Resources for Writers

 The Route to Publication

There’s no one way to become a published author. Here’s a few things I’ve learned over the course of my publishing career.

 

Traditional Publishing

Traditional publishing usually means having your book published by a major publishing house (sometimes called “the big 5”), a small press, a university or nonprofit press, or other house. With traditional publishing, the publisher pays the author for their material. This might be an advance on royalties or a lump sum (this is often the case with smaller publishers and contests). With traditional publishing, there are no up-front costs to the author.

Step 1: Write the best book you can

The first step in getting a book traditionally published is to write the best book you can. This often means spending time and more time. (I started my memoir in 2009 and it was published in 2019!) Writing the best book you can might mean:

Joining a writing group or finding a critique partner
Check your local writing center or adult education organization, Poets & Writers, join AWP, or ask on social media. For children’s book writers, check out SCBWI and look for your local chapter.

Taking a writing class
Writing classes not only help you hone your craft, they also help you network with other writers (see above). Check out the Loft, your local university or colleges, online classes.

Hiring an editor or coach
PENsite is a resource to find editors who can be another set of eyes on your work. You can also hire a writing coach, who will help you with your manuscript and assist you with setting deadlines, writing query letters (see below), and more. Poets & Writers and AWP are great sources to find editors or coaches, as well as social media.

Applying for funding
Grants and residencies can provide time and money to work on your book or hire an editor or take a class. Check out Poets & Writers (pw.org) for lists of grants and residencies

Step 2: Find an agent

For all major publishing houses, you will need a literary agent. An agent submits your book (after it’s perfect!) to editors at publishers. Agents usually charge 10% (this comes from the sale of your book and royalties, so it costs you nothing; be ware of agents who offer to represent you for a fee).

Write a query letter
A query letter is a letter you send to agents you’re interested in that tells them about your book and about you. You query letter is an agent’s first introduction to you, so it should be the best it can be. The main pieces of a query letter are:

  • The “hook” – tell them what’s so amazing about your book

  • The synopsis – summarize your book in on paragraph including the ending (the agent needs to see the full arc of the story)

  • About – a paragraph with your background showing why you are the best person to tell this story

Submit query letter to the right agent
Research agents to find the best fit for your book. Find lists of agents on pw.org, on social media, or searching manuscript wish list. The agents to whom you submit your query letter should align with your book. If you write high fantasy, find an agent who represents that genre. Sending a query to the wrong agent is a waste of everyone’s time. (I queried over 75 agents before I signed with mine.)

Wait
Much of publishing is about waiting. You can expect to wait anywhere from a few days to a few months or longer to hear back from agents. Keep submitting. (I spent about 3 years looking for an agent.)

*Want to hear about my query letter and how I got the attention of my agent? Listen to the writing podcast 88 Cups of Tea and the interview with Thao Le.

Step 3: Sell your book

Once you have an agent, you’ll work with them to get your book ready to “go on sub.” This means your agent will send around your manuscript to editors and hope for that magic match. Many things have to line up, so be patient.

If you don’t have an agent, there are smaller presses that allow authors to submit directly to their editors. In that case, you’ll prepare a query letter for the editor (see above). Poets & Writers has a list of small presses. If you do sell a book without an agent, you may want to have a lawyer look at the contract.

 

Other options for publishing

Indie Publishing

Traditional publishing is not the only route to get your book into the hands of readers. There are many options including hybrid presses, self-publishing, or even printing your own books.

This route is great for:

  • Books that have a specific niche and audience
    For instance, if you belong to an organization for adoptees and have written a book about adoption, you have an existing audience for that book that you can tap into.

  • Writers who like sales
    If you enjoy “hitting the pavement” and talking to people, selling your own book is a great option. You’ll want to network with booksellers, organizations, and online groups.

  • Books that are passion projects
    If you’ve written your great-grandmother’s story, it might not be a big seller, but it is important to you and your loved ones. Self-publishing is perfect for this type of project.

*When looking at options for indie publishing, keep an eye on the costs and your budget, as well as your capacity to do your own marketing and sales.

A few examples of indie publishers are:

 Work for Hire

Several of my published books for kids were commissioned by publishers who paid me to write a specific book (Encanto: A Tale of Three Sisters; Hercules and His 12 Labors; The Dish on Food & Farming in Colonial America). I was paid a lump sum in most cases to research and write a manuscript that they then own the rights to. In most cases, write for hire work does not involve royalties, but it’s a great way to start. I learned a lot about writing, working with an editor, and the ins and outs of publishing through my work for hire work.

A few examples of publishers that hire unagented freelance writers:

  • Capstone

  • Jump!

  • Lerner

  • Redline Editorial

 

Do you need more help? Check out my services for writers including manuscript critique and coaching.