As an aspiring writer, I know how
scary it could be to have your work put out there for the whole world to read. Only Best-Selling authors can have an idea for a book and get funding, while
first time novelist have to go through a much longer process.
Although the process of getting your work published is hard, the end result will
hopefully be rewarding. There is a 50% chance that the book will succeed,
which is much higher then it was 5 years ago. There are 17 steps that new authors have
to take if they want to get their work published.
The 17 steps are:
1. Getting organized.
Together, you and your ghostwriter/editor determine what kind of book you want.
You decide on the size and the approximate length. Then, you come up with a very
basic outline.
(Source-http://www.publaw.com/book.html)
2. You use the outline as a subject guide for compiling some information. That
includes any articles, brochures or other marketing pieces you can find that
explain the topics you want to include in the book. Use a file folder for each
topic or chapter. Then send them to your ghostwriter/editor. This is also true
when you consider finding some other professionals to contribute chapters to
your book. (Contributors can also help underwrite the cost.
3.Your ghostwriter/editor does extensive research to see what other people have to
say about your subject. The search is vital because the more references cited in
your book, the better you look. It shows that you're not just a person with a
wild idea. Two things are important here. The references must be recent and they
must be sources your target market will respect. The internet or the Reader's
Guide to Periodical Literature at the library both afford you access to hundreds
of credible journals and publications.
4.Your ghostwriter/editor compiles a chapter outline with rough copy ideas
sketched in for you. He will ask you some questions along the way and send you
some page layout ideas and layout ideas for the cover.
5.You go through the chapter outline and give your ghostwriter/editor your
thoughts.
6.Drawing from the information, research and outline, your ghostwriter/editor
produces a rough draft of your book. Typically, that is done in sections. (This
is also a good time to submit articles to magazines your target market reads
and/or respects.)
7.You go through the rough draft(s) and mark your corrections.
8.Your ghostwriter/editor makes your corrections and delivers a final draft to
you.
9.You approve the final draft, page design and cover design.
10.Your ghostwriter/editor transfers the final version into the desktop publishing
program for the printer. It's important that you understand this step. The
printer will not print your book from a word processing program like WordPerfect
or Microsoft Word. All book printers work with publishing programs like Quark
ExPress and Aldus PageMaker.
11.Once your ghostwriter/editor knows what the cover will look like and exactly how
many pages we're going have, he gets print estimates for you and determines
which printer to use. (This is probably a good time to start sending news
releases to local media, like newspapers, radio and TV stations).
12.You send your ghostwriter/editor a check for the printing charges.
13.Your ghostwriter/editor sends the final book package to the printer with the
check.
14.The printer sends your ghostwriter/editor the "blue lines" for approval. "Blue
lines" show exactly what the type will look like. Both of you should approve
them.
15.The printer lets your ghostwriter/editor know what the final charges are. That's
determined by the exact number of copies printed and if there were any
unanticipated print production charges.
16.The printer's final invoice is paid.
17.The printer ships the books to you.
