Book Publishing

Have you written a book you want to share with the world? New York is the capital of the book publishing world, but remember small and midsize independent publishers in other locations can also be elite and do business with unpublished authors.

It is not absolutely necessary to engage the services of an agent, but it usually is a good idea. Today agents who know their way around the publishing industry have thousands of books to select from to present to publishers.

Some agents will offer encouragement and suggestions to improve a client's work. Also remember that with new clients agents have additional costs such as duplication, mailing/shipping and other incidental costs. Very rarely will an agent lay out expenses for beginning writers who are expected to pay these costs and fees.

Large publishing houses usually only deal with literary agents.

Many public libraries have copies of the LITERARY MARKETPLACE on their shelves. This book lists publishers, agents, and submission requirements. The smart writer will spend time reading requirements publishing houses have specified. Entries are often listed by subjects.

Have you already tried the traditional route and submitted your manuscript to various publishing houses, and gotten only rejections?

You are in the company of the most famous authors, many of whom have received rejection after rejection of now best selling books. What is a new unpublished author to do? It often seems that only celebrities or relatives of book publishers get book deals these days.

That is where self book publishing comes in. Many famous authors got their start through self publishing books that later became best sellers.

One such author is James Redfield, who self published his blockbuster spiritual novel "The Celestine Prophecy" after he received rejections from several conventional publishing companies. He was so successful selling copies of his self published novel out of the trunk of his car that Warner Books paid him $800,000 for it and "The Celestine Prophecy" went on to sell over 5 million copies.

Often, as with James Redfield's example, self publishing your book is the only avenue left you. While many unpublished works do deserve rejection, there is a viable amount that does have potential marketability. If you feel strongly about the merit of your work, the next step is to find the best method to get your book in print.

Some publishers are offering Print On Demand services. They accept your manuscript and for a fee will print the manuscript. After the author pays the cost of setting up the book for printing, he or she may order as little as one book or as many copies as the author wants.

It is a comparatively new method of publishing a book. The drawback of this service is since you are not bulk purchasing copies of your book, your cost per book at a one book level greatly reduces your profit.

You must ask yourself: do you want a token book, or do you want a truly marketable book? A marketable book is one that has a conservative production cost that allows you to sell it at fair market price, and realize a reasonable profit. A token book is one with such a high retail price that only your family and friends would purchase it, making it a token publication for your ego only.

To determine a projected fair market price for your book, visit your local book store and price the selling price of books similar to what you are planning for your own manuscript. If the going price for similar soft-cover books is $7.95, then your out-of-pocket cost to self publish your book in the same format should not be more than 50% or $3.98 for this example of a $7.95 selling price.

If you use the services of a Print On Demand service, you could find your out-of-pocket cost to be no less than $12 per book, no matter what the going market rate is. That exorbitant production cost and consequent too high selling price required, would then classify your book a token book.

To help you in your book publishing quest, many self publishing book services offer self-publishing guides at a small fee or even for free. Lessons in style are also offered by internet companies. If you want everything done for you, from artwork to editing services for your manuscript, these services can be provided for a fee.

No matter the route you go, if you persist you will see your manuscript published, either through a major book publisher or self publishing.

Publishing, however, is only the first step. The key factor to how successful your book will be is how aggressive it is marketed. Often that depends on your own enthusiasm and tireless promoting to realize initial success. But, on the other hand, word of mouth could explode your book sales and catapult it to the next blockbuster, where it will go on to sell millions of copies.

ON DEMAND

Have you written a book or want to write one and share it with the world, well if so head to New York it is the capital of book publishing in the world.  There are other book publishers that are located in different places that are also elite and work with unpublished authors.

You do not have to have an agent but it can help as they know the industry well ad have contacts.  Some agents will offer you feedback on your work to help you get further.  Also be prepared for added expenses that come with being a new client.

Ensure you do your research, spend time researching the market place, gather lists of agents, publishers etc and the requirements they have.  If you have forwared your manuscript to publishing houses and have had them rejected do not be disappointed many famous authors went through the same ordeal.  Some famous authors have been known to self publish their books and turn them into best sellers.

Some publishing companies will offer you a print on demand services, but this can be costly and in the end reduce your profit, however it can be a good way to start off.  You need to consider the marketing strategy for your book, do you want it to be a token book whereby it is more expensive and only your family or friends will buy it or do you a marketable book that has a conservative production and the selling price is competitive and you receive a reasonable profit, you need to consider that you need to get your name out there and become well known.

Part of your research should also consist of looking at other books that are similar to yours, what price are they selling at, if they are selling at say $7.50 you need to ensure it doesn't cost you anymore than $3.75 to produce.  You most probably will find if you choose the print on demand option your costs will be higher and you could end up out of pocket.

Many book publishing companies offer services such as publishing guides or sometimes give it to you for free, they can also help you out with artwork, editing services etc all for a fee.  If you remain dedicated to what you started out to do, you will see your manuscript published and selling at the local book store.

Once your book has been published make sure you have a marketing plan in place and be aggressive to ensure you get the results you are looking for.

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