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Position:Home>Books & Authors> When getting a book published what comes first?Question: When getting a book published what comes first!? I am very serious about getting my book published so I need serious answers!. I am just in the initial stages of the process, but do I get an editor before I get it published or is it vise versa!? I have not finished my book yet (I am extremely close)!. Any other helpful hints are much appreciated!. And again, I am very serious about getting it published!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: You must first find an agent!. Publishers will not review unsolicited material!. Unsolicited meaning submitted by budding authors!. Find an agent, a reputable one, and badger them until they hire you!. Find out about book compensation so they don't rip you off and you know at least a little of first deal money issues!. Once the agent finds you a publishing house your draft is reviewed!. If they like it and think its not only marketable but able to fit snuggly in a genre like sci-fi or romance or whatever, THEN they edit it for grammatical errors, spelling arrors, and any potential rewrites or scene emmisions!. If they feel so inclined after "judging" your work!. Good luck!. Once you're in I think its easier!.!.!.but getting there can be tough!. Even the most famous authors can tell you of there 10, 20, or 47 times they were rejected on what is now a staple of popular literature!.!.!.sometimes their most famous book!.Www@QuestionHome@Com If you haven't even finished writing the book yet, then the first thing you must do is finish writing it!. After that, you should put the manuscript away for a while!. Don't look at it!. Don't think about it!. In fact, this is a good time to start writing something completely new -- begin your next project! Then take the manuscript out again and read it!. You'll notice a lot of things that you didn't notice before!. Things you like a lot!. Things you don't like so much!. Things you don't like at all!. Things that seem unclear!. Questions that you want answered!. Then it's time to rewrite, and answer all those questions!. Revise and change and make the book as perfect as it can be!. Give the manuscript to people you trust!. Ask them to read it carefully, and to tell you what they think -- what they liked, what they didn't like, what they have questions about!. After all, regular people will be reading your published book, so it's important to show it to regular people _before_ it's published too!. Rewrite and revise some more!. Make it as perfect as it can be!. This can take a while, but it can be almost as much fun as writing the original draft! When you think the book is the best it can be, _then_ start researching agents and publishers!. Don't ask anybody to consider publishing a first draft -- publishing professionals can spot them several hundred miles away! Www@QuestionHome@Com You can either send your manuscript off to agents or send it directly to publishers!. You should print it in a clear type face, double line spacing and print only on one side of the a4 size paper!. Include a covering letter and a brief synopsis!. If you get a deal you should probably be edited by the publisher, but you should probably get a few honest friends to read through it first before you send it off, to sort out any glaring errors, be they grammatical or continuity!. There is a book called the writers and artists yearbook which is updated every year and should contain all the details of agents and publishers and what kind of work they are looking for!. Be prepared for many rejections though before you find an agent or publisher willing to take you on, it can require a lot of perseverance and developing a thick skin!. Good luck though, I wish you all the best!. ps please note that although an agent will try and get you a good deal and help to represent and promote you, they will also take 10-20% of your earningsWww@QuestionHome@Com Get an agent first!. The editor is only after a publisher has accepted it!. An agent will help you find a publisher!. Www@QuestionHome@Com |