Ok, I've written a book. Next steps help....

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Something Amyss

Aswyng and Amyss
Dec 3, 2008
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MetalMagpie said:
Chogg Van Helsing said:
I assume publish, or attempt to, but how would I go about it?
The Amazon Kindle ebook store is a good option. Much less investment of your time (and money) than sending printed manuscripts to dozens of agents. And you're much more likely to get agents and publishers interested in future novels if you already have an ebook that's selling well.
Printed? Most agents accept e-submissions, which are a lot easier. Some ONLY accept them.

The flip side to this is that if your ebook does not sell well, it my dissaude future publishers. They are also less prone to publish books with the same characters as they won't get first print rights on the original. So if you're planning a series of any kind, this is a dangerous sort of deal. One-offs are less a problem.
 

MetalMagpie

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Zachary Amaranth said:
MetalMagpie said:
Chogg Van Helsing said:
I assume publish, or attempt to, but how would I go about it?
The Amazon Kindle ebook store is a good option. Much less investment of your time (and money) than sending printed manuscripts to dozens of agents. And you're much more likely to get agents and publishers interested in future novels if you already have an ebook that's selling well.
Printed? Most agents accept e-submissions, which are a lot easier. Some ONLY accept them.

The flip side to this is that if your ebook does not sell well, it my dissaude future publishers. They are also less prone to publish books with the same characters as they won't get first print rights on the original. So if you're planning a series of any kind, this is a dangerous sort of deal. One-offs are less a problem.
Sorry, I'm clearly behind the times. Last time I looked at this, I was told most agents require a proper double-spaced-and-single-sided printed manuscript. I used to send off the occasional short story to magazines, and I could only find two (both in Australia) that accepted e-submissions.

To be honest, I wouldn't personally worry about impacting future books in a series if this is the first one the thread-starter has written. The traditional publishing industry is so cautious that it's easier to just assume you won't get published that way!
 

Shivarage

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Apr 9, 2010
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Davatehi said:
Well, I don't know much about publishing books. But I guess you can give it out to friends and ask them to read it. Also some people whom you don't know to get a wider perspective and be able to polish it up some.
Bad idea, unless your friend is an editor/publisher who has an interest in your work selling to the general buyer

Otherwise, they will have too much personal bias to understand appeal

Edit: for example, I don't understand the appeal of the twilight books because I am not the target audience, they just seem badly written and boring to me but they sold millions anyway
 

Shivarage

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Chogg Van Helsing said:
Yeah, so I've written a book, dark fantasy style (if anyone wants to read it, pm me - I'm always looking for C&C :D)

So anyone got any tips on what to do next? I assume publish, or attempt to, but how would I go about it?

Any advice appreciated :D
Firstly... did you write the final product?

As far as I'm aware, writers write a manuscript to then apply for funding to produce the final product

If you've already written it then I don't see why it can't be published - in real life anything can happen...

Captcha: stand and deliver
 

Crenelate

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First off, congrats! Writing is hard so that's quite an accomplishment to see something through to the end.

Before you think about publishing, get and editor. I don't know much about publishing but I know bad grammar will not impress.
 

xDarc

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How many words is it? Most publishers will not take a chance on a first time author who's book isn't at 90.000 words, or greater than 110,000 words. Thank Barnes and Noble for that. Thicker books take up more shelf space and that means they can't stock as much "product." The length they are looking for is very specific.

P.S.

Also, you will have to try many, many publishers. Most only have a few slots for new titles/new authors per month. So it is very competitive. You will get rejected a lot, but try to get feedback to improve your book.
 

Chogg Van Helsing

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I'm currently trying to write a query, and then will move on to a proposal.

@xDarc My book is over 90,000 words, and under 110,000 ;) And I read over it myself and add more detail etc

Thanks for all the help guys, means a lot :D

With any luck maybe you'll see my book on some self one day ;) ahaha
 

Mayhaps

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My mum works in publishing, I don't know anything about the actual business per se, just what I heard over the dinner table.

I can tell you that they have more than enough up and coming authors to choose from so make yourself stand out, and have a pitch for your book. If you're on the phone or in a meeting you need to be able to speak for you book. Being passionate about it is not really enough, unfortunately.

Selling the book is more important than the actual content, because they'll revise it anyway.
 

CrazyBlaze

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Edit. Especially the first part that they are going to read. Like others have said they usually only read the first five pages. If they like what they see they will ask for more. Have others read it, not it edit it for you, to make sure that it makes sense. Why? Because what you are writing may make sense to you. You have the plot in your head and the world and the characters. You know them. You made them. But someone else may not. What may make sense to you may not to them. Never assume that they know what you are talking about. Make everything as clear as possible. Everything that needs to be understood up to that point should have been written clearly and easy to understand. But don't assume the reader is stupid. if a point is brought up later in the book that hasn't been touched in a while the reader will remember. maybe give a quick explanation but not the whole thing.

Remember editing can be for grammar but also plot holes, and things that may not make sense. Remember you don't want to have to explain in person what part of the book was meant to be about. The book should be clear enough to do that itself.

Also go to conventions. Why? Because you can make connections. You can talk face to face with publishers, or even agents. You aren't there to enjoy yourself though, you are dare to sell yourself and your book. And they are more likely to take you serious if they know you spent money to come just to sell your book.

But yeah make sure that first page is a hook. The first paragraph needs to be the bait. It should get them curious about the book and it should set the tone for the rest of the book. If they like the first paragraph they will read more and if they like the whole page they will read the rest of what you have given them.

Also make a portfolio. Write short stories and send them to magazines or other places that publish amateur short stories. It allows you to point and give publishers and agents a larger idea of your works.

Have additional plans for future books. This may seem like jumping the gun before your first book is even out but if a publisher likes your work and it becomes a hit, they want more of it. The sooner, the better. Don't forget these guys are a business. In fact even if your first book is a hit there is no guarantee they will keep you on until you have proven your first book wasn't just a fluke at the right time in the right place. That you can actually sell your book and that people actually want to read it.
 

Something Amyss

Aswyng and Amyss
Dec 3, 2008
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Chogg Van Helsing said:
I'm currently trying to write a query, and then will move on to a proposal.

@xDarc My book is over 90,000 words, and under 110,000 ;) And I read over it myself and add more detail etc

Thanks for all the help guys, means a lot :D

With any luck maybe you'll see my book on some self one day ;) ahaha
Proposal is usually more for non-fiction. In my experience, agents want a cover letter (query), sample pages, and a shortish synopsis. A proposal is a non-fiction tool to market the idea before writing. A fiction writer (presumably any dark fantasy book will be a work of fiction) is supposed to have a finished product first and sell it second.

Also, partially ignore Darc. Even publishers don't agree on what the length should be, and those estimates are tending more towards the short in genre fiction these days (cost of printing being a major factor). With a dark fantasy novel, you're probably looking at the number he gave you, but nothing's actually written in stone. Don't treat it as concrete, and don't be surprised if you're told to cut weight.

When you say "add more detail," did you mean you already added more or planned to add more? Just curious, because again you may run into size issues.

Though again, fantasy appears to be the most immune.