1-2-3 Submitting Your Work to Publishers
I've finished my first book: each word has been read and re-read, each sentence edited, each page a labor of love. All my family and friends have read my book and assured me it's wonderful ' sure to be the next bestseller. I have an agent, who praises my work and artistic genius. He submits my manuscript to dozens of publishers and soon a bidding war ensues. I can imagine that big advance in my bank account right now.
BUZZZZ (This would be my alarm clock, because I've been dreaming!)
My book may be done, but the work has just started.
There are various types of publishers: some are large commercial houses, while others cater to niche markets. You (or your agent) must find appropriate publishers for your book, based on the genre, whether it is fiction or non fiction, the intended audience, etc.
Self Published...is It Better?When you're known as a writer only to family, friends and a handful of people around town is it wise to wait for traditional publishing companies to bite ..... To locate a publisher, you may begin your research at your local library or bookstore. Here you can find books which are similar to yours and appeal to your target audience. The publisher's name and address can usually be found in the front of the book. Once you have a list of possible publishers, you can continue your research by visiting their web sites, where you will look for submission guidelines, whether or not the publisher accepts unagented or unsolicited queries and a list of editors. If the web site does not include a list of editors in house, find a copy of the Literary Market Place reference guide, which contains a list of publishers and their editors. If you can not find an individual editor's name, do not send materials to that publisher. With so much incoming mail, a package addressed to 'Editor' or 'To Whom it May Concern' will most likely be thrown away, unopened. Save your postage.
Include an introductory letter which is informational, no more than one page in length, to the point and professional. Tell the editor if your work is fictional, non fictional, include a sentence or two summarizing the book and then a brief summary of your credentials. Do not make claims that your book will be the next best seller, or comparisons to other works.
It is acceptable to submit your work to more than one publisher at a time, however, do not submit to more than one editor at a publisher at a time. If one editor passes, do not resubmit to that particular publisher.
Fiction
An editor, sorting through thousands of submissions a week, does not have the bandwidth to receive, store and read entire manuscripts. Instead, you should submit a story synopsis (spoilers and all), a sample of your writing and a resume.
1. Story Synopsis - The synopsis should be concise and include a complete description of the story. An editor does not have time read your entire manuscript when evaluating your submission, so you need to lay it all out there. Don't tease or drop hints that there is a terrific surprise ending.
2. Writing Sample ' 100 pages or the first three chapters is a typical submission, although you should tailor this to meet the specific guidelines of the publisher you intend to contact. Keep in mind appropriate formatting as well: 1' margins, 12 point font, double spaced, indented paragraphs, etc.
3. Resume ' Should include your writing credits, published works, articles, awards, etc.
Non Fiction
When proposing a non fiction book to an editor, you do not need to have a finished work. Instead, you should have a proposal, a table of contents, a short writing sample and a resume. This information, in addition to your credentials and ability to contribute a new perspective or information to the existing market will be sufficient for an editor to evaluate your work.
1. Proposal ' Identify a question or problem and how you intend to provide the answer or solution. According to Susan Rabiner and Alfred Fortunato, authors of Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction -- and Get It Published, editors require answers to the following 5 questions:
How To Write, Publish And Sell A ManualToday, there are hundreds of enterprising men and women who write simple research papers (known in the self-publishing industry as MANUALS) and sell them by mail .....
1.What is this book about'
2.What's new here'
3.Why are you the person to write this book'
4.Why is now the time to publish this book'
5.What is the core audience you are writing this book ......
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