Now what?

Karen - posted on 06/23/2010

Well, what do you want to do with the book? Do you want to keep it in the family, or see it on the bookstore shelves? If you want to keep it in the family, you might try self-publishing, which I consider a legitimate way of publishing, if you also are willing to handle the distribution, marketing, and advertising yourself. If you don't want to do the distribution and marketing (you may still have to do the advertising) and want to see it on the bookstore shelves, then it's probably best to contact an agent and query him or her.

However, keep in mind that the money should always flow TO the author, not from. You should not have to pay a fee or money to a publisher or agent. There are a lot of scammers out there, who take advantage of people who want to see their work in print. To keep yourself out of those scammers' hands, check out the Preditors and Editors web page at http://pred-ed.com/

This is a volunteer site, and they do not charge money for anyone looking for information on who is a legitimate agent or publisher. It's kept up to date by volunteers.

You might also look into joining the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Their web site is here: http://www.scbwi.org/

I'm a romance writer myself, and I don't think I would have become published if I hadn't joined the Romance Writers of America. Such writers organizations give lots of help regarding publishers and agents, and the right way to query them. Many of these organizations have local chapters you can join, and can give you the inside news about the industry. Before you try self-publishing, do try these organizations first. Why spend money getting published if you can get paid for it?

Glenda - posted on 02/13/2010

I can see this was posted in Aug 2009 - I arrived here seeking similar information regarding this journey....so now at the crossroads, which way do we go? There is so much information out there, pitfalls and obstacles. Forearmed is forewarned...looking forward to linking in with those who can assist with a few tips...

Sarah - posted on 09/07/2009

thanks!

Tina - posted on 09/06/2009

Here's a link that might be useful. A simple query will determine if an agent is needed but the need for them is becoming obsolete with the internet now.



http://www.signaleader.com/

Tina - posted on 09/06/2009

You should try electronic publishing, or self publishing. You can self publish on Amazon. Most electronic ppublishers publish in e-format and print-format. I'll have a look around, I work for a romance publisher, and see what I can find.

Sarah - posted on 09/06/2009

Ok, I have been researching it a little the past couple of days and I have found out that most publisher companies don't accept manuscripts that aren't represented by a literary agent. That could be an avenue that one would go down, but even agents need a little knowledge of you in order to accept to be your agent, so some sites have recommended entering some work of yours into writing contests. There are hundreds all over the country yearly, so finding one won't be a problem. A lot of them are specifically for unpublished work, so that's one way to get your foot in the door, or to get some credibility. That's just an idea, and one that I will probably do. Thanks for answering! What kind of book are you thinking about starting?

Marci - posted on 09/06/2009

I wish I knew the answers. I am just starting the process of writing a book. I've heard of people just sending it to many publishers and then just waiting to hear back. The group shoud be a good format to find out more if more people join.