So yeah, I'm working on a book of short stories and I'm wondering how do you get it published once you actually finish it? I'm still working on the first chapter, and I don't really want to divulge what my book is about since I'm kind of paranoid that it might get stolen and stuff.
But what are the steps of getting it actually looked at by an editor and publishing company? I'm not sure how to go about it. Dx
If you use Hubpages own search facility, you'll find many links to relevant articles. I've published a number of them myself, for example.
Writing is a craft, and like all crafts the basics need to be mastered first. Join a writing group local to yourself, or take a creative writing course.
Learn about how to correctly present a finished manuscript. There is a general format - Courier New, 12pt, double line spacing, etc. - but some editors require variations of this. It's up to you to do your research before submitting work anywhere.
Stephen King's book "On Writing" will help you, as this offers a lot of useful advice. Also, you may opt to read "The Artists' & Writers' Yearbook" and similar publications for practical information about agents, publishers and magazine opportunities.
I filled a notebook at one time with names and addresses of publishers taken from the Writers year book. I wrote to each of them and those who bothered to reply, rejected my book. Eventually, I self published with Lulu.com. They promote it on their site. I also took copies around to booksellers. I've not sold hundreds but who knows, one day?
From what I understand, publishers no longer take unsolicited transcripts. You need to get an agent, so maybe you should make a notebook with names of agents. A lot of people self-publish as well, and it's getting more and more popular, because they can be sold for readers like Kindle.
First finish the book, then find books like it and note down their publishers and look in the dedications for the name of the authors agent, then find out how to submit to those publishers and agents. Many publishers still take unsolicited query letters, but an agent does make the process easier and raise your chances of success in most fiction genres.
But first, finish the book.
As I understand it, short story books are harder to sell than novels. But still, I'd finish the book - revise it about five times - and submit to agents.
If that bears no fruit I'd release it as a Kindle book on Amazon. Kindle publishing is my current favorite choice for self-publishing. I rather like the idea of not killing trees to make books. Kindle and similar devices are the wave of the future for readers.
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