You've successfully put that terrific idea you had down on paper (sometimes only figuratively) and now you are ready to find that project a home.
Technology today has made it more than possible to have your book published. Options include everything from e-books to hard copy and self published to traditional publishers. Depending on the particular project you are, or will be writing, study the market for recent trends, publishing houses and their specialties, and who you are writing for (your audience). If you are planning to self/subsidy publish, decide on how much money you can and are willing to invest. If you are looking for a traditional publisher, find out what kinds of books they promote before hawking your work to them.
Assuming you are seeking a traditional publishing house (small press or big house) and going without an agent, query the publishing company's acquisitions editor BY NAME (make a phone call to ask the name and spelling). Houses that are receptive to queries will often publish their submission guidelines online or in a book such as Writer's Market; follow them exactly. Realize that your query letter is going to be the first writing sample that will be seen; if it is sloppy, full of errors or flat, they won't expect any better from your book and they won't bother giving you a chance. Be patient and don't harass them for an answer if they have said 4 to 6 weeks and it is the middle of the 5th week. And if you get an answer that you didn't want, don't respond with a scathing indictment of their judgment; remember that you may need them, or the people they speak to, down the road.
Especially if you have decided on the self/subsidy publishing route, be prepared to do most if not all of your own publicity and marketing. Unless you have a proven track record or a big name on your own, most publishers, even the bigger houses, don't put huge marketing pushes behind your book. Whether you are doing it on your own or only complementing the efforts of your publisher, it is in your best interests to promote your work and help to get it noticed. Unless your publisher is located locally, the best person to attract local media and contact local retailers is you. Understand that you and your book have become product and the public needs to buy.
If the book you've penned is supposed to be factual, do your research and make sure you understand the subject. Remember though that not every medical textbook is written by a doctor, same for car repair and auto mechanics. Research makes the difference. Be thorough and accurate. Text-books, self-help and history books need to be well researched and precise. Even novels may need researched facts especially if they are based on past events, are descriptive of an area or describe something real such as a medical procedure. In fiction you make make up the story but you have to keep reality real.
If a publisher has accepted you for publication or you are using self/subsidy publishing, be sure to read your contracts and agreements completely before signing; ask questions and make sure you understand ALL of the details. Once your book is in print, even in a completed manuscript format, your work is considered copyrighted. Registering the work with the Library of Congress helps to ensure that the proper rights belong to the proper agents or yourself. Copyright registration is usually under $50 and is well worth the minor effort it takes to file.
Print-on-demand publishing allows for books to be printed as they are ordered - the advantage is less investment to publish and the book should always be available through the printer; the disadvantage is that often the individual copies are more expensive to produce and require a higher selling price and since returns are not accepted, most bookstores won't place copies on their shelves. E-books can be downloaded online and are most often in a document or .pdf file - the advantage is instantaneous delivery and no shipping fees; the disadvantage is that unless someone has a dedicated hand-held reader, the book must be read on a bulky computer screen.
Learn the difference between First North American rights, electronic rights, reprint rights, etc. Again, read everything BEFORE you sign. Make sure that you understand AND AGREE TO circumstances where the contract can be broken and who can break it. Question anything you do not understand - a reputable publisher will not mind providing you with answers.
Perseverance is key to being a successful PUBLISHED author. Remember the steps, research, write, research, query, wait, read agreements thoroughly, give your educated consent, promote, and keep writing.
