| After that writing business, come the practicalities | | | | This is perhaps best done through a literary agent. |
| of getting into print, publishing your own book and | | | | Many publishers will only go through specific |
| seeing it come to life, with that beautiful binding | | | | agents and you would have to produce something |
| and lovely hard cover. | | | | beyond exceptional to grab their attention |
| Publishing your own book can either be done | | | | otherwise. You can find agents via online |
| through an established company, or you can have | | | | directories and other methods. An agent will need |
| the self publishing option. The self-publishing option | | | | a "query letter". This is a one page letter |
| does have some merit. You will have total editorial | | | | containing a punchy summary of your book that |
| control over the content and look. This is both | | | | really sells its special qualities, plus details about |
| good and bad. Sometimes a book can often | | | | you and your credentials. |
| benefit from editing, or an extra eye. It will kill | | | | Submitting to dozens of agents at once is not |
| your credibility if your own book contains | | | | going to help you with publishing your own book. |
| grammar and spelling errors. This is why publishing | | | | The world of the agents is a small one and word |
| your own book this way can backfire. You also | | | | gets around. Try two or three agents at a time |
| have to generate your own publicity to get it sold. | | | | at most. Even if they reject you, they might |
| So publishing your own book through an | | | | explain why and offer you advice that can help |
| established publishing house is probably a better | | | | you improve your book, or get other leads. |
| option in terms of cost, publicity and just the | | | | Publishing your own book is almost as big a |
| quality of the final production. It is, of course, | | | | challenge as writing it, but it can be done - and |
| much harder to persuade them to put your book | | | | when it happens it is well worth it. |
| into print. | | | | |