Are you seeking a publisher for your manuscript? Thousands of people are. That isn’t comforting to hear, is it? It’s true—publishing is a mighty popular pastime these days. In 2009, there were over a million books produced. Sure, over 700,000 of them were self-published and produced through pay-to-publish companies. But nearly 290,000 were published the traditional way.
Hopeful authors come into the world of publishing with varying perspectives and attitudes. While some of you will accept nothing less than publication with a major publisher, others are convinced that they could not get even a toe in the door of a big publishing house. Then there are many authors in between—those who choose to become independent publishers, those who plan to seek out a niche publisher, those who will head directly toward the pay-to-publish company, etc.
Most new authors wait to finish their books before researching publishers. I advise starting that process before you write the book. Why? It’s wise to know your options and the possibilities for your particular project before you complete it. If you want to publish with one of the big guys, you may need to include certain aspects to your story to make it more appealing to them. Word count might be a serious issue for the publisher. And if you know this ahead of time, you can write to those specs. You may see an opportunity with a niche publisher that has specific requirements which you wouldn’t have adhered to if you has written the book first.
Here are a couple of scenarios to illustrate:
1: Sam starts looking around for a publisher after simply outlining his business book. He hopes to land a particular publisher who distributes to his audience. He plans to write a reference book for accountants. During his research, however, he discovers that this publisher is more open to workbooks for this audience. Further research and a chat with the publisher prompts him to shift gears and he ultimately writes a more publishable book. Once he gets his foot in the door with this publisher, he might be able to sell him that original reference book and many others along the same line.
2: Susan has a story in mind and she hopes to land a major publisher. After researching them, she learns that they have fairly strict word count limitations—she didn’t know that. Some of them also seem to have offshoots that are publishing in the ever-popular young adult arena. She decides to read several young adult novels and consider gearing her story in that direction.
3: Sarah wants to write her memoir. She’d love to have it accepted by an impressive publisher. But she wants to write it to suit herself—without word count or any other restrictions. While conducting research, she now realizes that memoirs by unknown authors are a hard sell to publishers as well as to the public. But she wants to bring out this book, anyway. So she goes to work on it knowing that she has complete control because she plans to go the pay-to-publish route.
I’ve pointed out before, the importance of keeping your audience and your publisher in mind as you write so that you end up with a book that is likely to be published and read.
If you are thinking about writing a book or you have already started the writing, don’t wait to check out publishers. Start now doing the necessary research. Continue the writing with a few publishers in mind. Also, write a book proposal so you are clear as to your audience and you are writing the right book for the right audience.
It’s January 2011—a new year. Perhaps you’ve set new goals. Now would be the right time—a perfect time—to start studying the publishing industry, understanding more about your publishing options and learning much more about your responsibilities as a publisher author. If you are writing a book, you need to know what is involved in navigating the publishing industry, how to get your book into bookstores, how to do self-editing, what to look for when hiring an editor, what distribution is all about, how to get book reviews—lots of them, how to write a book proposal and so much more. This is a perfect time for you to purchase the book that some consider their “bible.” The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. $19.95 at http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
This month only, I will throw in a copy of any one of my other writing/publishing/book promotion books or ebooks of your choice with your book order.