Any tips on how to get a novel published?
I am looking to get my novel published but I know nothing about the industry. I was wondering what advice you have for me?
Replies7
- @Alex Falconer Amazing, thank you! I am going to have a look at these videos later this evening!
- @Ben Ellis This is so helpful, thank you so much. I had a conversation with a vanity publisher and it seemed a bit awful, so I'm glad I made the right call there.
- @george crisp Thank you so much for your advice!
- Hi Jessica.What you do next will depend on which publishing route you would like to follow. If you want to be traditionally published, you will need an agent. That means you’d best be prepared to submit your whole novel (not just the first three chapters) and a synopsis, along with your query email.Check out lists of agents in your genre. You might want to take a look at these on YouTube:This from BookEnds literary agency(80) What To Do Before Sending Your Book to Literary Agents - YouTubeAnd this from Industry expert Alyssa Matesic(80) #AskMeAnything! Querying high-profile agents, ideal query letter tone, agencies outside of NYC - YouTubeIf you would like to self-publish you couldn’t do better than to go to Joanna Penn’s at The Creative Penn as Ben has suggested below. Listen to her weekly podcast, which has been going for years and has a wealth of information. Also visit ALLi -- Alliance of Independent Authors: Association For Self-Publishing Authors(allianceindependentauthors.org)There’s a wealth of information out there for you, but it would be easy to become overwhelmed, so if you’d like to connect, I’d be interested to hear more about your novel and what you envisage for it, and then I might be able to give you more specific advice.
- I forgot. You should regularly check out Poets & Writers.https://www.pw.orgIndispensable. Also, Bookseller.https://www.thebookseller.comKeeps you abreast of what's going on in publishing. Objective.
- If you haven't done so already, open a submittable account.https://manager.submittable.com/signupIt's free and it's what nearly all reputable publishers use. You'll need to search and filter a bit but you should be able to find what you're looking for there. Avoid vanity presses and try to avoid publishers who ask for fees. I can understand tiny independents asking for money; but university presses? Granta?! (Owned by the richest woman in Western Europe, heiress to the Tetrapak fortune. Unconscionable.)Finally, 'self-publishing' should be a last resort. Few people read or stock 'self-published' books.Good luck.
- Hi Jess,I've self-published 2 novels and had one traditionally published.I tried to get all 3 trad. pubbed but when no-one took the first 2 I decided to self-pub. It's hard but fun in a geeky way, plus you get full control which is great, but it does cost money.First thing - get beta readers, anyone. You just want brains outside of your own to read your manuscript to see if it makes sense!2 - then write another draft from the beta feedback.3 - find an editor (https://www.ciep.uk/directory). If you can afford it, get a full developmental edit. If not, at least get your first 3 chapters copy-edited as these are what you're going to send to publishers and agents.4 - start submitting. The Writing & Artists book (https://www.writersandartists.co.uk) is worth buying, and follow agents on Twitter, sometimes they shout out for what they want, if it fits your novel, contact them.Here's some useful links which probably cover most of what you'll ever need;https://reedsy.comhttps://www.thecreativepenn.comhttps://theempoweredauthor.comFinally, don't do vanity publishing, eg. paying thousands to get a load of books printed. You can do ebooks and print-on-demand (POD) paperbacks through Amazon with no upfront costs, you just pay them a %.Good luck!
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