How I Got My Books Published and Made $100! Resources & Free Advice* from Paul Many (Paul.Many@utoledo.edu) Author of These Are the Rules (Walker, 1997) My Life, Take Two (Walker, 2000) and Walk Away Home (Walker, forthcoming, fall 2002) find this page at www.toledo.edu/~pmany/writetips.html Start by buying the Writer's Guide and The Writer's Legal Companion. (See below.) Use other sources to cross-check for updates. In my experience for a first time novelist or short-story writer, it is as hard to get an agent as it is an editor. However, some books are more "agent books" and some are more "editor books." You will find out by sending your book to both and seeing what kind of response you get. I do not have direct experience with nonfiction of a non-academic nature, so you're on your own here, although I suspect it might be easier to attract agents than editors. I attracted an editor first with an unsolicited proposal (see below) and, on the basis of a publisher's oral commitment, I brought an agent into the deal before I signed the contract. She became my agent for future books. Use specific names of specific agents and editors and their titles in all of your contacts. Sources: The Best   Writer's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers and Literary Agents, (Annual) by Jeff Herman (Prima Pub.) The best single guide to agents and publishers. Excellent listing of publishers with names of acquisition editors, specialities, etc. Also lists agents with preferences, policies, etc. (formerly Insider's Guide)  The Writer's Legal Companion by Brad Bunnin & Peter Beren Addison-Wesley (NY, 1994) The best, most comprehensive guide to copyright, contracts, etc. Has sample contracts, etc. Also see "Resource Directory" in back for other helpful sources. To formally copyright a work, you register it with the Copyright Office for $20 (although is work is legally copyrighted as soon as you write it according to current copyright laws). Download forms through the Library of Congress website. Most public libraries should be able to download forms for you. Sources: The Rest Literary Agents: A Writer's Guide Poets & Writers, Inc. 201 W. 54 St. NY, NY 10019 (212) 757-1766 Less comprehensive but strong on advice. LMP-Literary Marketplace (annual) Standard reference book for the publishing trade. Available in most libraries, lists agents, publishers, editors, awards, associations, book manufacturers, etc. Guide to Literary Agents and Writer's Market and Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market Writer's Digest Books 1507 Dana Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45702 1-800-289-0963 These are annuals which like autos come out in September for next year. Some agents & publishers do not like to be listed in these guides since they attract lots of beginners. Publishers Weekly (weekly magazine) Especially special issues in Fall (available early August) and Spring (late January) which show publishers' current list. (See separate issues each season at about the same time for children's and adult books.) These are available as single issues in many good bookstores. You might also look at issues in the library from time to time, or consider a subscription to hunt up opportunities. The Prime Directive: Never Send Money! They Pay You; You Don't Pay Them: Do not pay any agent or publisher any up-front fees. This is a common come-on. Most legitimate agents won't charge you a dime until they sell your project. Professional agent organizations discourage the fee-up-front practice. Several con-artist publishers--often called "co-operative publishers" take your money and produce acceptable to sub-standard work and have no distribution network. The book generally will not be reviewed and will have a difficult time getting into bookstores. You may be the exception to the rule, of course, but it will cost you $5,000 to $10,000 to find out. In so called "vanity" press operations, you foot the entire bill and again get few if any reviews and little penetration into bookstores. Before going the vanity press route try... Self-Publishing Self publishing may be the way to go if you have given up on commercial publishers and agents. Lay out the book using PageMaker, QuarkXPress, a or similar layout program which, if you have basic computer skills, you can learn in a week with a guide book. Take the result to a job printer and use mail order or the net to generate sales. Many excellent books can tell you how to go about this. Here's one: The Self-Publishing Manual (latest edition) by Dan Poynter Para Publishing (2003) Submission Format For fiction, send a cover letter, one-page synopsis (a summary not a blurb) and two or three sample chapters, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Most editors do not want the whole manuscript at the initial contact stage. Some ask for a letter only, but I have not found that this is productive. I once queried the same agent with a letter and was rejected and then, six months later, sent a packet as described above which generated a request to see the entire manuscript (but not a sale). The editor/agent will let you know if they're interested and phone, email or mail you a request to see the rest of the manuscript. Send the manuscript unbound in a box. Don't quit your day job at this point, however, since this is only first base. For nonfiction, send a cover letter, table of contents, and a sample chapter, along with a well-researched marketing statement noting other books in the field and why yours is superior/different. See "The Perfect Nonfiction Book Proposal" in the Writer's Guide. Representation: My agent is Andrea Brown. She deals exclusively with children's writers. As of this writing she does accept unsolicited queries. Send query letter with summary and samples to: Andrea Brown Literary Agency 1076 Eagle Drive Salinas, CA 93905 Finally: Don't quit your day job. It is possible that you will write this year's blockbuster million dollar novel. But to plan for a career in writing, find a job that will pay your expenses. This will allow you to keep writing and spend all your royalties. *Disclaimer This advice is based on the writer's own experience. Use this advice at your own risk. The author takes no responsibility for any unfortunate or embarrassing incidents that may occur as a result of application. Do not operate heavy machinery after taking this advice. May cause shortness of breath, the appearance of tattoos the next day which you have no memory of getting, the generation of excess limbs, bursting into tears, the urge to sing Kumbaya at public gatherings or other undesirable side effects. Return to Paul Many home page.