Publishing a book: Is it really that hard? Help me out!
By Navimaster
@Navimaster (3)
United States
March 28, 2010 8:26am CST
I've searched throughout the internet about publishing my novel, but now I'm doubting whether I should try at all. I've heard you need to pay agents A LOT of money to get your book on the top of the stack with some publishers. And that isn't even a guarantee that it will get your book published. So after the years you've put into your precious work, you come to find out that some companies won't even read it. Even if they do read it, they expect you to hire even more services to "fix" your book. I don't know if I should waste time and effort on something that I might not reap the benefits of. There is also the self-publishing way of doing things, but I've heard it is more of a hassle than anything, since you have to advertise your own novel and most self-publishing companies (websites) tend to be malevolent. It is understandable since it should be the opposite in reality. (You getting paid to publish)
What are your thoughts or opinions on this? For now, I've decided the best way is to probably use some free service to publish my book online as an E-Book instead. And then, if I get enough attention, I'll start charging for some of my stories. Any advice from authors or people who just enjoy writing?
Thanks.
3 responses
@cambiste (1244)
• India
28 Mar 10
Publishers cannot afford to pay for the promotion so every single book he accepts to publish, so it natural that the person writing the book would have to pay for the initial costs. If the book is a success, in the long run your investment will pay off.
For authors who are well know, the promotional costs are lower because it familiar names are easily picked off the shelf when compared to unfamiliar names. You need to create a name for yourself.
e-book is a good idea but be careful that the site doesn't run off with your work, for starters make sure you know the what the terms of service that you are going to accept actually tells, otherwise they may try to sell your book elsewhere.
If your book is really good you should try to get it published online by paying sites for starters.
Anyway, i haven't started publishing books yet as i don't find the time , but i hope i have been helpful. Good luck. Happy mylotting.
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
29 Mar 10
I have to disagree strongly with Cambiste. Publishers can - and do - afford to pay for promotion (and many other things) if they consider something worth publishing. Many thousands of books are published every year with NO cost (and often some profit) to the author.
There are, of course, plenty of publishers who are eager to take your money but they will not promote it nearly as eagerly as they would if it were something they had chosen to publish (in fact, many will not promote it at all - all they are interested in is making a profit out of charging the author to have it printed).
Getting a first novel published may take years and many, many rejection slips but it should NEVER cost the author anything more than time, persistence and angst!
@cambiste (1244)
• India
29 Mar 10
Small publishers will not want to take responsibility of your book's success. Making copies available in your nearest bookstore cannot be done even if they think the book is really good. Which is also why many good books never appear in the bookstores, but medium-quality books often appear everywhere.
Well, i don't really have experience with this, and i too had been told that publishing good books doesn't cost much, and your books are rejected time and again by different publishers; but what you see in reality seems to against this.
@Sir_bobby88 (8231)
• Singapore
28 Mar 10
well it is not hard but not easy also , just keep being hardworking , i believe you will have your own book soon but i don't think you could earn much from it .
@cambiste (1244)
• India
28 Mar 10
i agree. Being persistent is also a way to finally get though. The really great writers today started their writing careers by publishing small articles in periodicals and not the book they have brought out as New York Best Seller.
So start small, but dream big, and be persistent.
@sukumar794 (5040)
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
29 Mar 10
For publishing anything requires a considerable amount of earnest effort and toil from your side.
