Entertainment & Music Getting a novel published...

[A Swallow]

Hey guys. Just wondering if anyone who has a peruse of this region of BigFooty has any clue as to the first steps to take in order to have a novel published for the first time. Without sounding arrogant, I know it's at least decent, have had a few people I trust read it and really enjoy it (though they could just be saying that, who knows? ). I took out all the english and literature awards throughout high school, and used to write for Optus as a Sound Scribe. In case anyone was wondering if I'm some moron who can't write. I manage a restaurant, so it's not like my livelihood depends on whether I get this novel published or not, but it's a genuine passion of mine.
Any tips?

 

[d33my]

My (limited) knowledge would probably point towards simply sending your manuscript out to various publishing houses. If it's worth publishing, they'll contact you.
Also if possible get someone you don't know to read your novel (who knows a bit about story, writing, structure etc)
They'll be more likely to tell you the truth than people you know well.
Hope that helps and good luck.

 

[blues4flag]

Might want to take a look at getting it published as an Ebook. Less overheads and can price it cheaper.

 

[Igloo]

Look for a publisher I suppose. One that has a history of publishing similar books. What kind of book is it, btw?
Get people with contacts in the industry to read it? Im not entirely sure, but I think they could be good starting points.

Also, doesn't it cost a bit of money to get a book published?

 

[Troubadour]

You need a literary agent (preferebly international) first. Fudge all chance of getting published approaching the publishing house direct - it just isn't worth the investment on an Australian author. Perhaps attempt to contact a hungry young agent?

 

[Silent Alarm]

Might want to take a look at getting it published as an Ebook. Less overheads and can price it cheaper.

This is definitely an accesible and sensible way to put out your first book. You might have had your dream a little different (holding a nice hard back), but it's seriously going to benefit you in the long run – regardless of whether you 'make it' or not.

The other thing is self publishing. If you manage to get some readers electronically, I'd self publish about 100 copies. You can charge enough to make some money off of them (through simple supply and demand economics). Self-publishing is really easy as well, which might sound like a lie, but it really isn't. I'm into photography and know about self-publishing those books. So perhaps that alley might suit you.

 

[nicky]

You can publish it yourself, the internet has made this easy.

 

[Bosun]

Write "Matthew Reilly" on the front cover

Then, even if its pure crap, and Im by no means suggesting your work is, it will get published no matter what.

 

[Tax_21]

no it hasn't, nicky.

 

[philohk]

I guess it depends on whether you're happy to self-publish or whether you want to be picked up straight away by a publisher.

If you want a publisher, subscribe to the Australian Writer's Marketplace website, or buy the book if they still publish it. It has details on heaps of small publishers you won't have heard of and whether they accept unsolicited manuscripts (most big publishers won't accept them). Check out what they publish, narrow the list and hit them up. Alternately, use the AWM to find an agent - an agent will tell you whether your book is publishable and, if so, will know who to pitch it to. They're the first quality check and that's why they're preferred by big publishers. It'll take them a while to reply though, and you shouldn't send it to anyone else while you're waiting - they can get cranky about that. A word of warning though - the chances you'll get picked up are very slim unless your MS is fantastic.

If you want to self-publish, there are a bunch of options these days and some successful authors have been given book deals. Ebooks are the cheapest. If you're into that, Smashwords looks OK and will get you on Barnes & Noble and a few other sites. If you'd prefer Amazon, you can (last time I checked) publish an ebook through Mobipocket, which is owned by Amazon. Not sure about exclusivity with those arrangements - you'll want to check that. If you'd prefer paper books, try print-on-demand - that might be in the AWM as well, or you could see if Lightning Source and Booksurge (Amazon again) are still going, as I haven't looked for a while. As for printing a bunch yourself and attempting to sell them, forget about it. All the sites I've mentioned should have info about how much you'll get per copy, if you're doing it partly for the money.

Good luck! Let me know if you have any more questions, and hopefully the info I've given you is still up to date. (FYI I work in publishing, though not in the trade fiction / non-fiction area.)

 

[nicky]

no it hasn't, nicky.

Yes, you can.

I don't know the ins and outs of it having never done it myself but a friend of mine is self published and is getting her work to a wider audience through the internet..

 

[nicky]

Maybe... What the **** does that have to do with it.

 

[Dean3]

You need a literary agent (preferebly international) first. Fudge all chance of getting published approaching the publishing house direct - it just isn't worth the investment on an Australian author. Perhaps attempt to contact a hungry young agent?

This.

Call someone like Curtis Brown http://curtisbrown.com.au/

Nobody serious about getting published goes direct to publishers any more.

 

[THRILLHO]

I have no real idea on getting published but I do know some publishers (big and small - might have read about Penguin Publishing doing it) open their doors to unsolicited manuscripts occasionally. Like, once a month.

Here - http://www.writingbar.com/2012/01/n...ed-manuscripts-introducing-the-monthly-catch/

 

[Old Skool]

Do it yourself.

 

[woopedazz]

My last book I published through Puffin.

 

[A Swallow]

I guess it depends on whether you're happy to self-publish or whether you want to be picked up straight away by a publisher.

If you want a publisher, subscribe to the Australian Writer's Marketplace website, or buy the book if they still publish it. It has details on heaps of small publishers you won't have heard of and whether they accept unsolicited manuscripts (most big publishers won't accept them). Check out what they publish, narrow the list and hit them up. Alternately, use the AWM to find an agent - an agent will tell you whether your book is publishable and, if so, will know who to pitch it to. They're the first quality check and that's why they're preferred by big publishers. It'll take them a while to reply though, and you shouldn't send it to anyone else while you're waiting - they can get cranky about that. A word of warning though - the chances you'll get picked up are very slim unless your MS is fantastic.

If you want to self-publish, there are a bunch of options these days and some successful authors have been given book deals. Ebooks are the cheapest. If you're into that, Smashwords looks OK and will get you on Barnes & Noble and a few other sites. If you'd prefer Amazon, you can (last time I checked) publish an ebook through Mobipocket, which is owned by Amazon. Not sure about exclusivity with those arrangements - you'll want to check that. If you'd prefer paper books, try print-on-demand - that might be in the AWM as well, or you could see if Lightning Source and Booksurge (Amazon again) are still going, as I haven't looked for a while. As for printing a bunch yourself and attempting to sell them, forget about it. All the sites I've mentioned should have info about how much you'll get per copy, if you're doing it partly for the money.

Good luck! Let me know if you have any more questions, and hopefully the info I've given you is still up to date. (FYI I work in publishing, though not in the trade fiction / non-fiction area.)

Thanks very much mate, there's definitely a few different avenues I need to explore it would seem. I'll get my act together and make a decision some time soon. Thanks again for your help.

 

[A Swallow]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I'll sort it out sometime soon and if I go the way of an ebook, I'll be sure to post a link to it up here when I do .

 

[bradrowe#32]

Is it a coming of age story with a dreamy protagonist?

 

[The Passenger]

is it about a futuristic amusement park where dinosaurs are bought to life with advanced cloning techniques?? and is it called Billy and the Clonesaurus??

 

[A Swallow]

Is it a coming of age story with a dreamy protagonist?

Certainly not. Quite the opposite.

 

[A Swallow]

is it about a futuristic amusement park where dinosaurs are bought to life with advanced cloning techniques?? and is it called Billy and the Clonesaurus??

How on earth did you know?

 

[The Passenger]

i just had an inkling skinner was lurking on these boards

[youtube]G5PQAI8nWYQ[/youtube]

in all seriousness let us know how it all goes. i've got a mate who wants to write, but dropped out of journalism, which may or may not have been the smartest idea. but he does write some funny stuff.