Publishing How-to's

1)Send queries only to publishers who publish in your genre. A list can be found in a number of ways. One of the easiest ways is by reading one of the Writer's Market books. For example, if you are a poet, read Poet's Market. Copies can be found at many libraries and bookstores. Other sources include trade magazines which can be found in bookstores.

2)Read publisher's guidelines for submission of material. Most importantly, ADHERE to the guidelines. For example, if a publisher only accepts manuscripts from January to April of each year, please do not send your manuscript (no matter how great a writer you think you are) at another time. Your manuscript at best will only be returned to you. Most times it will be trashed without being read.

3)Send a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with each correspondence. Postage is one of the costliest parts to operating a publishing business. Your stamp may not look like much to you, but when you multiply that times everyone who submits, the cost easily adds up in the hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars per year. Do not expect a reply if you fail to send the SASE.

4)Submit the manuscript on 8.5" x 11" paper CLEAN. One coffee stain in the lower right hand corner may not look like much to you, but a publisher will notice this. Would you go to a job interview with a stain on your clothes and expect to get the job? Of course not. Please do NOT send manuscripts via email unless the publisher specifically states that format is OK. Keep in mind attachments probably will not be open because of potential viruses, so do not send your manuscript in an attachment.

5)Take publishers' critiques for what they are. One opinion by one publisher. It isn't a good idea to argue or complain to a publisher about their opinion of your work. If you want to be published by a house that gave you editorial comments, please make them. If not, then find another publisher. There is a publisher for every writer. Just as in any relationship, there must be some type of "match". Finally, please do not take comments personally. Remember that no one will appreciate your writing as much as you.

SELF PUBLISHING

One of the most popular ways today to get published is by doing it yourself. Yes! It is quite easy and inexpensive to publish a book yourself. Here are some basics you will need to do beforehand:

1)Establish a business name for yourself
2)Register your name with your state/province and follow laws pertaining to the sales of books
3)Open a separate bank account for your company
4)Copyright work. Receive forms from Library of Congress, Washington, DC
5)Obtain ISBN numbers from R.R.Bowker (Books in Print)
6)Choose a printer you can trust. The printer we use at DeeMar Communications is Goose River Press owned by Deborah Benner. She does quality work at the most affordable price I have seen in the US. Goose River Press can also help you with copyright and ISBN. To obtain a free, no obligation quote from Goose River Press, please email here: dbenner@ime.net.

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