get a higher percentage of profits from book sales too, as compared to the meagre royalties. You market your book on your own, and utilize your own efforts to make your investment pay off.

Answer 2

To get a novel published, you will typically need to find a literary agent who can represent you to publishers. Research and query agents who specialize in your genre, and follow their submission guidelines. Alternatively, you can submit directly to publishers that accept unsolicited manuscripts, but this can be a more challenging route. It's important to carefully edit and revise your manuscript before submitting it for consideration.

Answer 3

Getting published for children is the very same as getting published for adults, except harder. The Children's publishing market is highly competitive since the saturation of supernovae such as the Harry Potter books, so be prepared for quite a lot of rejection if you are a first time author. Remember, publishers have what is known as "Lists", which basically sets the agenda for the kind of books they plan to publish. If a publisher has filled his or her List for teenage time-travel romances, it is unlikely that your similar-themed novel will be accepted. So understand that rejection is not saying that your book is bad, unless it actually is! Anyway, there are a couple of steps to getting published. Each one has to be followed. 1. Firstly and most importantly, WRITE THE BOOK. Obvious, but you would be surprised how many nearly world-famous authors were defeated by this first hurdle. 2. Walk into a bookshop, and purchase a book called the Writers and Artists Yearbook. NEVER EVER be without it, it is base camp for authors, both published and unpublished. It is like a directory, with the contact details of literary agents, publishers and lots of helpful advice. Get it. 3. You need to get a Literary Agent. An Agent has contacts in the publishing industry, and will be able to get your manuscript in front of an editor. Agents will be listed in the Yearbook. This is the usual manner for approaching agents: -Write a cover letter, describing yourself, the title of your book. More details about the cover letter in the yearbook. -Enclose the first three chapters of your manuscript as well as a synopsis of the complete manuscript. Some agents like a short biography to be included also. Always include return postage, or else you won't get a reply. -If the agent likes it they will ask to see the full manuscript. If they still like it they will agree to represent you- congratulations! An agent usually takes 10-15% of author advances. Don't be put off by this; a good literary agent is worth every penny. The agent will then attempt to get your manuscript accepted by a publishing company. If it is accepted then you will meet the editor, and the real work will begin! 4. If alternatively you choose to go it alone, repeat the second point of 3 with the publisher. Publishers will also be listed in the Yearbook. Beware: most large publishers don't accept unsolicited manuscripts, i.e. manuscripts that haven't been given to them by an agent.

Answer 4

Getting a manuscript published with any big house--or even a small one--is a very, very long shot. You won't even come close without an agent. And an agent will represent you (assuming you can even get him or her to take a look at your ms.) only if he or she has a lot of confidence in the prospect of selling your book.

Writers' conferences offer you a chance to have a 5-minute shot at an agent, with your polished pitch ready. That's one way in the door. Look up writers' conferences online. Another is to enter contests. There are a lot of writing contests out there. Beware, though, some of them are scams that just take your fee. Contests listed in magazines such as The Writer and Poets and Writers are legit.

An MFA in creative writing wouldn't hurt either.

You might find a useful thought or two here:

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Answer 5

The first step in getting a manuscript published is identifying publishing houses who may be interested in your work. The internet can provide valuable information in this regard. The quickest method is to purchase the book "How to Get Happily Published" by Judith Applebaum. Ms. Applebaum tells you everything you need to know on the subject.

Answer 6

It's hard you have to send it to a bunch of different companies until they accept it. Or you can try self publishing check it out at lulu.com or Google it

Answer 7

The easiest way to publish is to self publish your own book. Amazon has a great way to set and start the process and the cost especially if it is e-published in nominal.