What's the first few steps to getting a book published...?

Question: What's the first few steps to getting a book published!.!.!.!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

If you are talking about a novel, then you should definitely have the first draft finished and the first 50 pages revised and polished!. You can revise and polish the rest of the manuscript while you are waiting to hear back on your query letter and partial submission!. A good critique partner or critique group will help you with revisions and polishing!.

So yes, you need to write an intriguing query letter and there are many articles and books to teach you how to do this!. You will also need an outline or synopsis of the entire story (generally 4 or 5 pages) to send with the first 50 pages!. These two items make up your partial!. Most publishers only want to see a partial first, not your entire manuscript!.

You will need to study the market so that you know which publishers and editors accept and publish books similar to yours (for example, mystery, science fiction, romance, young adult)!. Most publishers have websites that include submission guidelines!. The guidelines will tell you whether or not they accept unagented writers, and if they want electronic or hard copy query letters, partials, or full manuscripts!.

If the publishers you are targeting for your work do not accept unagented submissions, then your first steps would include submitting your query and/or partial to agents who are looking for new clients!.

Good luck to you!. Getting a book published is a long and often frustrating process, but the end result is well worth it!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'd say the first step is probably to write it!Www@QuestionHome@Com