How do I get a book published?

Question

I started writing a book that turned into a series when I was fourteen, I'm eighteen now. Is it harder to get something published because of my age? How can I go about doing this?

Answer 1

Well, it's quite hard to get published at 18.  You can self publish, which is hard and costs A LOT of money.  But the best way is probably either to get noticed through contests held by big publishing companies.  If you really want to publish, you're also going to need some kind of agent because handing over your work to a publishing company isn't going to work.

Answer 2

Start by looking through the Writer's Market Guide to Publishing (your local library probably has a copy). They list agents and publishers, with their genres, how to get submission guidelines, etc. If the book is good, they won't care how old you are. Good luck!

Answer 3

Joycelin,

You don't have to worry about your age. You're 18 and can get into a binding contract with literary agents or publishers. Here's what I give everyone who asks about writing for publication. It's a long list, but it will help you get your foot in the door of a literary agent for representation.

Read on:

Writing a book takes more than just sitting down and putting your idea into words. There are a lot of things that you have to consider.

Keep an eye out for spelling and grammar errors. When typing fast with fresh ideas in our heads, we tend to forget ourselves. Check and recheck your work. Editors are very expensive these days.

You’ll need to know how to write an effective ‘query letter’ to a literary agent. The letter will also include a synopsis that will hold the interest of the agent, and want to make him or her ask for the first three chapters of your work. Never send a manuscript to a publisher or literary agent without querying first.

You’ll need to know how to format your manuscript. This includes the fonts (size and type) that most agents, editors, and publishers want. These are usually Courier New and Times New Roman (12 pt). Short stories and novels are formatted differently. You will need to follow submission guidelines just as they are laid down for your submissions. Anything less will result in your manuscript sent back or destroyed unread.

You will need to know what Point of View (POV) is. Know how to write in First Person Point of View. You’ll need to know the can and can not of each.

Do you know how to write dialogue? How to format dialogue? This is very important and allows the author and his/her characters to communicate with the reader. Remember dialect as well. Dialect is how a person speaks. Your characters may be highly educated or dumber than dishwater. ‘Ain’t got none’ is highly acceptable when used properly by a character who is even less than street smart.

It’s a good idea to know some of the publishing laws. The use of names and places.

These include

o Delivery Of Satisfactory Copy

o Permission for Copyrighted Material

o Grant Of Rights

o Proofreading and Author's Corrections

o Advances and Royalties

o Author's Warranties and Indemnities

o Copies to Author

o Option Clause

Learn how to get a ‘word count of your work. Some novels have a prologue and an epilogue. You’ll need to know how to write them and why they’re used.

Know what the word ‘genre’ means. Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction; These are all genres.

One of the most important issues in manuscript submitting is the proper ‘page set up’ for your work. This includes margins, indents, and paragraphs. Most editors will want to see your manuscript double spaced. This allows the editor to use his/her proofreaders marks between the lines. Most margins will be one inch all around with a ragged right margin and an even left.

Are you prepared to do a lot of ‘research’ involving your work? Remember that many professionals such as, doctors, lawyers, nurses, public accountants, judges, architects, bricklayers, engineers, and police officers read, too.

Do you know what a sub-plot is? This is a plot that comes ‘under’ the main plot. The hero may be after the vampire, but the mob may be after the hero as well. This is a sub-plot.

Can you take rejection and constructive criticism? If you’re easily hurt in the feelings department, then writing may not be your forte. Critics will tear you apart or build you up. The best writers in the world “King, Patterson, Koontz, J.K. Rowling, and many others” have been torn up one side and down the other. You can’t please everyone.

If you decide to hire an editor, remember: Your manuscript will be double spaced, which means there will be twice as many pages. A 600 page novel could cost you around $1800.00, some even more depending on what the editor charges per page. Then there’s the hourly rate that some charge. Usually it’s within the range of $65.00. So, if they work on your book for 18 hours, that’s another $1170.00 + $1800.00 = $2970.00

These are the things you must know to work at your craft. Don’t let these things deter you from writing. There are books in libraries and bookstores that can teach you all of these things. Buying these books (if you want to be a serious writer) is the best thing to do. Why? Well, because you can use a yellow marker to highlight all the points of interest. Then you can use the front of the book to make page references to those markings in order to check back on them at a later date, when you need to.

You’ll need to get a copy of Writer’s Market for the current year. This has literary agents whom you can send out query letters to. Some of them allow email queries. They also have a website. Google: Writer’s Market.

I wish you the best of luck!

PJ M

Answer 4

I'd just try calling the publishers of children's book and see if they are interested. I am guessing it is a children's book series since you were so young when writing it. It is not harder to get things published when you are older, I would say it is more the opposite. When you are older you have more life experience and you are able to write more compelling works. I hardly read anything by a twenty year old worth spending time on. Usually the good writers are in their 30s+.

Still, kudos for writing a series. Even if it does not get published you have at least managed to finish something. For a lot of would be writers that is the largest obstacle of them all, and you passed it at a young age.

I guess if your work was really great it would have been more of a happy news story about the 15 year old with her great work being published. I guess publishers like to think about young writers writing for young audiences, but in reality they would rather go with an old f**t who has proved her/himself.

Answer 5

You may be young but you could have a natural talent. First thing you need to do is get an agent. It is possible to try and get published with out one but only a few small publishers will except unsolicited queries. I would start doing some research on agents and see if you get a bite. This business requires a lot of perseverance so don't let the rejection letters that WILL come slow you down. Keep honing your craft and hold you head high.

Good luck!

J-