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For those who want some publishing etiquette to get their book into the big time, it’s time to start preparing. Getting a book published by a certain company is an extremely competitive market, with very little room for new books. Finding the right publisher, and setting the terms straight, will ensure that the wait to get your name into print is worth it.
The one thing to remember if you are waiting to get a book published is that you are going to need time – and a lot of it. Even Harry Potter (yes, the infamous Harry), went through a few years of rejections and the need to find the right publisher. So, if you are going for the publishing route with a particular company, remember that patience is your key.
When you start to approach publishing options, you will need a Bible. This is the Writers Market for the current year. Sometimes, the last year will also be available and will have enough information that is updated. This will give you a list of all of the publishing companies, their address and their requirements. By using this book, you can automatically submit your manuscript into the hands of those who are looking for a story like yours. This will eliminate some of the players on the field and give you a direct line.
Your next step is to submit like crazy. You don’t want to put all of your eggs in one basket in the hopes that they will say yes. Get your query letter together and send it to at least 10 publishers. This way, you will be able to find the best deals when they come along. Once again, expect to wait for the letters to come in, and in the mean time, keep submitting. Eventually, something will fall together. And, if not, keep your rejection letters as memorabilia in a shoe box. They can be motivational, even if you know you have a best seller on your hand.
Eventually, you will find a publisher. The trick is to remember who is on the other side. Typically, they can only put out a certain amount of money a year, meaning a couple of books, and they need to have something they know is the right fit. If you keep their looking glasses on, the rejection letters don’t seem so personal, and you can come to terms with it just taking a matter of time before you find someone who knows that your name is put into print.
Just like baseball, you have to swing and run a lot before you hit a home run. If you keep playing the game, eventually, you will find a publisher who is ready to say ‘yes’ to your book.