Showing posts with label publishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label publishing. Show all posts
Someone asks:
how do i go about getting a book published without getting ripped off? i really would like to not need an agent (if that's possible?). i'm still in high school though, so will that make it any harder?
thanks!!
My Answer:
I come across this question multiple times in Y!A. First, you can search those questions and see their answers.
One website that was particularly helpful to me (I'm 15) was www.nathanbransford.com
Really, you should do your research first.
All I can say is that it's best if you can get an agent. Many publishing companies/editors will not accept unsolicited manuscripts. An agent knows the business way better than you do, and will make better choices for your book to become successful because if the book isn't successful, then they don't get paid very well. To find an agent, you can go to www.agentquery.com. Be sure to query an agent that represents the genre you are writing.
It doesn't really matter what age you are. What matters is that you write a kick *ss book and you try to publish it the right way. Unfortuantely, teens will write horrible stories (just browse through Y!A and you'll find some) and that's what gives us a bad name, that's why people will tell us to continue writing, but not think that we're the BEST FRICKIN WRITER SINCE JK ROWLING.
The best thing I can tell you is do your research and please check out Nathan Bransford blog because that will give you much better info that I can ever fit in here.
One website that was particularly helpful to me (I'm 15) was www.nathanbransford.com
Really, you should do your research first.
All I can say is that it's best if you can get an agent. Many publishing companies/editors will not accept unsolicited manuscripts. An agent knows the business way better than you do, and will make better choices for your book to become successful because if the book isn't successful, then they don't get paid very well. To find an agent, you can go to www.agentquery.com. Be sure to query an agent that represents the genre you are writing.
It doesn't really matter what age you are. What matters is that you write a kick *ss book and you try to publish it the right way. Unfortuantely, teens will write horrible stories (just browse through Y!A and you'll find some) and that's what gives us a bad name, that's why people will tell us to continue writing, but not think that we're the BEST FRICKIN WRITER SINCE JK ROWLING.
The best thing I can tell you is do your research and please check out Nathan Bransford blog because that will give you much better info that I can ever fit in here.
Source(s):
www.nathanbransford.com, RESEARCH!!
Someone asks:
I'm fourteen years old, and I'll be writing a book this summer, which I intend to publish at some point. Due to this, I've been on a lot of writing websites/blogs/forums lately doing research, and getting familiar with the profession. One of the things that surprised me is how hard it seems for people to ever get published, so now I'm concerned:
Since it's so hard for seasoned authors to get their books published, would it be harder (or even impossible) for me to get published?
I know Christopher Paolini got published, but that was on his parents own press, and it wasn't until later that someone found the finished book that they took an interest in it - plus, he's kind of a prodigy.
My Answer:
Yes, it's probably hard for us (I'm 15) to get published. I think we're pretty even with the older people, though. We just have to work HARDER and go above expectations. I think we have the same chance as anybody else out there trying to get published, if we wrote a VERY good book and queried correctly to the correct agents. A lot of it is luck. Plenty of agents missed out on good books, I believe Harry Potter was rejected a couple of times before someone was interested in it. Some people will tell us to wait until we have experience, but from my perspective, trying to get our writing published early IS experience. :)
There are stories of kids around our age getting published. Like an Australian author Steph Bowe, she was 15 when her book was going to get published. Also, S.E. Hinton, the author of The Outsiders, was only 16 when she wrote it. So, I think we have a pretty good chance, eh? :D
Good luck! Us young writers must encourage each other.
P.S. Thank you for doing your research! Many people on Y!A come here and just ask without really researching! You're on the right path.
There are stories of kids around our age getting published. Like an Australian author Steph Bowe, she was 15 when her book was going to get published. Also, S.E. Hinton, the author of The Outsiders, was only 16 when she wrote it. So, I think we have a pretty good chance, eh? :D
Good luck! Us young writers must encourage each other.
P.S. Thank you for doing your research! Many people on Y!A come here and just ask without really researching! You're on the right path.
If you've never seen this video, then you MUST! Not only is it hilarious, but so very informative!
Someone asks:
So I'm writing a book.
I've got the first couple of chapters written.
And I have no experience what-so-ever.
Should I finish the book, or send it to the agent so she can help decide some parts in it?
Also, what sort of stuff do you put in the letter?
Plus, is it a 'Query Letter' or a 'Book Proposal'?
And should it be formal... Or should it be me?
Please and Thank-you! :)
My Answer:
OMG! BEFORE!!!!! (sorry for caps, that was urgent.)
You MUST finish your book before sending it out to agents. In your query, if you say, "I have a 20K novel, but it is incomplete" they will throw it in the trash can before they will get to your signature. Agents HATE that kind of thing, they would NEVER, EVER, EVER, (ever) even consider your book if it is incomplete.
Here is the website of one literary agent who stressed this thing, but I can't find the post. Here is his website: www.nathanbransford.com
It is called a query letter if your book is fiction, book proposal if your book is non-fiction (or that is at least how I understand it):
These blog posts should help you:http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2008/03/…
http://blog.nathanbransford.com/search/l…
It should be both formal and a little bit of you, esp. your writing style.
Phew *wipes forehead*. I'm glad I saved you from that. :D
Oh - I found a link, check out number 6: http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2005…
You MUST finish your book before sending it out to agents. In your query, if you say, "I have a 20K novel, but it is incomplete" they will throw it in the trash can before they will get to your signature. Agents HATE that kind of thing, they would NEVER, EVER, EVER, (ever) even consider your book if it is incomplete.
Here is the website of one literary agent who stressed this thing, but I can't find the post. Here is his website: www.nathanbransford.com
It is called a query letter if your book is fiction, book proposal if your book is non-fiction (or that is at least how I understand it):
These blog posts should help you:http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2008/03/…
http://blog.nathanbransford.com/search/l…
It should be both formal and a little bit of you, esp. your writing style.
Phew *wipes forehead*. I'm glad I saved you from that. :D
Oh - I found a link, check out number 6: http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2005…
Source(s):
A multitude of literary agent's blogs like Nathan Bransford and Janet Reid.
Someone asks:
I have written a 150 page small book to help college students. I would like to publish the book as a 4" height 8" width booklet. I am new to the world of publishing. How do I go about doing this?
My Answer:
You should search for agents that specialize in what you have written, which I am guesing is a non-fiction self-help book. You can use these sites to help you find your agent: http://www.1000literaryagents.com/
http://agentquery.com/
After you got your agents, you should write a proposal. This is how you do it: http://www.shepardagency.com/writing_pro…
Of course, there different agents may ask for different things, and you can send a proposal via email.
Hopefully, you get an agent and the agent will take care of the rest. If you're interested more about publising, check this out: http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2009/08/…
http://agentquery.com/
After you got your agents, you should write a proposal. This is how you do it: http://www.shepardagency.com/writing_pro…
Of course, there different agents may ask for different things, and you can send a proposal via email.
Hopefully, you get an agent and the agent will take care of the rest. If you're interested more about publising, check this out: http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2009/08/…
Someone asks:
how should i do it? and where can i get my book published at? i'm here in houston texas and i need to know where to get my book published of course i've been downtown hundreds of times but never seen one and i'm not moving anytime soo but how do i get it published and how much will it cost? my mom says i'm gifted with book writing and i'm brilliant with it. i've just written a book i'm 14 fixing to be 15 so what can i do??
My Answer:
I'm going to repost something I posted earlier to another 14 year old girl. But I will add some things at the end.
Hey, I'm 15. :) We aren't so far apart.
What I did when I was your age (which was last month...lol) was RESEARCH! A great beginner's website on the publishing process is Nathan Bransford's blog (he's a literary agent).
www.nathanbransford.com
He has an FAQ section about the publishing process you can check out.
The basics: The best way to get your book published is to get a literary agent. For that, you must write a query letter to them, if they like it, they'll ask for partials, and if they like those, then the whole book. Once they agree to represent you, both of you will have to go through A LOT of editing and revising. When your book is as polished as can be, your literary agent will try to find a publishing house that will be willing to publish it and for a good deal. You can do this without a literary agent and send it directly to an editor, but you're less likely to get published as they don't like unsolicited/unagented submissions. The rest goes from there, or at least that's how I understand it.
Good luck! :D Us young writers must encourage each other.
Additional: You can also do something called self-publishing which DOES cost you money. You can go to sites like createspace.com or lulu.com and self-publish books there yourself. Though be warned, nobody really likes reading self-published books because there was most likely no editor and the story sucks.
Also, your mother may say that, but if you don't mind me saying, parents/family/and friends are biased. I suggest you join the site critiquecircle.com to see what people REALLY think about your writing and ways to improve it.
OK, now I'm finished. :)
Cheers.
Hey, I'm 15. :) We aren't so far apart.
What I did when I was your age (which was last month...lol) was RESEARCH! A great beginner's website on the publishing process is Nathan Bransford's blog (he's a literary agent).
www.nathanbransford.com
He has an FAQ section about the publishing process you can check out.
The basics: The best way to get your book published is to get a literary agent. For that, you must write a query letter to them, if they like it, they'll ask for partials, and if they like those, then the whole book. Once they agree to represent you, both of you will have to go through A LOT of editing and revising. When your book is as polished as can be, your literary agent will try to find a publishing house that will be willing to publish it and for a good deal. You can do this without a literary agent and send it directly to an editor, but you're less likely to get published as they don't like unsolicited/unagented submissions. The rest goes from there, or at least that's how I understand it.
Good luck! :D Us young writers must encourage each other.
Additional: You can also do something called self-publishing which DOES cost you money. You can go to sites like createspace.com or lulu.com and self-publish books there yourself. Though be warned, nobody really likes reading self-published books because there was most likely no editor and the story sucks.
Also, your mother may say that, but if you don't mind me saying, parents/family/and friends are biased. I suggest you join the site critiquecircle.com to see what people REALLY think about your writing and ways to improve it.
OK, now I'm finished. :)
Cheers.
Someone asks:
What is the easiest way to become a writer and get published? As in what type of college courses should i take, books that are useful, and how to try and get my book published, ( btw i write fictional love books kinda like Nicholas Sparks style)
My Answer:
Hmm...as far as I know, you write an awesome book, revise that book like crazy (remember to write something you like), write an awesome query, submit it to the right, awesome agents and hopefully an agent can get it into those big publishing houses, and the rest goes from there.
But that's a general idea. Writing a book is no easy task. Are you sure you are doing it for the right reasons? If you're thinking about college courses, English and Literature would be good ones. I don't bother buying books that tell me how to write (I'll write how I like, thank you very much) though you may want to check out Writer's Digest. If you want in-detail information on how the publishing process works, a wonderful website to check out is www.nathanbransford.com
You may also want to subscribe to magazines such as Publisher's Weekly.
Good luck on your endeavor.
But that's a general idea. Writing a book is no easy task. Are you sure you are doing it for the right reasons? If you're thinking about college courses, English and Literature would be good ones. I don't bother buying books that tell me how to write (I'll write how I like, thank you very much) though you may want to check out Writer's Digest. If you want in-detail information on how the publishing process works, a wonderful website to check out is www.nathanbransford.com
You may also want to subscribe to magazines such as Publisher's Weekly.
Good luck on your endeavor.
I wrote a book but i got rejected by a book publishing company! my friends loved the book.. wat should i do?
Someone Asks:
I wrote a book but i got rejected by a book publishing company! my friends loved the book...wat should i do? Please help!
My Answer
There may be something wrong with the way you handled things. Do you have an agent? Well, GET ONE. A lot of publishing companys like seeing agented material. And when you write your query letter to get an agent, PLEASE do not put "My friends loved the book". If you don't know what a query letter is, you need to do some research! Or maybe if you did everything right, maybe that publishing company isn't representing what you write. Did you submit a romance book to a publishing company that publishes horror? You need to look into these things. From what I see here, you seem very confused. RESEARCH on the publishing industry if you really want to be published. Here's a website to get you started: http://nathanbransford.com/
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