How To Write A Book And Publish It For Profit

Writing a book takes a lot of time and energy, but it can be worth it in more ways than one. The money you can earn is good, but the impact you can make might be better. I’ve heard a lot of people talk about wanting to write a book but they never start. I don’t know if it’s because they don’t want to put the effort in or because they don’t know how to get published.

Putting in the effort is up to you. Getting published though takes a little know how.

Maybe you have an excellent idea for a book, are working on it or have a complete manuscript written and ready to go. The next step is the one that often perplexes many writers. Now what? Unless you want to pay an agent to handle the process of publishing, distributing and marketing your book, you need to familiarize yourself with the steps to successful publication in order to make a profit. Where do you go to have your manuscript edited? How and where do you publish it? Most importantly, once you have your masterpiece published, what do you need to do to promote and sell it?

How to Have Your Book Edited

The first step to successful publication of your book is to have your manuscript edited. Some authors choose to edit and proofread their own work, but a fresh pair of eyes can be helpful in searching out grammatical errors, sentence structure flaws, simple typos or to provide an honest critique of your work before it is sent out to publishers or even self-published. You may decide to have another successfully published and well-established author edit your book or choose to have a trusted colleague or friend look at your manuscript. However, having your book proofread by a professional editor is often the best way to go. Implement the following steps to find and work with a professional editor to polish and critique your manuscript:

● Search for professional editors online and in the classifieds. You might also check phone directories or get references from others who have used professional editing services. You could even eliminate the search work by placing an ad in the paper or with an online site.

● Be certain to check the credentials and professionalism of the editor you select. Whether you select a professional editing company or a freelance editor, you should thoroughly evaluate their skills and reputability. You may even want to ask for references and samples of previous work. You will need someone who possesses proofreading, editing and copy-editing skills in order to be certain your manuscript will receive the attention it deserves. After all, your book is your baby. You don’t want to just trust it to anyone.

● Settle on terms with the editor you select. Some editors may charge by the job, while others may ask for an hourly rate. If your chosen editor charges by the hour you might want to check with references to ensure that the editing services will not take more time than what is really needed.

● Keep the lines of communication open. Discuss the manuscript with your editor and be specific about what you expect. Listen to the advice the editor provides and openly express your own thoughts. It is essential to work together with your editor to produce a successful book. Once the editing work has been completed, read over your manuscript and discuss any changes.

How and Where to Publish Your Book

Whether you choose to submit the finished product to publishers or decide to self-publish your book, you need to familiarize yourself with all of the available options in order to make the right decision for what route your book will travel on the path of successful publication. Each book is different. The path that may be successful for one may prove to be totally wrong for another. Decide which form of publication is best suited for your book. Explore some of the following options before attempting to get your book published:

Traditional Publishing

With traditional publishing, you must send your completed manuscript with a query letter or book proposal to the publishing house. Once the book has been accepted by an editor, the author is paid for the previously decided upon rights to the book, as well as an advance on future royalties. The publishing house then takes on the responsibility of designing, printing, marketing and distributing of the book.

Subsidized Publishing

Subsidy publishing companies generally offer the author a contract after the manuscript has been accepted. While this contract is similar to that of traditional publishing houses, the primary difference lies in the fact that the author is responsible for the initial financial investment of the book. In short, the author must pay to have the book placed on the market.

Self- Publishing

When choosing this route, the author is responsible for nearly every aspect of the publishing process, including all funding for illustrators or photographers, editing and proofreading, marketing and distribution. An author who selects self-publication should also consider obtaining an ISBN number and a Library of Congress catalog number to maintain a professional appearance. While some self-publishing companies now use Print on Demand technology, others may still require the author to order a specific amount of copies. This may result in a number of unsold copies if marketing techniques are unsuccessful.

Online Publishing

Online publishing in the form of e-books is becoming popular among authors. While there are still some initial start-up costs involved, the funding to print individual copies and distribute them is eliminated. A number of sites are available to assist the author with the publishing and marketing of their book online.

How to Market, Distribute and Sell Your Book

If you go with a traditional or subsidy publishing house, the marketing and distribution of your book are taken care of. However, if you choose instead to self-publish your book, the work is up to you.

Distribution

Before marketing your book, you should first consider how to distribute it to buyers. Options for self-publishers include printing companies, fulfillment companies or distributor warehouses. You could choose to distribute the books yourself, but if the volume of books printed and the demand is high, this may prove to be more of a headache than you need. You may also consider distributing your book locally in bookstores and reading groups in your general area. Another avenue the self-publisher may wish to explore is large online bookstores such as Barnes and Noble or Amazon. To submit your book to these stores, it must contain an ISBN number. Other distribution methods to consider include airports, fund raisers and hospital or college gift stores.

Marketing

Once you have decided upon a method of distribution, you must start the process of marketing and promoting your book. Let people know where they can find the book. Arrange word of mouth opportunities such as fund raisers and book signings to spread the word about your book and build up recognition. Advertise your book in newspapers, magazines and blogs. The Internet can offer a wide range of marketing opportunity to the self-publisher. Many people buy a book because they have heard of the author. Even if you have never sold a book before, you can build up a profile through website advertisements and blogs featuring your bio and book excerpts. People will be more willing to buy your book if they are familiar with your name.