First-time authors may find it difficult to get their maiden book published. Here are some practical tips for new writers to get their work entertained for printing by publishing companies.
1. Consider Genre Research
You may be very excited about your poems and narrations, but most publishers refuse short stories, poetry, and memoirs. Your familiarity with certain topics or genres doesn’t mean that you will be able to sell them to a publisher.
Before you begin writing, take a detailed look at the content your shortlisted publishers are producing. You can use this to spark inspiration and select a topic for your book. A well-researched topic will exponentially increase your chances of getting published.
2. Submit Query letters to literary agents
Writing query letters to literary agents can pave the way to successfully getting your work published. A well-written query letter makes a publisher to reach out to learn more about your ideas.
Before you write a query letter, its important to have a full-length manuscript and understand whom its aimed at. You can use these query letter examples and edit them accordingly.
3. Enter a Contest
Entering a writing contest can be an incredible alternative to actively looking for a literary agent or publishing house. When you enter a writing contest, there is a likelihood that your entry will gain the visibility, credibility, and recognition required to lead to a publishing deal.
Some writing contests also offer publication as a prize. So, winning at one of these is a sure way of getting published. However, it is important to ensure that you submit your entry to a prestigious and legitimate writing competition so your work doesn’t get stolen.
4. Attend Writing Conferences
Attending writing conferences can shorten your path to getting published. As agents, editors, and publishers also attend these conferences, you can connect with them and present your writing.
Additionally, writing conferences also help you gain more understanding of how publishing agencies work. Here, you can also learn from the experiences of other published writers and avoid the mistakes they made as beginners.
5. Get Feedback From Editors
Before you submit your manuscript for approval from a publisher, consider getting feedback from a few editors.
Professional editors provide constructive criticism, suggest alternative phrasing, and identify other areas of improvement in your work. These small changes made by editors can make your manuscript more attractive to publishers and increase the chances of getting accepted for publishing.
6. Submit the Synopsis Only
A number of literary agents and publishers do not want you to send them an entire novel initially. While it is important to keep your novel ready before contacting a publisher, just make sure you send them a selective portion. The exceptions to this rule are:
- Submitting your work to a niche publishing house that deals in the topic you authored your book.
- You have a connection with the editor who would be willing to read your work as a personal favor or on account of friendship.
7. Follow the Submission Guidelines
Many reputable literary agents have specific guidelines regarding how you should submit your work. To get your work accepted for publishing and to start a mutually respectful relationship you absolutely must follow these guidelines.
Submission guidelines usually vary from one agent to another, so make sure to carefully review these if you are submitting your work to more than one editors.
8. Don’t Get Discouraged by Rejection
You did everything right and still got rejected? It is quite common for reviewers to reject manuscripts, sometimes with harsh comments.
Instead of getting discouraged, it is crucial for you to learn, rectify your oversights, and consult with other members of the writing community. Then, you can submit your work to other literary agents or publishers.
9. Spend Time and Money on Your Book
You tried all of the above but couldn’t get your work published? You can self-finance your book; here’s how.
a) Hybrid Publishing
Under this model, you will have to share the cost of publishing and distributing your work with your publisher. While you will need to pay the fee to cover the cost of some of the component services, the publisher will be responsible for producing and distributing your book.
You may need to query quite a few agents and publishers to obtain a deal for hybrid publishing, because all publishers do not deal in this model.
This is a significant risk and investment because, in some cases, there can be exorbitant fees. On the bright side, you can crowdfund your book publishing to lower the risk. Also, the royalties are higher for the author in the hybrid publishing model as compared to traditional publishing.
b) Self Publishing
This model of book publishing requires you to publish your work at your own cost, without the involvement of a publisher.
You can print either as an ebook or as a physical copy, but the cost of self-publishing a high-quality printed book can be between $2,000 and $4,000. Nevertheless, if you treat your book as an investment and believe it has the potential for great success, you might consider making that investment.
10. Go for Audio Books
If your book’s main audience is Generation Z, consider launching an audiobook instead. Today’s audiences prefer novels and other books as audiobooks that they can consume on the go. You can get your launched by a traditional publisher or self-publish it.
To self-publish, you will require a narrator to record dozens of hours of narration. A narrator of intermediate level may charge you up to $80 per hour to record the book.
11. Establish a Writing Calendar
Once you have been approved by an editor or decide to self-publish your creation, consider establishing a writing calendar. This will encourage you to plan ahead and help you with creating a writing routine. Establishing a writing calendar will in turn assist you to focus on your goals more easily and be less stressed out.
