If you, like me, are a writer then you don’t just enjoy the creative process, but only feel complete once your work is in print.
So among other things, I plan to include some helpful hints for new writers on different aspects of writing books and getting them published, based on my own experience.
Different genres have different approaches
The first thing to mention is that the processes are different if you write fiction from if you write non-fiction. It’s also far, far more difficult if you write poetry.
You can approach publishers directly if you write non-fiction, but very few publishers will look at fiction manuscripts submitted directly to them. Novelists nearly always have to find themselves an agent. The agent then approaches publishers and does their best to get a good deal for you, checks your contract and organises marketing and publicity for your work. You pay them a percentage of your sales, so it is in their interests to do a really good job for you. There will be more about agents and how to find one in a later blog.
Poets often enter competitions which promise publication in an anthology. If you want to submit your work to the very few agents who specialise in poetry, you will need a substantial body of work to submit to them.
Watch out, know what you’re getting into
Whichever genre you write, there are plenty of companies who will appear at the top of the page when you search for a publisher. Look for the word ‘Ad’ somewhere; this will tell you that you will have to pay to get your book published. Here’s an example:
For 25 years we have been publishing books by first-time authors …
random google ad
There’s usually lots of seductive phrases trying to draw you in, such as the one above, or that they are looking for submissions right now. They usually promise all sorts of promotional and/or editorial help. If you don’t mind paying and are prepared to take a chance that they will keep their promises, that’s fine.
Stand your ground
But there can be drawbacks, as I found once when I decided to use a Print On Demand (POD) publisher. They promised that their ‘team of designers’ would come up with a lovely front cover for me.
I refused their first two amateurish attempts, which I could have done better myself, and I’m not an artist by any stretch of the imagination. In the end, my graphic designer son did a smashing front cover, back cover and spine design which I insisted they used and they did. Normally with POD, the design work and printing would all have been a paid for service. However, I had persuaded them that as a published author, who made sure I got lots of sales through my own marketing and publicity efforts, they would make money from me anyway.
Then the printed book landed in my hands and it was of an appalling standard! The print was so small as to be barely legible, the edges of the pages were ragged and the book generally looked awful. Fortunately I had made sure that there was a clause in my contract which enabled me to withdraw my manuscript from them and stop them publishing and selling my book. Make sure that any contract you sign has such a clause, whether you are paying for the service or have found an agent or publisher who doesn’t charge.
That reminds me, never be afraid to say ‘no thankyou’, no matter how far along you are with your negotiations. Some authors are so grateful to get someone, anyone, to publish their book, even though they may be paying for it, that they accept all sorts of things which they shouldn’t do.
In future blogs I’ll explain how to find publishers or agents, but if you have any questions arising from this blog, please get in touch with me and I’ll help you if I can.
