How to Get a Book Published: Your Guide to Success in 2022

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If this is your first time writing a book, we fully understand if you don’t know how to publish a book. after all, there are now more publishing options than ever. each author has to decide for himself how to publish, taking into account the relative benefits and what he really wants from the experience: fame and fortune, literary reputation, or simply being able to say that he has done it.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the traditional publishing route, which is what most writers will think of when they say “publish.” And if self-publishing sounds more to your liking, click here to read our guide to self-publishing. (We’re also not going to talk about vanity presses in this article, for reasons explained here.)

You are reading: How to get books published

This is the simple 5-step process to publish a book:

Wondering which path is best for your skills, ambitions, and book? Take this 1-minute quiz to find out if you’re better suited for self-publishing or traditional publishing.

1. start gender research in the publishing industry

Ask a hundred writing coaches, authors, and editors for advice on getting published, and 95 of them will tell you to read a lot in your genre. the other five will probably assume you’re already doing it. .

As an author, you not only need to learn from your contemporaries (and all-time greats), but you also need to know what kinds of books people buy. That will give you an idea of the books publishers are looking to acquire and how his book will fit into that space.

A note on trends: It might seem like a good idea to write a book that takes advantage of a current trend (sexy vampires, hardened heroines, etc.). But by the time your book finally hits the shelves (it can take years, even after signing a contract), that trend could be over, something buying publishers are well aware of.

That said, there are definitely certain genres that readers seem to have an endless appetite for. these are trends to watch out for, rather than trends related to specific themes or character types. (We’ll talk more about these genre trends, and why the Big 5 publishers love them, in step 5.)

2. finish your book and get feedback from editors

this whole article is based on the fact that your book is really good. It doesn’t need to be the best novel ever written, but it should be something your target audience enjoys. For that reason, it’s important that an agent isn’t the first person (other than you) to read your manuscript.

Before you start looking for representation, consider working with beta readers: people interested in your gender who can offer you feedback from a third party perspective. and try to get someone professional! your cousin or roommate from college may be happy to help you, but may not be your best option, for two reasons:

Like your friend, they are inherently biased; and
they may not belong to your target readers.

Pay attention to what they say and edit yourself based on their comments. You may also consider working with professional and development editors. professional editing can be a crucial step in ensuring your manuscript reads well, by the time an agent finally asks for it.

should you go to writers’ conferences?

Not all authors are lucky enough to live near cities with writers’ congresses. but if you can afford to attend one, then you definitely should. is a great way to view panels of published authors and industry experts (publishers and agents). in most cases, there will even be an opportunity to network directly with those people at conference socials.

It’s also quite common that there are sessions where you can practice your pitch and get one-on-one feedback from the attending agents or editors and (if you really hit it off) you might find that they recommend you to agents.

An inexpensive alternative to writing conferences is online writing communities, where you can get great advice, commentary, and case studies from people who have written and published books. Though it’s unlikely you’ll find any former Big 5 buyout editors casually browsing the forums, these communities are a great place to start for first-time authors, and may even lead you to becoming a lifetime member.

Additional resources: what to expect from beta readers (and where to find them) (blog), what sensitive readers are (and should authors use them?), and how to edit a book (blog)

3. send query letters to literary agents

Warning: not all agents have nice white offices like this.

At this point, your manuscript is looking sharp, and you have a keen understanding of whom it’s aimed at. With that in your back pocket, it’s time to get yourself an agent. This is where you can turn to our thoroughly vetted literary agents directory, which lists over 600 agents in every genre and category for you to peruse!

Start browsing our directory to find the literary agent of your dreams today.

do you need an agent?

While some independent publishers accept “agentless submissions,” you’ll find that your best bet for a traditional publishing deal will be to get an agent first. not only do they have the right connections at publishers, but they’ll also know the best way to sell it to buying publishers.

Also, presenting your book is only one of the many tasks that correspond to an agent. They are also consultants and editors, who will give you unbiased advice on your manuscript and act as a buffer between you and the editor. they’ll take care of much of the business side of things, leaving you free to write. More importantly, they are deeply familiar with the industry and should know how to negotiate the best price for your book (and avoid potential scams). For that reason alone, they are worth their commission.

what do you look for in an agent?

First of all, you’re not just looking for an agent who’s willing to take you on. you want one that is right for you and your manuscript. they must be passionate about your book, as they will be responsible for selling it! For that reason, you should research and develop a list of candidates that represent books and authors within your specific genre.

Fortunately, our literary agent directory allows you to save agents to your shortlist and email the list to yourself, so you don’t lose track of who you want to see. To learn more about finding the perfect agent for you and your book, check out the resource below.

additional resource: how to find a literary agent (guide)

what do agents look for in an author?

It is important to remember that everyone’s goal in this business is to make money. Agents work on commission only, so they’re looking for books that have a high probability of selling to one of the Big 5 publishers (the Big 6, if you include Amazon publishers), and that will sell enough copies to justify their investment. of time.

Agents also look for long-term working relationships. this means that they will place more value on writers who not only have the potential to write a lot of great books, but also seem like good people to work with. no matter how amazing your manuscript is, if it comes across as a delusional nightmare, people will think twice before signing it.

Do you need publishing experience or personal connections to get an agent?

A common misconception is that unsolicited queries almost never succeed. this, however, is largely untrue. Former Agent Rachel Stout surveyed more than twenty New York agents from various backgrounds and found that nearly all of them are open to unsolicited inquiries (or “slush,” as they call it).

“I know the authors don’t think most agents read their queries. Almost everyone reads them,” Stout suggests. “35% of the agents I asked, some with two decades of experience and some with two years, said that more than half of their current list comes straight from the slush pile.”

4. submit your manuscript to editors

Unless you get a personal introduction, this is the usual procedure for getting an agent for the first time:

You send the agent a “query letter” which quickly introduces you and your novel.
The agent is intrigued. they request and read your manuscript.
they love your manuscript and you get into discussions about: your book and your career.
you sign an agreement that allows the agent to represent your book.

Of course, this is the best case. most writers find themselves consulting multiple agents. It’s a common myth that you should only talk to one agent at a time: no one, especially the agent, expects this to be the case.

Additional resource: How to write a query letter (guide and checklist)

Please note that most agents receive a large number of inquiries each month. The good news is that most of the queries they receive are terrible repetitive messages that are copied and pasted indiscriminately for each agent.

Yes, each agency will have their own submission guidelines (which you should follow closely), but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go the extra mile to further customize your query. make sure:

targeting you directly to a specific agent;
getting their name right (a common pitfall); and
let them know why you specifically want them to represent your book.

Sometimes just showing an agent you’ve researched will give them confidence that you’re a hard-working writer, someone who understands how the game works and doesn’t cut corners.

Additional resource: customizing your query letter (webinar and transcript)

5. sign a book deal to publish the book

You can look forward to working with your agent to further develop your manuscript. In many cases, they will see potential in your book and act as your first editor. Ideally, you’ll discuss how to make your book more salable before signing with them.

Now, some writers might not like this idea. Why did they sign my book if all they want is to change it? however, it is advisable to listen to their suggestions. they’ve been in the game longer than you, and if they’re good at what they do, then their recommendations will help you reach more of your intended audience.

and once you’re both satisfied with the status of your manuscript, it’s up to your agent to go out into the desert, pitch your book to publishers, and negotiate the best possible deal.

can you consult/send a book that you have already self-published?

There are some cases, like Andy Weir’s The Martian and 50 Shades of Gray, where a publisher has reissued a self-published book. but these cases are quite rare. More often than not, if your book has already been on the market, people in the industry will wonder if you’ve already exhausted your market. After all, the 10,000 people who bought your self-published book usually won’t buy it again just because Simon & schuster has it now.

However, if you’ve self-published a book that has sold very well, you can bet agents will be lining up for your next manuscript.

how do you get a publishing deal with the big 5?

If you’re an author currently trying to publish traditionally, you’ve no doubt heard of the big five publishers: penguin random house, hachette livre, harpercollins, macmillan, and simon & Schuster All of these publishers have been around for decades, and getting his book published by one of them is a golden ticket for prestige and recognition.

However, keep in mind that these publishers are quite selective, especially when it comes to novels. if you want to compete for one of them, you’ll have better luck writing in certain genres. As you can probably tell from the market today, the biggest genre trends in fiction lately are:

suspense and suspense novels (e.g., the missing girl and the woman in the window)
stories and/or novels based in real events (eg, circe and room)
novels of “own voices” (eg, the hate you give and there it is )

That said, it still needs to have some kind of original twist to catch the attention of the Big 5 publishers. your book can’t just be a poor man’s lost girl; you have to take the most innovative and intriguing elements of the chosen genre and make them even better. you have to make the story truly yours.

Additional resource: Largest book publishers in 2022 (directory) and what is luxury fiction? (blog)

and there you have it. Remember: If you have a strong manuscript and the desire to work, there’s no reason you can’t secure your own publishing contract. We can’t wait to see your name on the shelves!

Want to know all the details of what really goes on behind the scenes at a major publishing house? Check out our free course: Inside a traditional “big five” editor!

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