To get an established publisher to publish your book is far from being an easy task. They are very busy people who get
inundated with manuscripts. Approximately 2% of manuscripts read by publishers get printed. Yes that's right ! Only 2%.
First of all they prefer to work with authors that they have published before. This is because they have an idea of whether
a new book by an established author will sell or not. That after all is what it's all about. Projected sales. An established
author will have a following of readers who may be anxiously waiting for the next great work; but for you, the unknown, things
can be very bleak. Very few publishers will deal with an author directly; and insist on dealing only with an agent. This is
because an author is the creative person; but not necessarily a business person. Publishers do not want to deal with a self
centred author who is continually making demands.
If you feel that you must approach publishers yourself,
do it as professionally as possible. Make sure you know who to send your manuscript to within the publishing organisation.
(It's no good just sending it to XYZ publishers hoping that it will reach the right person) The chances are that it will
go from in tray to in tray with nobody taking much notice because it is not addressed to a particular person. It will then
be returned to you as rejected.
Make sure that your manuscript meets the publisher's format requirements.
Most publishers still like to see double spaced typed manuscripts. However, these days you will find that some publishers
will require a manuscript in an electronic format. This may be Pdf. Doc. or Rtf. either e-mailed or sent on CD ROM.
When sending a manuscript; don't send the whole lot unless requested to do so. Usually a synopsis and three or four chapters
are enough for a publisher to tell if they want to go further. You can of course tell them that your book is complete and
consists of "x" amount of chapters.
Make sure that you send your work to a suitable
publisher. It's no good submitting a great work of fiction to a publisher who specialises in cookery books or auto
biographies.
You can submit to more than one publisher at a time because there will be a long delay
in getting a response. (possibly three or four months) A publisher will need to send your work to one or more reviewing readers
for profesionall evaluation. Beware of any publisher who asks for a reading fee !!!
Don't be afraid
that someone will steal your work. You will probably already know that your work is automatically copyright protected for
a period of seventy years after your death. This applies to the U.K. but some countries it may be fifty years. To make sure
that you can prove that the work is yours, deposit a dated copy with your solicitor or bank. An easy way is to send yourself
a copy of the manuscript by registered post. Do not open this when it arrives. Leave it sealed until such time that you need
to prove date of authorship.
If you are fortunate enough to be offered a publishing contract, make
sure you read and understand it. This is most important. If you don't understand anything;
seek professional legal advice before signing.
Even if you have got this far, it is unlikely that you
will make a fortune from your first book. A book in a bookstore with a selling price of £9.99 will generate an income
of about 90p - 99p per copy to you. You are not being "ripped off" by this. The publisher takes the risk of
printing and stocking copies of your book. They then have to be marketed and distributed to the retail outlets. The retailer
will usually require 50% of the selling price.
The good news is; your book is in print. Your first
great work is there for everyone to see and admire. You have become an established author who will now find it easier
to get that next publishing deal; and possibly a better financial deal.
In summary:- Don't give up !!
