Publishing Your Own Book -- Your Way

Getting A Publisher & Getting What You Want


In the basic scenario of book publishing, a writer finishes a book and then finds an agent who helps sell the book to a publisher. When someone asks, "How do I find a publisher?" they're often looking for the details of this scenario. But let's backtrack a little. The answer to this question has to do with what you as a writer want out of the publishing process as well as what the publisher wants. It's best to be as clear as possible on both counts. Here are a few things to consider.

What You Want

What exactly do you want for your book? It's possible that your answer can save you a lot of time and heartache. Here's an example. A writer recently emailed me about wanting to find a publisher for his book on dealing with sickle cell anemia. He said he felt it was a really important book and that people would be interested in the information. That's great, but if his main goal is getting his book into the hands of those coping with the disease, he doesn't have to go with a big traditional publishing house in order to do that. He can self publish and take the book directly to doctor's offices, support groups and sickle cell organizations.

Do you want a book that tells a family story that will be a legacy for your children? Do you want a book that will establish your expertise and help you get started on the speaking circuit? You can accomplish these things by self publishing. A prominent ghostwriter recently published a book about his trade and landed a television interview where he discussed how politicians get their books written. The author was introduced as a "ghostwriting guru" and his book was prominently displayed at the end of the story. There was nothing that would have told you the book was self published. It didn't make a difference that it was. He still got the notice, was still seen as an expert.

Do you want to go for the whole enchilada--traditional publishing house, book tour, the status of having the validation of a publisher? That's fine too. Which brings us to...

What Publishers Want

Publishers are reviewing tons of manuscripts daily. How do you get your submission package to stand out from the others? By giving what they're looking for.

They want good writing. That's a given, but how do you deliver? First of all, be in a mode of constantly learning about your craft. Take classes, workshops, join a writer's group. Next, hire someone to help you. There are many editors who assist writers in getting a manuscript ready for submission. Some agencies even provide editing as part of their services.

The next part is harder. It has to do with that magical term "platform". Everyone these days talks about how publishers buy on the basis of your platform. In fact your submission package, fiction or non-fiction, will be all about showcasing your platform. Here's what they're looking for and how to demonstrate it.

Who you know and who knows you: Have testimonials and blurbs from known and noted people featured in your package. If you have a few big names behind you, that's more power for your marketing machine.

Do you have a following? If you put out a newsletter or other regular media you'll want to show how many subscribers you have. If you have a killer website, tell the number of hits you draw each month. If you sell a product, give sales figures to show you know how to produce what your customers want.

Are you in front of people all the time? Tell what media you already have under your belt. When and where were your last speaking engagements? Describe any radio, television, newspaper or magazine interviews you've done recently.

If you're lacking in any of these areas, it's never too late to change your situation. Polishing your prose and your persona are the best steps you can take to attract a publisher. They'll also help ensure your success if you decide to go it on your own. Remember, any improvement on your writing or marketing fronts will never go to waste!

click for a review of a great resource that will go over all of these things in great detail. What most people don’t realize is that book submission, for the purpose of getting published, is involved and has to be done "just so" because of all the competition. So please don’t go into this until you know exactly what’s involved. It just may mean the difference between getting published and not.

Publishing Your Own Book --Tips

Some Book Publishing Tips You Must Know

The thrill of getting your own book published is one that is not easily duplicated anywhere else. If you’re a writer (which I assume you are if you’re reading this) then you know what I’m talking about. Finishing that great novel is just the beginning of a thrilling journey. However, if you’re going to try to get your book published, there are a few things you need to know first. This article is going to fill you in.

For starters, you need to understand how publishers work. If you go in blindly, you set yourself up for disaster. One thing you need to know is that you can’t just send a publisher your work. If you send them unsolicited material, they won’t look at it for many reasons, not the least of which is the liability involved. And if there is a publisher who WILL accept unsolicited material, most likely they are not very reputable. The top dogs won’t look at your stuff unless you ask first.

Another thing you need to know is that each publisher specializes in certain kinds of books. Many new writers will simply submit their manuscripts to every publisher they can get a listing for. This is a waste of time. A publisher that only publishes books on gardening isn’t going to look at your mystery novel. So make sure you get a hold of a writers marker guide and see what publishers accept what manuscripts.

Then of course there is the way you go about submitting your work. So many beginning writers will simply take their manuscript and toss it in an envelope. This is so asking for trouble. At the very least, you want to include a cover letter with the manuscript telling something about yourself and about what the publisher is about to read. This is your chance to make a sales pitch and you want to make it a good one. If you don’t get the publisher excited about reading your work, he’s not going to read it.

There is a lot more involved with getting a book published…too much to get into in the space of a short article. However, below, you’ll find a review of a great resource that will teach you everything you need to know about getting your book published. I think you’ll find it invaluable reading.

At least give yourself the best chance of getting your masterpiece out to the general public. Why don’t you just visit Donna’s site and see what she has to offer. I promise you, you won’t be sorry.

Here is the site

Publishing Your Own Book -- Prepare

What You Must Know About Book Publishing

Everyone’s a writer. It’s true. The number of people who have thought about writing for a living is astronomical. And ironically, many of them fail, not because of lack of talent, but because they don’t know how to go about getting a book published. There is a procedure that you have to follow to have any chance at all. Book publishing is a competitive field. Publishers get hundreds of manuscripts crossing their desks each week. Getting YOURS seen takes some doing.

The first thing you need to know is that nobody, and I do mean NOBODY is going to accept unsolicited material. There are many reasons for this. One of the main ones today is because of all the lawsuits flying around from writers claiming that their work has been stolen. It’s just not worth it for the publishers to go through all the hassles. So any reputable publisher is going to require you to ask first for permission. This way they have it on record in case there are any claims of theft.

But another reason you can’t send unsolicited material is simply because of the fact that publishers get so many manuscripts on a regular basis. They just don’t have the time to go through them all. So, unsolicited submissions don’t even get looked at because of the time constraints. So, if you’re going to send something, ask permission FIRST. Otherwise, quite honestly, you are going to be wasting your time.

The next thing you need to know is that all submissions must be done in a professional manner. The space of this article doesn’t allow me to go into detail as to what this means. It is an involved process. You can’t just slap something together and toss it in an envelope. The more professional the presentation, the better your chance of getting it looked at.

click for a review of a great resource that will go over all of these things in great detail. What most people don’t realize is that book submission, for the purpose of getting published, is involved and has to be done "just so" because of all the competition. So please don’t go into this until you know exactly what’s involved. It just may mean the difference between getting published and not.

Publishing Your Own Book -- Getting Reviewed

How to Get Your Book Reviewed

More info on getting published

Imagine your book at the top of the Best Sellers List of the New York Times. Most authors do. The question is, "How do I get it there and sell millions of copies?"

When planning your book, there is one critical thing that most authors forget - marketing. In the case of book reviewers this means pre-marketing.

Most reviewers require a copy of your book at least three months before publication. This is because most book reviewers need time to read it and review it plus publish all the reviews on books that they have reviewed for those who came before you. Also many publications come out on a weekly or monthly basis instead of daily. This means that book reviewers have a huge backlog.

So the best way to get a book reviewers to review your book, is to get them a quality copy of your manuscript or a galley, as soon as possible.

What if my book your already been published?

Is it too late to get a book reviewer to review your book? In some cases yes and in some no. There is an easy way to get your book reviewed without calling it a review.

Send out a press release.

Create a press release about your book and submit it to your local newspapers, magazines and radio stations. Make it interesting. Don't just say Mary Joe Piper has just published her newest book Babes on Parade. Think about your story and what it can teach people. Does it have a theme about love or friendship or settling disputes?

Use the issue in your press release. Teach people how to solve their problems and then have the person interviewing you mention your credits, as a published author. At that point your book will be mentioned, you will have done them a service, and you will have saved thousands of dollars on marketing and query letters to editors.

Here are just a few sites that you can go to to submit your pre - publication book:

Book Reviewers:

Terrie Bittner
Bellaonline.com: Children's Books
childrenbooks@bellaonline.com
http://www.bellaonline.com/entertainment/children.html
Categories: Children, Children’s Religion, Young Adult - Children Query first.

Sandy Cummins
Writers Exchange Book Reviews
PO Box 372
Atherton, QLD 4883
writers@writers-exchange.com
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~pjcsjc/book-review.htm
Categories: Computer/Internet/Technology, Children, Christian, Fiction, How-To, Non-Fiction, Religion, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, eBooks, Writing, promotion & publishing

Anne Douglas
http://www.bookideas.com
emailanned@yahoo.com
http://www.bookideas.com
Categories: Art, Books From Small Presses, Children, Cookbook, Fiction, Literature, Mystery, Pop Culture, Women, Young Adult - Children, Biography, Parenting. Particularly interested in American art and children's books.

Apryl Duncan
FictionAddiction.NET
Box 876
Chattanooga, TN 37343
ReviewRequest@FictionAddiction.NET
http://www.FictionAddiction.NET
Categories: Books From Small Presses, Children, Fiction, Literature, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, Writing, promotion & publishing, Adventure, Horror

Melanie C. Duncan
Bookdragaon Review (ISSN 1527-0157)
444 Forest Hill Road, #813
Macon, GA 31210
MCDuncan@bookdragonreview.com
http://www.bookdragonreview.com
Categories: Fiction, Young Adult - Children Comments: All genres fiction only. Please query before sending an e-book. Attachments are deleted if not specifically requested. Traditional galleys may be sent without a query, however please read the FAQs at the website before sending.

Linda Eberharter
Fiction Forest
7042 Cohasset Ct.
Indianapolis, IN 46226
Phone: 317-549-3038
linda@atlanticbridge.net
http://www.atlanticbridge.net
Categories: Children, Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks

Detra Fitch
Huntress Book Reviews
205 Dana Drive
Easley, SC 29642
huntress@huntressreviews.com
http://www.huntressreviews.com
Categories: Children, Fiction, General, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, Adventure, Horror

Denise Fleischer
Gotta Write Online
515 E. Thacker
Hoffman Estates, IL 60194
Phone: 847 882-8054
Netera@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/gwnlitmag/
Categories: Mystery, Romance, Young Adult - Children, eBooks, Writing, promotion & publishing. Authors can also make guest appearances on the AOL chat she co-hosts on Tuesdays from 10-11 PM ET. Writers: keyword, chatrooms, Writer's Grill.

Jessica Holmes
Romance At Its Best, Midnight Reviews
owner@romanceatitsbest.com
http://www.romanceatitsbest.com/
Categories: Books From Small Presses, Fiction, General, How-To, Literature, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Women, Young Adult - Children, Biography, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, History/Political, Adventure, Horror

Dave Jenkinson
CM/Canadian Review Materials
Faculty of Education,
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
Phone: 204-474-8780
e-Mail: jenkinson@ms.umanitoba.ca
http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/
Categories: Audiobooks; General, Children, Young Adults

Jeanne Kelly
1928 Mid Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Phone: 719-291-2309
e-Mail: whitebison@mail.com
Categories: Audiobooks; Children, Health, Metaphysical, Spiritual, Women, Self-help, Writing, Inspirational, Motivational

Jeanette Lambert
Tennessee Tribune
6940 Sunderland Circle
Nashville, TN 37221-4621
Phone: 615-321-3268
jbl96@aol.com
Categories: Children, Cookbook, Fiction, General, How-To, Library, Lifestyle, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Reference, Sociology, Travel/Hospitality, Women, Young Adult - Children, Biography, Thriller/Suspense, African-American Fiction and Nonfiction , Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Education

Jennifer L. B. Leese
AStoryWeaver's Book Reviews
311 Frederick Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740
AStoryWeaver@aol.com
http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/aswbr.html
Categories: Children, Young Adult - Children. Ebooks should be sent to home address on disc or in printed format. Please supply all information needed to properly review your book and where to send the review when done. For faster responses, the review can be sent to you via email.

Cathi Dunn MacRae, Editor
VOYA
Scarecrow Press
4720 Boston Way
Lanham, MD 20706
voya@voya.com
http://www.voya.com
Categories: Young Adult & Children

Sandra J. Morgan
Cloudy Mountain Books/The Fiction Forest
2 Bow Mills Road
Center Barnstead, NH 03225
Phone: 603 776 0123
sandi@fictionforest.com
http://www.fictionforest.com
Categories: Audiobooks, Australian Books, Books From Small Presses, Children, Christian, Cookbook, Features, Fiction, Food, General, Health, How-To, Humanities, Library, Lifestyle, Literature, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Pop Culture, Reference, Religion, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Travel/Hospitality, Video, Women, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, Parenting, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Theater, Politics, Film History, African-American Fiction and Nonfiction , Financial

Christian Perring, Ph.D.
Metapsychology Online Review
c/o Philosophy Dept
Dowling College
Oakdale , NY 11769
Phone: 631-244-3349
metapsychology@mentalhelp.net
http://mentalhelp.net/books/
Categories: Art, Audiobooks, Books From Small Presses, Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction, General, Health, Humanities, Literature, Metaphysical, Mystery, Pop Culture, Sociology, Women, Young Adult - Children, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, Parenting, Comics, Science

Puala Rohrlick
KLIATT Young Adult Paperback Book Guide
33 Bay State Rd.,
Welesley, MA 02481
Phone: 781-237-7577
kliatt@aol.com
http://www.hometown.aol.com/kliatt
Categories: Young Adult - Children

Geoff Rotunno
the boox review
PO Box 211
Santa Ynez, CA 93460
geoff@thebooxreview.com
http://www.thebooxreview.com
Categories: Art, Audiobooks, Australian Books, Computer/Internet/Technology, Junior College Books, Books From Small Presses, Children, Children’s Religion, Christian, Cookbook, Features, Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction, Food, General, Health, How-To, Humanities, Library, Lifestyle, Literature, Marketing, Metaphysical, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Pop Culture, Reference, Religion, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Sociology, Spiritual, Travel/Hospitality, Video, Women, Young Adult/Children's, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, Parenting, Thriller/Suspense, Theater, Politics, Film History, African-American Fiction and Nonfiction , Financial, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, Business, Comics, Gardening, Science, Education, History/Political Comments: Seeking review copies of all genres except romance.

Beverly J. Rowe
myshelf.com
102 Copper Lane
Kenai, AK 99611
Phone: (907) 283-2840
bevbooks@aol.com
Categories: Children, Cookbook, Fiction, Food, Literature, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Young Adult - Children, Biography, Thriller/Suspense, Writing, promotion & publishing, Education, History/Political. Prefers hard copies.

J.B. Scott
Sydney, NSW 2148
ctf_editor@iprimus.com.au
http://www.geocities.com/ebook_review
Categories: Australian Books, Computer/Internet/Technology, Books From Small Presses, Children, Fiction, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks
E-mail all review requests to ctf_editor@iprimus.com.au with "REVIEW REQUEST" in the subject header.

Sandra Simmons-Maike
Freelance
Rt. 2 Box 152
Alma, KS 66401
Phone: 785-765-3861
sandcogroup@aol.com
Categories: Audiobooks, Books From Small Presses, Children, Cookbook, Fiction, Food, General, Library, Lifestyle, Marketing, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Self-help. Include time deadline.

Roger Sutton, Editor
Horn Book Magazine
56 Roland Street, Suite 200
Boston, MA 02129
Phone: 617-628-0225
Categories: Children, Young Adult - Children

Niki Taylor
Freelance
nat0607@hotmail.com
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/book_reviews
Categories: Books From Small Presses, Children, Christian, Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction, Health, Non-Fiction, Pop Culture, Sociology, Spiritual, Travel/Hospitality, Women, Young Adult - Children, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, eBooks, Theater, Film History, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, History/Political

Anna Serra i Vidal
Aledaños. Boletín electronico y crítico de literatura
Eiximenis, 6
Sant Pere de Ribes, Barcelona 08810
Phone: + 34 93 896 25 04
aserra@ctv.es
Categories: Children, Cookbook, Fiction, Literature, Mystery, Women, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Writing, promotion & publishing, Education

Christopher Warner
EFP - Spratt Publishing
4924 Balboa Blvd
Suite 304
Los Angeles, CA 91316
Phone: 818-881-7053
efp@dslextreme.com
Categories: Art, Audiobooks, Australian Books, Computer/Internet/Technology, Junior College Books, Books From Small Presses, Children's Book, Cookbook, Features, Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction, Food, General, Health, How-To, Humanities, Library, Lifestyle, Literature, Marketing, Metaphysical, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Pop Culture, Reference, Religion, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Sociology, Spiritual, Travel/Hospitality, Video, Women, Young Adult/Children's, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, Parenting, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Theater, Politics, Film History, African-American Fiction and Nonfiction , Financial, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, Business, Comics, Gardening, Science, Education, Scholarly, History/Political, Adventure, Nature, Horror, Photography

Brenda Weeaks
MyShelf.Com
reviews@myshelf.com
http://www.myshelf.com
Categories: Audiobooks, Books From Small Presses, Children, Christian, Cookbook, Fiction, Food, General, Health, How-To, Literature, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Reference, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Women, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, Gardening

Stephanie Zvirin
Booklist/American Library Association
50 E. Huron
Chicago, IL 60611
http://www.ala.org/booklist/
Categories: Young Adult

Once a few book reviewers write about your book, other book reviewers will follow. Be prepared for these subsequent book reviewers. Have copies of your book ready to send out with your author packet. More info on getting published

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