How To Get Your Book Published
Lots of us have a great idea for a book, or so we think. But getting from concept to published work takes enormous perseverance, work, and savvy. Here's what you need to know:
Get yourself a platform.
Especially for non-fiction, publishers want writers with an established reputation in their field. "They need a fresh, interesting, well-written book, but it has to be by somebody who didn't just crawl out from under a rock," says Janet Rosen, a literary agent with Sheree Bykofsky Associates in Brigantine, NJ. Your move, then, is to establish a platform or strengthen an existing one. You can do that in a variety of ways, everything from starting a blog on a relevant topic to writing for related publications.
Write a book proposal.
Most of the time, of course, you can't approach a publisher directly. Instead, you have to work though an agent. But, before you do that, you need to write a book proposal. A time-consuming and demanding project, it's also largely unavoidable. The proposal should include a description of the concept, as well as an analysis of the competition, the potential market, and just why you're the one who should be writing the book. In addition, there needs to be a table of contents and one or two sample chapters.
Find an agent.
After you have your book proposal, you can start the laborious task of looking for an agent. Remember: A good agent not only can attract an editor, but also will help you fine-tune your book proposal and negotiate a good deal. To gather potential agents to contact, start by asking writer friends for suggestions and attending writers' conferences that agents might be at. You can also research agencies at Preditor & Editors, where you'll find lists of agents, contact information, and, in some cases, whether they're recommended or not. You can also join such writers' organizations as the American Society of Journalists and authors and network with members.
Once you find likely agents, research their guidelines for how they want to be contacted. Then, send them a polished, one- to- two page query letter. "Nothing turns off an agent more than a dull query letter," says Rosen. Establish ahead of time whether the agent needs to be contacted exclusively. If you send queries to more than one agent at a time, indicate you're doing that in your letter.
Be patient.
Getting an agent is just part of the battle. Your agent, most likely, will have to approach many publishers before getting a bite. And, even if an editor likes the proposal, he or she also has to get the nod from the folks in marketing. The upshot: Prepare for a long wait.
Negotiate terms.
Naturally, you'll need to sign a contract with any publisher interested in working with you. Generally, you can expect to receive an advance against royalties; usually, it has to be earned out before you make any more money. (Unless you're a big name, expect it be several thousands dollars). As for your royalties, they should be 6% to 10% of the retail price of a paperback and 6% to 15% of a hard cover book. But, beyond that, try to base royalties on the suggested retail or list price of the book, rather than net sales. Also, push for a twice-a-year accounting of royalties and payment of every three months, instead of the usual six.
Do it yourself.
If you can't find a publisher or you don't like their terms, try self publishing. For a fee of anywhere from $300 to $3,000 and more, such companies as iuniverse and XLlibris will do everything from designing the cover to printing and marketing. But use this route with your eyes open: Many reviewers still regard self-publishing as a second-class citizen.
About the Author: Anne Field is an award-winning small-business writer based in Pelham, NY
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