Crafting Your Literary Journey: A Guide on How to Get a Book Published

Congratulations, you have come a long way. You have penned your thoughts and poured your heart out. But now is the time when you can let the world read your masterpiece. Yes! We are talking about Publishing your book. Don’t fret; whether you’re eyeing traditional publishing or eager to self-publish, this article will walk you through the twists and turns of how to get the book published.

Here is your book publishing guide!

Find the Trending Genres

If you ask a bunch of writing experts how to get your work published, almost all (95 out of 100) will say: read a lot in the kind of books you want to write. The other 5 might assume you’re already doing that.

As a writer, it’s not just about learning from other writers but also understanding what books people are actually buying. This gives you an idea of what publishers are interested in and how your book can fit into that picture.

Gather Feedback on Your Book

The success of this entire process hinges on the quality of your book. The novel doesn’t necessarily have to be the greatest of all time, but it should be something your intended readers will truly enjoy. This implies that having someone other than yourself review your manuscript before an agent reads it is important.

Consider seeking feedback from beta readers, individuals who enjoy the genre of books you write. Finding a professional individual for this job is of utmost importance. Your cousin or college roommate may be willing to help, but there are two potential issues to consider. Firstly, they might be biased as your friend, affecting their feedback. Secondly, they may not be the intended audience for your book, so their perspective might not align with the target readership.

It is important to actively listen to the feedback provided by your beta readers and utilize their insights to make necessary edits to your work. It may be beneficial for you to consider collaborating with professional book publishing services who can assist you in refining your manuscript. Obtaining a professional edit can play a vital role when an agent expresses interest in reviewing your work.

Query Literary Agent

If you’re aiming for a traditional publishing deal that puts your print books in bookstores and garners serious reviews, having an agent is usually the way to go. While some publishers, like Harlequin for romance or certain small and university presses for literary fiction, don’t always require an agent, having one can still be beneficial. Agents have connections with acquiring editors, increasing your chances of getting noticed, and they can assist in negotiating a better contract.

The good news is that agents typically don’t charge anything upfront; they take a 15% commission from your earnings once your book sells. This is similar to how real estate agents receive a commission or how attorneys may work on contingency. Remember, if your book doesn’t sell, they don’t earn anything for their efforts.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to approach agents:

▶ Understand Your Book’s Place: Identify how your book fits into the publishing world.

▶ Find the Right Agents: Look for agents actively seeking books like yours.

▶ Narrow Down Your List: Refine your list of agents to target.

▶ Write Personalized Queries: Craft personalized query letters for each agent.

▶ Send Queries in Batches: Send your queries in batches to test what works before reaching out to every agent.

▶ Follow-Up: Don’t forget this step; following up is crucial.

With luck, you may receive offers of representation. Ideally, you’ve targeted agents who are interested in books similar to yours and have a successful track record with them. If an agent is interested after reading your full manuscript, they’ll get in touch to discuss their attraction to your book, their vision for publishing it, and any revisions they might suggest.

At this point, your role is not to sell the book; they’ve already read it. Instead, focus on assessing whether it feels like the right match. Consider factors such as compatible personalities, trustworthiness, and shared visions for revisions, publishing, and marketing. If the suggested revisions would lead to a book you’re not excited about, it might not be the right fit. Be honest about your expectations and preferences.

Choose A Book Publisher

Just as you sent queries to agents, it’s time for your agent to create a compelling pitch and send it to a carefully selected group of acquiring editors at publishing houses. Ideally, your agent understands what these editors like and may already have a relationship with them.

Each imprint has a team of editors responsible for acquiring new books and guiding them through every stage before reaching bookstores. They collaborate with authors to strengthen the story, act as project managers overseeing pre-publication phases from proofing to cover design and handle marketing, publicity, and distribution. At this point, another option that you can consider is acquiring third-party book publishing services that can handle all the chaos on

Your main task now is to practice patience and maintain your sanity. This process isn’t known for being enjoyable, but constantly checking emails, nagging your agent, or stalking editors on social media can leave you worse for wear. While staying calm is tough, find distractions to keep your mind off the waiting game.

Seal the Deal

When an editor is eager to buy your book (exciting!), they’ll reach out to your agent, who will relay the offer to you.

Your agent will share the details of the publisher’s offer, including the monetary compensation, the publication date, and any aspects they perceive as advantageous or disadvantageous about going with that publisher. Following this, you’ll typically have a meeting or phone call with the editor. During this discussion, you’ll go over revisions to ensure both parties are aligned, much like when you initially met your agent. After consulting with your agent, they will either accept or reject the offer on your behalf or negotiate for a better contract or advance.

Details of the Publishing Contract:

The Contract:

If you accept the offer, you’ll inform your agent, who will negotiate the contract. This might involve securing more money, more control, retaining foreign or film rights, or addressing any other adjustments needed in the initial contract.

The Advance:

The advance on earnings, often referred to simply as an “advance,” is the sum the publishing house will pay you for the rights to publish your book. This amount can range from a few thousand dollars to multiple six figures. For smaller amounts, you usually receive the full sum upfront. You might receive larger amounts in three or four instalments — first when you sign the deal, second when you deliver the edited manuscript, third on publication, and possibly a fourth down the road.

Royalties:

Royalties are the money you earn for each sale of the book. However, you won’t receive these royalties until you “earn out” your advance. If, for example, your advance was $20,000, you won’t get paid royalties until your earnings from sales reach the $20,000 mark. Importantly, this doesn’t mean waiting until the publisher recoups all costs; it’s about recouping just your advance.

Dive into Editing (or Finalize for Non-Fiction) and Kick Off Pre-Production

The Editorial Letter:

Once your contract is inked, your editor will send you an editorial letter pinpointing areas for improvement. They’ll also provide a marked-up manuscript with line notes suggesting changes at the sentence or word level. Expect a phone discussion to delve into these suggestions. You’ll then immerse yourself in their feedback, taking your fiction manuscript or finalizing your non-fiction work. You might not agree with every suggestion, but you aim to elevate the book to the next level through discussion and collaboration, possibly going through multiple rounds, especially with non-fiction sold on a proposal.

The Pre-production Process:

This phase involves various tasks, and while it might seem like a whirlwind, your editor remains the team’s key point of contact and project manager. Your agent is also in the loop, ready to step in and negotiate if any disagreements arise.

Your Cover:

Your editor will seek your input on cover ideas, and when the design team presents sample covers, you’ll be asked for approval. Ultimately, the publisher makes the final decision. While you might not love every suggestion, trust in the process. Even if initial ideas are far from ideal, your agent can advocate for improvements, ensuring you end up with a cover you adore.

Marketing & Publicity:

Collaboration with the marketing and publicity teams is crucial for a cohesive plan. You’ll request blurbs from authors with similar books, and the publisher will do the same. Your book will be featured in the publisher’s catalogue, and the sales team will pitch it to bookstores. Pre-order pages will pop up online on platforms like Amazon and Bookshop.org.

Copyediting:

Marked-up pages from the copyeditor will arrive, incorporating small changes from punctuation to subtle inconsistencies. Non-fiction writers will have their facts checked, and potential legal issues will be scrutinized.

Proofreading:

Before printing, the book undergoes final proofreading. The proofreader focuses on formatting issues, ensuring consistency in elements like widows, orphans, headings, and page numbers. You’ll be asked to approve these changes before the printing process begins.

Closing Thoughts!

Embarking on publishing a book is an exciting and complex process. Each step of the process, from refining your manuscript to navigating contracts and pre-production, requires patience and dedication. It is important to keep in mind that maintaining focus on your passion for writing and having trust in the collaborative efforts of your team, including your agent, editor, and publishing professionals, is crucial. As you navigate through the twists and turns, savour the thrill of sharing your masterpiece with eager readers.

I wish you the best of luck on your publishing adventure!