Recently I did a talk for a local group and at the end of the evening a lady came up to me and asked how I managed to get published. I told her I researched for a suitable publisher and contacted them. "How do you know which publisher?" was her next question. Now this isn't the first time I've been asked this so to all those hopeful authors here are the five tips I gave her:
One:
Two:
Pop along to your local bookshop. Pull out books similar to your book and note the publisher details. I've found the best method is to take a photograph using my phone.
Three:
Three:
Search the Internet using terms associated with your book. This will hopefully highlight publishers tip one
and two haven't.
Four:
Check your own bookshelves and those of family and friends.
Again look for books similar to yours and take the publishers
contact details.
Five:
If you read or know of a magazine that also covers the same
subject as your book scour the pages for new books. Often the
publisher's details are also supplied and again simply take a note of them.
Once you have a list of possible publishers your next step
is to research if they:
- Still publisher 'your'
type of book
- Accept un-solicited
manuscripts
- Deal with un-agented
authors
- Are looking for new books
at present or only accept book ideas at certain times of the year
Once you've researched fully you'll have a list of
publishers who could be just right for your book. Your next step is to follow
their submission guidelines, submit your book idea and wait.
If the above tips spur you into action please pop back and let me know how you get on.
Lynne Garner
P.S.
I have three new distance learning courses commencing in September via Women On Writing:
2 comments:
This is interesting. I'd heard the the agent route should be attempted first, implying the first step would be to research agents?
Or are you assuming that this route has already been attempted?
I don't have an agent and never have. Why pay someone for something you can do yourself? I know not having an agent means some doors are closed to me. However with 21 books published and another 2 on the way I'm not too concerned about that.
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