How to publish?

[Happy Snapper]

Hi all:

I've just completed a futuristic fiction (not pure science fiction) novel and I would like to know how to go about getting it published. I would appreciate guideline re. the best ways to accomplish this.

Kinds regards
Quintus - Happy Snapper

questdevcon@yahoo.com

 

[silverwhisper]

assuming you're speaking of traditional dead-tree publishing: your best bet is to develop a personal connection w/ an editor at a publishing house: unsolicited manuscripts have an extremely poor acceptance rate, bad enough that i think that frankly, even if you were the second coming of j. k. rowling, you couldn't get published.

some people say to find an agent. i don't know how useful that really is, but some say it works.

ed

 

[Happy Snapper]

Thanx

Merci! Thought-provoking . . .

 

[silverwhisper]

sadly, i'm unaware of any great answer to that question. believe me, if i knew it, i'd say.

ed

 

[CopyCarver]

Hi all:

I've just completed a futuristic fiction (not pure science fiction) novel and I would like to know how to go about getting it published. I would appreciate guideline re. the best ways to accomplish this.

Kinds regards
Quintus - Happy Snapper

questdevcon@yahoo.com

The devil dwells in the details. Are you hoping to publish online, in print, in South Africa, in Europe or North America? Once you've made that decision, you'll need to select specific publishers for whom your book is viable. (Not much point in sending futuristic fiction to a house that publishes only cookbooks, only theological tracts, or only books about electronics.) Once you've narrowed the field, research the specific needs, taboos, and preferences until you find the "right" publisher for your book. It's a sad but inescapable fact that researching publishers can easily take as much time and effort as researching your book.

Agents are a great idea in theory--the good ones certainly the current state of the market; they can save you tons of time and work, and they can steer you away from no-hope publishers. The problem is that it can be as hard (or harder) for a beginner to find a good agent than to find a publisher. The ethical pros are working on a commission basis; consequently, they're very reluctant to work with "unknown quantity" writers who may never produce a salable manuscript.

If you do decide to seek an agent, make sure you check their credentials and references thoroughly. The wods are full of con artists who'll accept any client who'll pay reading fees, editing fees, research fees, and 47 other fees whose only purpose is to empty your wallet. Agents are like physicians: the good ones earn their pay many times over; the "quacks" can kill you an inch at a time.

ps: I'm saying all of this as a former agent and as a current editor for a major publisher.

 

[Happy Snapper]

Thanx Copy Carver

Sincere thanks Copy Carver!

The idea is to put it in print - and yes I would like it to be available in my home country (RSA), but with its limited market potential, I suppose publishing "abroad" does seem more attractive. Nope, I do not see myself as the next JK Rowling, nor closer to home Wilbur Smith or SA born Sidney Sheldon, but I do think I have a tale to tell (plus some more lying in waiting . . .)
Your advise is highly appreciated and at least some way towards a start. I'll browse on our local net's search engines for the info as indicated, and hopefully will find something useful.
Very kind of you!

 

[CopyCarver]

One good online site you might want to check out is WritersMarket.com. It's far from comprehensive, but the data is, at least, quite up to date. The two standard market references would be Literary Marketplace and Writer's Market 2006. The latter is $49.99 (list) in the US, but is widely discounted; LMP is pricey under any circumstances. Luckily, most large libraries worldwide have one or both books.

Don't hesitate to shout if you have further questions.

Good luck!

 

[Reuisu]

Well, I've published two books through self-publishing at http://www.iuniverse.com , so I do highly recommend them. They can be a little pricey, but I've enjoyed the results so far. ^_^

 

[CopyCarver]

Well, I've published two books through self-publishing at http://www.iuniverse.com , so I do highly recommend them. They can be a little pricey, but I've enjoyed the results so far. ^_^

That's a good point. I recently edited a book for a commercial client whopublished in iuniverse. She's very happy with the book quality, and moderately so with the promotion. With any self-publishing effort, any chance of financial success is almost purely a function of promoting the book tirelessly. iuniverse and other such houses will fill orders that come in online and will make books available to Amazon, but the author really needs to create a demand for them himself/herself.