Writing is an art that requires a creative mind. The ability to write books that are loved by people is not an easy task. But writing itself is not the hardest part of the job, it is getting a book published.
It is not difficult because of the process but some people do not have the knowledge. There are many brilliant writers out there who love writing books but do not know how to publish them.
If you feel you are one such writer, we are here to help you. But before you move towards publishing your book, you must keep in mind some basic tips. It is always recommended to edit the book thoroughly, as once it is published, there is no turning back.
So make sure you spend a good amount of time editing your work. Look for some constructive critics who can give you an unbiased review and tell you where you are lacking. Doing these things will make your book ready for publishing.
In this post, we would be talking about the different ways through which you can get your book published. Let us now take a look at them:
● Traditional Publishing:
Table of Contents
As the name suggests, this method of publishing is prevalent for ages. Traditional publishing is undoubtedly one of the most commonly used channels of publishing. In this, the author of the book approaches a publishing house and presents the book. If the publishing house finds your book worthy, they will publish it.
You have to keep in mind that this form of publishing can be challenging but it is certainly not impossible. It is difficult because a renowned publishing house might not be willing to risk their goodwill for a new writer.
You should not look past this channel just because seems challenging, it could be the most rewarding as well. Make sure you try reaching out to a few publishing houses before you switch to another channel.
● Self-publishing:
In this channel, the author not only writes the book but publishes it themselves. Therefore, every step involved is done by the author only. If you opt for self-publishing, you need to take care of things like formatting the book, designing a book cover, printing copies, and above everything else, finding a marketing strategy.
Marketing becomes a really important thing when you opt for self-publishing. This is because your book does not have any brand value yet. To make it a bestseller you have to promote it using different marketing channels.
All of this might sound a bit troublesome, but there are many writers who have done this and have become successful. The best part about self-publishing is the control you have. You can do everything the way you want and whenever you want.
Moreover, you own every single penny of revenue generated from your book. If this is the kind of control you want, self-publishing can be a good choice.
● Contractor/Agent Publishing:
Just like self-publishing, contractor publishing gives you the same level of control and authority. What makes it different is the delegation of work. When publishing through a contractor, the author hires an agent who does all the work for them.
The work includes everything including formatting, designing, printing, etc. Some writers want to have full creative control over their books but do not want to be involved in the administrative side of things. If that is the case with you, you can hire an agent and get your work published.
However, every task related to book publishing requires a different skill. Therefore, you might have to hire service providers for each task, leading to an increase in your initial costs. So, try managing the number of contractors or agents you hire. This will help to keep your costs under control.
If you have a book proposal that you want to submit to a publisher, you first need to query them. A query letter is an important document that tells the publisher about your book and why they should consider publishing it. In it, you should highlight the unique selling points of your book and tell the publisher what readers can expect from reading it. You should also provide any samples or excerpts that you have available.
● Supported self-publishing:
Similar to agent publishing, you delegate the work in supported self-publishing. Thus, it offers you the same level of authority and control as agent publishing or self-publishing does. What makes it different from agent publishing is the approach of delegation of work. Instead of looking for different contractors, the author looks for a publishing agency.
Publishing agencies have customized plans offering a range of services. For instance, you know how to edit but want someone to design and print the book, you can choose a plan offering only those services.
All you need to do is to look for the services that you want to outsource. Getting things done from a professional agency will surely improve the results. However, just like contractor publishing, you may want to keep an eye on the costs.
These are four major channels through which you can publish your book. Once you have written your manuscript, try to analyze your expectations from the book. If you are clear with that, you would be able to choose the right form of publishing. Have faith in your work and keep writing!
Learn Writing Online from Ruskin Bond
If you want to improve your writing skills or you want to learn writing, we have something for you – an online writing course by the legendary Ruskin Bond.
This unluclass is one of the best writing courses online and will teach you everything from literary devices to writing analysis. At the same time, it will improve your writing style. So, make sure you check out the website and join Ruskin Bond’s online writing classes. Doing this will surely prove to be beneficial in your writing career.
