So, you’ve finished writing a book…it is edited. And let’s say you have a file named final final.docx saved on your desktop.
First of all, CONGRATS! You should be so proud of yourself. Writing a book is no small achievement.
But how do you actually get your book out into the world?
You have two options. 1. Traditional publishing. 2, Indie/ self publishing.
Neither is better than the other. They are just different, and they fit different authors and different goals.
I can only give you advice based on my experiences. With traditional publishing, the first thing you want to do is start a thorough research of publishing companies that are open to submissions; many publishing houses will have set times in the year when they are able to accept submissions.
But before we even go that far, it is ideal, if not indispensable, that you get an agent. Why? Because many of the traditional publishing houses will only accept submissions through an agent.
So, how do you get an agent?
Well, that also starts with research. This process is a lot like finding a professor to mentor you for your PhD. You must do a thorough search to find the people who fit your story. Not every agent will want your book, and that’s okay. There will be plenty who do.
This is why most agents will have a public wishlist, where they clearly state what type of book they see themselves representing. So do your research and choose only one agent per company. Don’t just send your manuscript to everyone!
For self-publishing, essentially what happens is… you become your own publisher. Meaning you would be in charge of marketing, cover design, formatting, editing…and deciding where the book will be sold. Both routes take a long time and hard work, but with indie there is definitely more responsibility. You are doing many things yourself. But the positive is it gives you the creative freedom. I’ve received contracts where the company wanted to decide how my cover would look, and that was a no-go for me. That is not why I primarily decided on indie, but a big part was this.
I highly recommend investing in a developmental editor. They don’t just fix grammar. They look at the big picture. They will be able to spot plot holes, pacing issues, and character development. And they will take your book to the next level. You may know your story from the heart, but someone who is reading it for the first time… for them, everything might not make sense. So this is essential.
Now for the cover design and formatting. First, the cover design… sure, you could probably create something with AI, but trust me, people can tell. And a hand-designed cover will always, always stand out from the shelf, and that is what you want.
For the formatting, I also recommend hiring a professional, because they know exactly when a printer tells them they need the manuscript in a specific format; they will know exactly what to do, especially if you want your book in multiple formats, i.e. ebook and paperback or hardback.
Whatever path you choose, make sure it’s the one that fits your goals the best. Remember, these things take time…be patient, and if you work hard enough, things will fall into place.