A Goodreads user
asked
Katlyn Charlesworth:
How do you go about getting a book published?
Katlyn Charlesworth
The publishing world is a tough and vast space, but ultimately, there are two main venues for an author to consider:
1. Professional Publishing: This is the "classic" form of publishing, where an author submits an excerpt of their work to a publishing house that is accepting submissions. However, it is important to note that many companies will not consider a work if it is unattached (meaning that it is not sent through an agent). For the lucky ones, merely mailing in a few chapters worth of your book can be enough for a publisher to "pick you up". But, know that if you choose to go this route, you must be prepared for possible rejection.
2. Self Publishing: This is the newest form of publishing, where the author uses a usually online-based company to manufacture their books (like Amazon's CreateSpace). The author is able to retain all rights to their work, including the way the book is published, which retailers receive the book, and what sort of advertisement is used to promote the work. However, in order to have the same level of promotion and widespread availability that comes with professional publishing, you have to pay for it. A lot of people do not have the thousands of dollars required for their book to be displayed at a single book fair, so self-publishing can be limiting in this regard. But, more and more professional publishers are examining self-published works, so there is the potential for a self-published author to be "picked up" by a company who happens to read their work and thoroughly enjoy it.
Ultimately, it is up to the individual author as to what they prefer to do. If someone is serious about getting their book out there as the next great novel, I recommend sending a manuscript to several professional publishing houses. Should you have little luck there, self-publishing can be a great stepping stone. But, if you simply wish to put your work out there for readers to find on their own, retain all rights to how your book is sold and advertised, and are not expecting a large profit from sales, self-publishing is the best route. Remember: don't give up on your work! There are so many opportunities for a budding author in today's world, so keep trying to get your book out there for the world to read.
I hope this sheds a bit of light on the crazy, confusing world of publishing. Thanks for asking, Katie! – Katlyn
1. Professional Publishing: This is the "classic" form of publishing, where an author submits an excerpt of their work to a publishing house that is accepting submissions. However, it is important to note that many companies will not consider a work if it is unattached (meaning that it is not sent through an agent). For the lucky ones, merely mailing in a few chapters worth of your book can be enough for a publisher to "pick you up". But, know that if you choose to go this route, you must be prepared for possible rejection.
2. Self Publishing: This is the newest form of publishing, where the author uses a usually online-based company to manufacture their books (like Amazon's CreateSpace). The author is able to retain all rights to their work, including the way the book is published, which retailers receive the book, and what sort of advertisement is used to promote the work. However, in order to have the same level of promotion and widespread availability that comes with professional publishing, you have to pay for it. A lot of people do not have the thousands of dollars required for their book to be displayed at a single book fair, so self-publishing can be limiting in this regard. But, more and more professional publishers are examining self-published works, so there is the potential for a self-published author to be "picked up" by a company who happens to read their work and thoroughly enjoy it.
Ultimately, it is up to the individual author as to what they prefer to do. If someone is serious about getting their book out there as the next great novel, I recommend sending a manuscript to several professional publishing houses. Should you have little luck there, self-publishing can be a great stepping stone. But, if you simply wish to put your work out there for readers to find on their own, retain all rights to how your book is sold and advertised, and are not expecting a large profit from sales, self-publishing is the best route. Remember: don't give up on your work! There are so many opportunities for a budding author in today's world, so keep trying to get your book out there for the world to read.
I hope this sheds a bit of light on the crazy, confusing world of publishing. Thanks for asking, Katie! – Katlyn
More Answered Questions
Bobby
asked
Katlyn Charlesworth:
A lot of writer's, especially in the Historical fiction genre, stay pretty much in one time period but your tales are scattered from Rome to World War II. It seems like this approach would require so much more research. What's your driving force behind such historical versatility?
Kathleen
asked
Katlyn Charlesworth:
If you could have only one book to read for the rest of your life....what book would it be and why?
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more