Publisher Fiction
Friday, April 15th, 2011 at
10:05 pm
Another print on demand publisher that may generate money for you
At I-Proclaim you can self publish books for free and make money from them.
Recently, I wrote about Lulu.com; the Internet’s largest and most well-known self publishing company. You upload a book you’ve written along with a cover, and they print it when somebody orders it. Fast, simple, and with great looking results. The downside is that the books end up costing pretty much to buy, since it’s of course cheaper to print 1.000 copies than one single copy.
Tagged with: publisher fiction
Filed under: Uncategorized
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Yes, definitely write and edit your manuscript BEFORE you send it to a publisher. It’s difficult enough to get them to consider a finished novel let alone an idea for one. Especially if you are a first-time author, I don’t think any respectable publisher would even think twice about your idea. (Sorry to put it bluntly–it’s just the way things work.)
Researching publishers will still benefit you, however. I wouldn’t contact them directly, but look for science fiction publishers and their publishing history. Read some of their books to find their style and what’s been done before. Then write and polish your novel.
As the previous poster said, you may need an agent. A good agent should know the publishing market thoroughly and should be able to find a good fit for your manuscript. He/she will also be invaluable on the technical side of things–the contract.
Here are some good sources to get you started.
Writer’s Digest: online or at your local library, a great reference to find publishers and agents, neatly arranged by genre
http://www.writersdigest.com/GeneralMenu/
Predators and Editors: pubs & agents listing, gives warnings about scams and poor service
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/peba.htm
SciFi & Fantasy Writers: hmm, I didn’t know I bookmarked this link, haha! I haven’t browsed it much but it may be helpful for you.
http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/twentyworst.html
Best of luck in writing!
Buy a copy of “Writer’s Market” to learn what publishing companies might accept an unsolicited manuscript of the genre of your book. Not to disillusion you, however, you are extremely unlikely to find a company willing to pay you for what you’ve written, particularly if it is of novella length, by which I am assuming that you mean “short”. It is very very difficult for unknown and previously unpublished writers to become published as publishers are interested only in making money. They will not invest in a manuscript unless they are quite certain that they will recoup their investment with profits. Unless your story is extremely well written and is unique and unusual, your fate almost certainly will be rejection. (Even those authors who prolifically write best sellers tell of the reams of rejections which they received before they finally reaped success.) A possibility for you if the desire to see your work published is your motivation is to self-publish; there are many companies which do that (I self-published two novels myself through Xlibris). They may have length requirements for the proposed manuscript, however; Xlibris does, I know. Furthermore, if you do choose to publish on your own, you will generally be responsible for all of the costs. There is a company which I’ve read mentioned frequently on Answers ( http://www.lulu.com ) who apparently offer a service which does not require a fee; since I haven’t dealt with them, I am not sure of their ethics or reliability. Xlibris is legitimate — affiliated with Random House — and I have been very satisfied with my books. Whatever course you decide to pursue, best of luck!
Yes, you need to have a finished manuscript. Otherwise, you’re wasting a publisher or an agent’s time and that will only get your rejected faster.
Some people will suggest you seek an editor prior to ever submitting your work to agents or publishers. I don’t make that recommendation because I see no point to paying someone a small fortune when a book editor will be assigned to you once the publisher options your work. However, you need to make that decision yourself. You need to learn to edit your own work anyway. A new writer doesn’t have (usually) the resources to hire an editor before ever seeking publication.
Now, you have some decisions to make before you start sending out submissions:
1) You can self-publish it. This is the shortest avenue. It offers instant satisfaction if all you want is for your work to be available to friends and family. Lulu.com is a free service and is easy to use.
2) You can seek an agent to represent you. Agents are difficult to obtain, but are necessary if publication from large publishing companies is what you’re seeking.
3) You can submit your manuscript directly to small, independent publishers who accept submissions from unagented writers.
To obtain either an agent or a publisher, use books like the Literary Marketplace or the Writers Market or web sites like Preditors&Editors and writerswall.com. I don’t recommend you buy these manuals because they are updated annually, which will quickly make an owned copy outdated. Use the ones at the library for free.
Search for agents or publishers that represent or publish books in the genre you’ve written. Follow their submission guidelines to the letter, that’s why they supply them. Use only the format they ask for. Make certain your work is perfect–free from errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Learn how to write a sensational synopsis and a query letter. Each agent or publisher will ask for a query letter and/or a synopsis. Very few will want the entire work in the initial package.
Be patient with the submission process. Expect some rejections, but make sure you don’t allow them to discourage you. Instead, learn something from those letters that can make the next contact even better.
Never, ever pay an agent to represent you. That’s not how it works. Agents get paid when they sell your work!
Good luck to you! :o)
Where can I find a good science fiction publisher dealing with old fashioned scifi?
My writing style is much like the science fiction style in the 1930′ and 40’s and I am having trouble finding publishers that publish that type of science fiction. My novels are much like the early Edgar Rice Burroughs novels or even Buck Rogers. I see plenty of publishers putting out books from older authors, but where can a new author find a publisher interested in publishing that sort of story?
All were good answers. Thanks!
Well, publishers will tend to publish what will sell. If people want old style science fiction, chances are they will go out and buy old science fiction. That is, there isn’t much of a market for your sort of work.
This devolves into a question of why you are writing? Is it for yourself and the enjoyment of it, or is it to get published and make money? If it is the former, then don’t worry about not getting published (but, I would say, keep trying, and try to build a rep through writing short stories and getting those published in magazines). If it is the latter, however, then you have to write to your audience (well… you write to your audience no matter what, but for one your audience is you, for the other the audience is everyone else).
Not the answer you were looking for, I am sure, but hopefully one that will help.
Is there any FICTION publisher out there willing to work with new talent?
I’m new at being an author and have been made to understand that this is the process all new writers have to go through,
1) Write the book (of course)
2) Hire an editor.
3) Get an agent.
4) Hope for the best when it comes to a publisher.
Say it aint so and if it is and there’s no other way, who are the best 1) editors and 2) agents to work with?
I would like to find a publisher for my fiction book please help?
So i have finally finished my book I had it edited and everything so please now i need to know i can find a publisher. So it isnt a novel though its possible to be a novelle. So if anyone knows of a publisher that publishes fiction books please tell me. Though ive got to say for me being only 15 its a big leap for me so please help me.
Where can I find a good fantasy/fiction publisher?
I am only 16 years old but I have a great concept for a fantasy/action-adventure/fiction book, where could do you suppose I could find a publisher?
I am looking for a publisher myself but i will tell you what i know.
If you are interested in being a self published publisher then chosse the following:
WordClay.com Don’t charge any fees.
Author House They charge fees.
Dorrence publishing charges fees.
But having your book published through another publisher for free here it is:
PublisheAmerica.com many authors assume that it is not a good company but becareful.
Blaster is a website provider who can help you or anyone else but for a fee.
Regarding me, i don’t want to be charged that is why i am seeking for the publisher myself.
I hope my answer was useful but not boring.
Contact me in case you want.
How do i find a publisher, and one that is well known for Science Fiction!?
I am planning to write a book. I want a publisher that prefects in science fiction publishing. I was told to contact a publish before writing. Can anyone tell me a good publishing company and a recommended science fiction publisher
How do i get a agent for children around ages 10-14