| If you are a writer, there is only one thing that | | | | publishers and authors by writers accusing them |
| drives you: writing. If you were unable to ever | | | | of plagiarism, publishers simply will not even |
| see your work in print, a true writer would write | | | | consider unsolicited material from new writers for |
| nonetheless, even if the work was seen by an | | | | fear of the next lawsuit. In fact, as I am writing |
| audience of one. This article will show you how it | | | | this the most successful author of all time, JK |
| is completely unnecessary to invest your heart | | | | Rowling of Harry Potter fame, is embroiled in |
| and soul in a work that never sees the light of | | | | these kinds of accusations levied at her and her |
| day. This article will show you the step by step | | | | publisher. So to say that breaking through the |
| processes to not only get your work into print, | | | | standard publishing barriers these days is difficult |
| but to make a hearty living at it as well. I know. | | | | at best would be an understatement. |
| My husband and I have numerous books in print, | | | | So how do these publishers keep new material |
| and we are more than pleased with our sales of | | | | funneling through their houses in a timely and |
| our books. By following the steps in this article, | | | | relevant way? They work with agents who have |
| you will soon see your work available worldwide | | | | an established relationship with them, and they |
| and will enjoy the financial impact of publishing on | | | | make deals with small press publishers once sales |
| your terms. | | | | track records have been established for a |
| One of the greatest balances one must strike | | | | particular title. And nowadays many projects are |
| when one seeks a career in any artistic endeavor | | | | devised in house and assigned to writers and |
| - and writing is an art - is art versus commerce. | | | | editors that they trust. So where does this leave |
| You can be the best in your artistic field, but if | | | | you? After all, you just want to get your work |
| you don't embrace the commercial aspect of | | | | out there and maybe make a few bucks while |
| your art at least as well as the art itself, you | | | | you're at it. So what's next? Well, there are |
| may find yourself living life as the quintessential | | | | choices. You can take the typical route and |
| starving artist. And who wants to starve? So the | | | | approach agents and publishers. Be prepared to |
| first step in the process is to understand that it | | | | spend an amazing amount on postage and |
| doesn't end with the writing. In fact, when you've | | | | materials, and while miracles do happen |
| written the final page of your final draft, that | | | | occasionally, just realize going in that you are |
| becomes the starting gate. When you finish the | | | | playing lottery odds. Also, assuming you do make |
| book, you arrive at square one. | | | | it through (and there's nothing saying that you |
| What New Writers may Believe | | | | can't) you'll be considered extremely fortunate if |
| Many new writers who are embarking on getting | | | | your advance exceeds $25,000. In most cases a |
| their first book published have a fantasy that | | | | new author can figure an advance of between |
| goes something like this: They believe that all they | | | | $10,000 -$15,000. |
| have to do is send query letters and copies of | | | | So what's the alternative? Here it is: Publish it |
| their manuscripts to literary agents and publishers, | | | | yourself. "Eek!" you scream. "I don't want to be |
| and that within a matter of weeks an editor will | | | | involved with all that! I'm a WRITER! And besides, |
| discover their work and within months they'll see | | | | isn't that just what they call vanity publishing?" |
| their book on the shelves of Barnes & Noble. | | | | The answer to your last cry is NO. Self publishing |
| While this can happen, it is so rare that the odds | | | | is not vanity publishing. In fact, what is self |
| of winning a state lottery are greater. The | | | | publishing, anyway? Publishing in any form is |
| publishing industry has changed so much in the | | | | nothing more than taking a particular work and |
| past ten years that it doesn't remotely represent | | | | reproducing it so more than one can read it. In |
| the common perception most people and writers | | | | fact, if you decide on the self publishing route, in |
| have. And believe it or not, this is a good thing, | | | | my estimation you're not "self publishing" at all. In |
| which you'll soon see in this article. | | | | fact, you are establishing yourself as a small press |
| In the old days, writers submitted to agents, who | | | | publisher. There are literally thousands of small |
| took the manuscript to a series of editors at the | | | | press publishers worldwide. Why shouldn't you be |
| various publishing houses in a bid to get the work | | | | a small press publisher and as your first title |
| into print. A year (most likely two or three years) | | | | decide to publish your book? |
| later, the book would arrive in the bookstores as | | | | Makes sense! In fact, my husband Lee and I have |
| the typical promotional efforts took place | | | | co-written many books in our particular field and |
| simultaneously with the book's release. This | | | | we sell thousands of books each year. Our small |
| doesn't happen like this anymore, and as far as | | | | press publishing house is called GLC Press. It is our |
| promotional efforts are concerned, there are | | | | company, and we decide what we publish, when |
| about a dozen writers that rate appearances on | | | | we publish, and how we publish. We do not go hat |
| the morning TV shows, and about a hundred at | | | | in hand to anyone; our publishing schedule is based |
| any given time who are booked onto talk radio. | | | | on the needs and desires of our readership. We |
| So where does that leave the estimated five- to | | | | write what we want and we can have a book in |
| six-thousand other writers who actually see their | | | | print and in our distribution channel ready for our |
| books published each year? As you can see, right | | | | readers within weeks if we so desire. You can |
| off the bat the publishing industry is a niche | | | | too! And here's how... |
| industry. In fact, books are about the last medium | | | | Small Pressing Publishing |
| that allows, much less encourages niche | | | | First we thought of the name of our small press |
| production. There are no longer niche projects in | | | | company. Once we did that we took care of the |
| the Hollywood film industry to speak of, and most | | | | small but necessary business matters. They're |
| formerly niche cable television broadcasters now | | | | easy enough to do, and someone at your local |
| seek mass market audiences. But there will | | | | county or city business license office can help you |
| always be a need for niche-specific books and | | | | with that. The next thing you'll want to decide on |
| periodicals. This is your entry key into the field. If | | | | is your distribution method. We'll assume that you |
| you can write for your audience, if you can fill | | | | want your title listed on (the world's largest seller |
| their specific niche, you will succeed. And more to | | | | of books. If you're not on Amazon, you don't |
| the point, your book will succeed. So let's begin | | | | exist). |
| the steps to your success in the publishing world. | | | | You'll also want to be carried in the brick and |
| Content | | | | mortar stores, too. Your basic Barnes & Noble, |
| In the publishing world, "Content is King". What is | | | | Borders, WHSmith, and independent booksellers all |
| the content in your book that will make it stand | | | | have production standards that you must adhere |
| out from other books in the same field? This is | | | | to or your book will not be sold there, no matter |
| the single most important question that you must | | | | how good it is. Standards include cover size and |
| ask yourself as an author. (And remember, the | | | | thickness, cover and book design, bar code, ISBN- |
| word 'author' is a derivative of the word | | | | and EAN13-numbers, warehousing, etc., must be |
| 'authority'.) You must be the authority in your | | | | taken into consideration is you want to run with |
| field, whether you are a writer of fiction, or | | | | the big dogs. And you can run with them, but you |
| non-fiction. Take an unbiased look at the work | | | | have to play by their rules. So what do you do to |
| you propose and look forward, as in: What will | | | | comply with all of this? This sounds like a full-time |
| people want to read a year or more from now. | | | | job, and all you want to do is write for a living. |
| Don't base your thinking on what's happening now | | | | Our Success |
| in the book world, because what's current was | | | | You must hire a competent and talented book |
| put into motion three years ago. | | | | design and production firm to create your book. |
| Decide Upon your Publishing Route | | | | They are the talented artisans who take your |
| This is as important as the quality of your book. | | | | Microsoft Word manuscript and turn it into a book |
| So right now we'll assume your book has | | | | that you (and more importantly, your readers) |
| bestseller written all over it (and inside, too!). The | | | | can hold in your hand. But there's more: Whatever |
| book is good, it's tightly edited, and now it needs | | | | company you use must be schooled in the fine |
| a home. Earlier I described the differences in the | | | | art of distribution. They must be able to get your |
| publishing world today and how it receives new | | | | title online immediately at all - and I do mean ALL |
| writers and authors. The realistic statement would | | | | - of the major online distributors. You must be on |
| be that it is so much harder to get published in | | | | Amazon, etc., and they must be able to produce |
| the corporate world of bookselling, and because | | | | on demand rather than forcing you to purchase |
| of the many nuisance lawsuits filed against | | | | boxes upon boxes of product that may go unsold. |