How To Get A Book Publisher

One of the most frequently asked questions writers ask is about how they can get a book published.

But sometimes it’s not really what the asker means precisely. Sometimes they seem to be looking for a printer, sometimes a publishing service, and sometimes they just want someone to help them get their books in ebook formats, while other times they are seeking a more traditional publishing arrangement.

Therefore, my number one piece of advice for writers looking for book publishing in some form or other is to be clear about what you want. The best way to do that is to first examine all the options and understand the differences between them, and see which best suits your book and your needs.

Some writers have a goal of distributing their book on their own and have had it typeset with a cover designed; in this case they are requiring a printing company. There are options available as far as printers too: If you have a large enough budget you can order hundreds or thousands of copies, or you can go to an “on-demand” printer which will only print your book and ship when they are ordered. If you have a big enough budget and can arrange for storage, a large print-run will lower the per copy price of your book.

Some writers may need assistance with typesetting, having their cover designed and obtaining an ISBN and a publishing service will assist with this. Some companies that provide publishing services will often package up all or some of these components that the writer would prefer not to deal with on their own.

If the writer wants, they may also choose to purchase these services separately. Although large publishing companies provide all these services, talented book cover designers, editors and typesetters at publishing service companies can help you get your manuscript to book form that will rival what the big publishers can do.

Some writers are not interested in a printed copy of their book and simply want it to be available as an ebook on Amazon or other online book stores like Barnes and Noble – in this case, you need someone to help you convert your manuscript into ebook formats. If this is the situation, then you are looking for an ebook conversion service.

All of the options listed above are services a writer can get simply by paying a fee. The last option however, is different.

If you want to find a publisher who will take your book, edit it, create a cover, typeset, promote, sell, and distribute it, and pay you a royalty on each copy sold, you are looking for a traditional publishing company. You can leave your credit card in your wallet if this is what you hope for. What you will need, however, is perseverance, a killer query letter, a brilliant manuscript, and a touch of luck.

There are a large number of resources about self publishing that offer tips and hints on getting published; make sure you are clear about what you want and need in order to realize your dream and goal.