Publishing a Novel Traditionally
I've always believed that creative writing is its own reward. But publishing a novel, of course, is the real prize that awaits you.
What do I mean by "traditional" publishing? Basically, pre-internet.
Of course, publishing novels traditionally is still alive and well, but you can read all about the new opportunities available to writers in Getting a Book Published in the 21st Century.
So how do you go about getting published?
Your first option is finding a publisher to publish your novel for you, and you can do this in two ways...
You can either submit the novel directly to a publishing house, or you can send it to a literary agent, who will submit the novel to a publisher on your behalf.
Your second option for publishing a novel is to cut out the middle man and go it alone. This is known as Self Publishing.
What are the pros and cons of self publishing a novel?
Being your own boss can be a very attractive way of getting your novel in print. After all, why settle for the small percentage of sales revenue given to you by your publisher (in the form of royalties) when you can keep all of the profits for yourself?
The catch, of course, is that there might not be any profits at all if you go about self publishing the wrong way - and 100% of nothing won't pay too many bills.
But there is also a third way...
Everything I have mentioned up to now might be termed "traditional" publishing. Since the advent of the Internet, however, everything has changed...
Traditional publishing houses (and indeed booksellers themselves) are struggling. The Net has changed everything.
The ability for a writer to tap into the wealth of online publishing resources now makes it possible for them to run their entire career through their laptop - and without much financial risk.
Publishing a Novel Traditionally
So is traditional publishing dead? No, not by a long way. And it probably never will die, of course, because it will simply adapt to the changing times.
The articles below will get you started...
Finding a Publisher vs. Finding an Agent
The first thing you will want to know is whether it is best to approach a publishing house directly or find a literary agent first. This article outlines the arguments - and comes down in favor of finding yourself an agent.
A Plan for Finding a Literary Agent
So the next step is to actually find a literary agent. And my best advice is to be persistent. You might get lucky and have your novel accepted by the first literary agent you approach, but more likely you will need a strategy, a plan for the long haul facing you.
Submitting a Manuscript
Once you have decided where you are going to send your novel, and the strategy you are going to adopt, you will need to know which of the literary agencies or publishing houses (or both) to send it to - and what, precisely, you should send.
Self Publishing a Novel
I am still talking here about "traditional" publishing, remember, and in the case of self publishing, doing it the traditional way is not for those of you who prefer a gentler life.
The Third Way: Publishing a Novel Online
Getting a Book Published In the Twenty-First Century
Getting published, traditionally or otherwise, basically involves two things...
- First, you need to print the book.
- Then you need to promote and sell it.
Traditionally, you use publishing houses, various forms of media, and bookstores to achieve this.
But in the twenty-first century, the enterprising writer can not only print their book online but reach a global audience of potential buyers - and for very little cost.
