How to get publishers to notice you.

 

 How to get publishers to notice you.


Your chances at publishing your novel are slim if you don't know how to get publishers to notice you. There's a lot of work involved, but there's also a lot of reward! Publishers may be looking for the next "Hunger Games" or "Harry Potter." If this is your dream, here are some tips on how to translate that dream into reality and start the submission process.

The harsh truth about getting published: in order for your book to be sold by a large publisher, it has to be exceptional. This means that coming from an unknown author who isn't widely published will make it harder for you to get noticed by these giants in the publishing world. The good news? You can get your work noticed by smaller publishers who are less competitive and more willing to take risks. If you do get an editor's attention, there's a good chance the publisher will take notice and offer you a contract for your book.

Your best bet for getting a book published is to start small. Smaller publishing houses have less of a budget than the big ones, so they're willing to take on unknown authors and help them reach their dreams. This also allows you to work with a publisher who is willing to work with you, instead of forcing you into something that isn't right for your book or your career.

Don't think you won't get published if you're unknown: some publishers also accept unsolicited submissions. Unlike sending in a query, unsolicited submissions are considered an act of kindness on the part of the publisher, and many editors consider this a positive sign. If your work is good enough to catch someone's attention, don't think twice about submitting it -- just do it!

Staying in contact with an editor after the contract is signed: when you land a publishing contract, it means that your editor has read your book and wants to know more about you. It's not uncommon for editors to ask for updates on your progress or what else you have going on in your life. If you want to stay in touch with editors -- and if your book does well -- you can even go so far as offering your services for other writing work. It never hurts to network!

Be prepared for the fact that even if you do get a contract from a smaller publishing house, going from unknown author to bestseller isn't a given. There are many factors that determine how well your book will do in the public eye, from how well it's marketed to how much publicity it gets. Regardless, as long as your book is good, you'll always have a place to submit it!

How to get publishers to notice you: what works and what doesn't.

Start small. Working with smaller publishing houses gives you the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others and the chance to grow with your writing career. Don't rush this decision -- start small and work your way up!

Keep an eye on other writers. These people are reading and writing books everyday; they know how things work in publishing, so keep an ear out for information on how other authors published their books, where they got published, what worked for them, etc.

Read. Read! Take notes on what works and what doesn't work for writers, both in terms of writing style and marketing. There are many things that don't work in publishing, so learn from those mistakes so you don't make them yourself!

Writer's Market is filled with resources aimed at helping unknown authors find their audience. If you're willing to submit to small publishers, finding a good listing of publishers to contact should be quite easy. If you've already submitted somewhere else, check out the Writer's Market listing of independent publishing houses in your area. These are smaller publishers that are less well known, but still take on new authors.

Have a good cover design and edit your book. Your book cover is your first impression on an editor or potential reader. You want to make sure that it says "quality" and "professional" -- the last thing you want to do is give off a sloppy impression! Always use a professional editor to look over your work, as it could make the difference between acceptance and rejection.

Don't give up. Remember: tens of thousands of books are accepted for publication every year, and most previous unknowns have gotten their start by networking with others in the industry or working with editors one-on-one to get their writing started. If you're going to make this a serious business, you'll have to keep working at it.

Where to find publishers: Writer's Market. (If you're starting in small publishing houses, check out the Writer's Market listing of independents in your area.)

Send query letters and follow up with the publisher. Query letters can be sent to any publisher that interests you; just be sure to include a self-addressed return envelope with your query letter so that the publisher can get in touch with you if they want further information. If you're submitting for small publishing houses only, check out the Writer's Market listing of publishers by state and local area. After your initial query letter, follow up with a call or email to see if the publisher is still interested in your proposal. Depending on how many books the publisher takes on, it can take months before you hear back, so be patient!

Got a book contract? Congrats! Now you want to start promoting yourself. Check out the Writer's Market listing of national publishers. These are much larger publishing houses than small ones; they often have a lot of money to put behind promotion of their published works. If you're looking for opportunities to get published in more mainstream places and have some money set aside for promotional materials, check these publishers out!

Keep an eye on awards. If you're working in mainstream publishing, there are many awards and contests out there. These are a great way to get published, but they are also great places to learn more about the publishing world. Even if you don't win an award or a contest, it's a great way to get noticed by everyone who reads that particular journal or newspaper!

Keep in touch with your editor and network with other writers. This can be done through social media (see tips for staying in touch with your editor), email, phone calls, etc. Always make it clear that you want to keep in touch so the editor (and more importantly, their boss) knows that you're serious about your writing career.

Conclusion

Writing books can be a profitable and enjoyable hobby, but it's a marathon instead of a sprint. In order to make the most of writing, you should start small, keep in touch with your editor (both in writing and through social media), and focus on quality over quantity. Regardless of what path you're taking, keep your eyes on the prize: everything in publishing seems to come down to whether or not you're "making money." It's all about the money.

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