Seeing your literary works printed can be such as a great joy. Surely, it would be great to be known in the literary world, especially for an entrepreneur who has been recognized as an expert in your field. To realize your dream of becoming a famous author, you need to get your work published by the best publisher in town.
It is true that the first step to achieving your dreams is the hardest. If you want your works to be published, you need to look for the best publisher. From the vast number of publishers, choosing the best for you requires consideration of a number of things. Here are 22 tips to finding the best agent and publisher:
Help yourself.
1. The first step to success always starts with you.
2. Before you find an agent, you need to have a finished draft of your literary work. Make sure that it is interesting enough to hook a potential agent.
3. Attending a number of workshops and seminars will also help you improve your craft in writing.
4. It is also important to communicate with other writers so that you will be knowledgeable in the creative process.
5. Ask your friends to read your story and get their opinions. In this way, you can improve which parts of the story need amendments.
6. Most importantly, determine the book’s genre and intended readership.
Research various potential publishers and agents.
7. Finding an agent to represent your book may seem difficult, especially if you are an aspiring author.
8. If you are having a difficult time in finding an agent, here is a list of potential publishers and agents that may represent you:
• WritersMarket.com
• PublishersMarketplace.com
• QueryTracker.net
• Preditors & Editors
• Ralan.com
• AgentQuery.com
• WriterMag.com
• Poets & Writers
• AAR Online
• Duotrope.com
9. It is necessary to send agents your query letter, along with your proposal.
10. Your letter should be typewritten and printed by a high-quality printer.
11. Proofread your letter before sending it to an agent.
12. It is also helpful that you cite your relevant credentials and connections, such as professional expertise and achievements. Even if you are a beginner, it is important to cite some of your relevant achievements.
13. If you are lucky enough to be noticed, carefully make the right choice because part of your income will be shared with your agent.
14. Be sure that you will also take advantage of the contract as much as the agent. It is important to find an agent who is eager to promote your project by selling it to a mainstream publishing company.
15. Once you have signed a contract with your agent, it will be hard for you to cut ties and you will be spending a lot of bucks for breach of contract.
16. Once the final proposal is drafted, it is ready to be sent by your agent to various publishers. If you are a seasoned author, this should not be a problem. You will potentially receive a number of offers and you will have an auction on your hand.
17. Send in your full manuscript in exactly the format they ask for. Address it to the correct person and securely seal the package.
18. Always include a stamped, self-addressed envelope in case you want the material to be returned to you. Avoid using metered postage strips because they are not valid for return postage.
19. Keep on working while you wait for a response to your first manuscript. Spend your time wisely by creating a portfolio with articles, short stories and other literary materials. This will help improve your craft in writing and boost your reputation.
20. Once you get a response from a number of publishers, take only the best deal
21. The best offer is the one where you can get the largest advantage. The more enthusiastic the publisher for your project, the more you are assured that the publisher is committed in making your book the next big thing.
22. Show the publisher that you are enthusiastic for the project and you are willing to do everything to make your book successful.
In case none of the publishers offer to represent you, do not be upset. Let rejections be the reason to improve your writing. There are a lot of authors who got rejected when they had just started but rose above other authors and got into the mainstream because of perseverance and dedication. Who knows, you might be one of them. Always remember that patience and perseverance is the key to success in the literary world. After all, if at first you do not succeed, go on, keep on trying and it will be all worth in the end.