You’ve created a book, and now you want to share it with the world. What do you need to expect when it comes to publishing? Here’s what you need to know.
Nowadays, it’s easy for publishers to publish a book with the modern methods of printing and distribution. But it’s also harder for authors to get their creations published.If you are a writer who wants to publish your book for the first time, here are the things that you need to expect:
1.You will have to jump through several hoops
Whether you are self-publishing a children’s book with illustration or submitting a 250-page fantasy adventure novel, you can expect to go through a tedious process. Although not all publishers will give you a hard time to get your book on shelves, it’s better to be prepared to experience difficulty through it all.
2.You need to have some business skills
Publishing is a business, first and foremost. And when you decide to publish your first book, you are now part of the industry.
In the business, while your creations and ideas should be great in the point-of-view of a reader, they should also be marketable. Do you have the skills to be a reliable business partner for your publishing company? If the answer is yes, publishing companies may be more willing to work with you.
3.You need to have the best final output
If you are submitting a draft for the first time, you want to wow the publisher with it. Don’t send one without first gaining constructive feedback from reliable sources (e.g., writing community, professors, editors, etc.) and revising your work as much as you need to.Make sure your work is polished before you present it to a publisher. They are going to assume it is your best work, so don’t submit a half-baked creation with the intent of revising it later on.
4.You need a clear profile of your reader
Create a target audience for your book so that you can better understand where you can place it in the market. Who do you want to have as your reader? What is the age range, and how can they relate to your book? Ask yourself these types of questions and revolve your marketing ideas around your target reader.
5.You need to create a brand
There are thousands upon thousands of other authors who write in the same genre as you do and perhaps even have the same ideas as you. How can you set yourself apart?
Aside from creating unique content, you need to create a brand. Who are you as an author? What type of stories do you tell, and how do you tell them? If you establish a brand for yourself and learn how to define it well, publishers are more likely to see you as a valuable asset.
All successful authors have to start somewhere, and lifting your writing career from the ground can take blood, sweat, and tears.Publishing your first book is just the first milestone, among many others. So if you want to do it right the first time, you need to know what to expect and what you need to do to get your goals.