Ten Basic Steps to Finding A Publisher

Ten Basic Steps to Finding a Publisher

1.	Be realistic about your chances of being published by a major publisher and consider the equally worthy route of independent publishing. Read some of the books listed on the back, learn the difference between publishing, subsidized publishing, vanity publishing, and self-publishing. Consider self-publishing your book.
2.	Think about finding a literary agent for your particular manuscript. Normally you cannot submit a manuscript to a major publisher without an agent. But you may not need an agent to submit your manuscript to an independent publisher.
3.	Study independently published books that will be similar to yours in subject matter at the Small Press Center and independent bookstores, and think about approaching these publishers directly.
4.	Consult directories, such as The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses (Dustbooks), The Directory of Poetry Publishers (Dustbooks), Writer's Market (Writer's Digest Books) to find out different publisher's policies towards accepting unsolicited material. If you cannot find particular publishers in these directories, call them directly and ask their policy.
5.	Select a few appropriate publishers for your book, rank them numerically in order of preference and initiate contact.
6.	Depending on the publisher's policy, it may be better to submit a query letter, book proposal or cover letter before submitting your manuscript. Study samples of book proposal and query letters.
7.	Submit your manuscript or proposal. Multiple submissions to different publishers are okay. Less advisable for articles, however.
8.	Use and develop personal contacts to get your manuscript read and/or recommended to publishers. If you submit to a particular editor, know as much about his/her previous books and preferences as possible. Will your book improve the publisher's list?
9.	If your manuscript is accepted for publication, study up on financial arrangements or hire an agent or lawyer. Be prepared to promote your own book.
10.	When you reach this stage, congratulations! Approximately only 10% of submitted manuscript are accepted. If you were unsuccessful, rethink your approach, try new prospects or consider self-publishing.

Selected Bibliography

These books can be located in the SPC Reference Collection. The SPC has 400 reference books on Writing and Publishing, and a Bibliography which lists over 1700 books on these subjects. If you are not able to visit the Small Press Center in Manhattan, we suggest you browse through these titles at your nearest bookstore.

How to Get Happily Published, Judith Applebaum, 5th ed., 1998, HarperCollins.

Business & Legal Forms for Authors & Self-Publishers, Tad Crawford, 3rd ed., 2000, Allworth Press, New York, NY.

How to Write a Book Proposal, 2nd ed., Michael Larsen, 1997, Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati, OH.

How to Write Attention Grabbing Query & Cover Letters, John Wood, 2000, Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati, OH.

Smart Self-Publishing: An Author’s Guide to Producing a Marketable Book, Linda and Jim Salisbury, 3rd ed., 2003, Tabby House, Charlotte Harbor, FL.

The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing: Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, Promote, and Sell Your Own Book, Tom and Marilyn Ross, 4th ed., 2002, F&W Publications, first published by Writer’s Digest Books.

The Copyright Permission and Libel Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide For Writers, Editors, and Publishers, Lloyd J. Jassin & Steven C. Schecter, 1998, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY.

The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses, 2002-2003 Edition, Len Fulton, Editor, 38th ed., 2002, Dustbooks, Paradise, CA.

The Publishing Game: Bestseller in 30 Days, Fern Reiss, 2003, Peanut Butter and Jelly Press, Newton, MA.

The Publishing Game: Find an Agent in 30 Days, Fern Reiss, 2003, Peanut Butter and Jelly Press, Newton, MA.

The Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book, Dan Poytner, 13th ed., 2002, Para Publishing, Santa Barbara, CA.

Write the Perfect Book Proposal, Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine Herman, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY.

2003 Guide to Literary Agents: 600+ Agents Who Sell What You Write, Rachel Vater, Editor, 2002, Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati, OH.

2003 Writer’s Market, Katie Struckel Brogan, Editor, Robert Brewer, Editor, 2002, Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati, OH.