| Have you ever wandered into a book store and | | | | there will be a lot more hands that the manuscript will |
| looked at all the books wondering how they go | | | | have to get passed through before it gets the |
| there? Maybe you are an up and coming author who | | | | acceptance for publication. |
| sees those books on the shelves and you want to | | | | One important thing to note is that what a new |
| know how to get your book right there along side | | | | author submits directly to the company in this way, |
| them. | | | | the percentage of publishers that accept manuscripts |
| In order to get your book published, it's important to | | | | is very low. It is not advised if you are a previously |
| have an overview of the submission process. After | | | | un-published author. |
| you understand the basics, you will know which | | | | So then how do you bypass this method? |
| course of action to take. | | | | The best way to submit your manuscript is through a |
| For a book to get published, the author of the book | | | | literary agent. Literary agents are professionals |
| will typically submit a letter to the publisher. This | | | | whose job is to review manuscripts before sending |
| letter is called the 'query letter' and it is specifically | | | | them into the publishing companies. |
| submitted according to the submission guidelines of | | | | The reason that publishing companies are more willing |
| that particular publishing company. | | | | to accept a submission by a literary agent is because |
| When an author submits this unsolicited query letter, | | | | a lot of the quality control that their staff would |
| it is called an unsolicited submission. A large amount of | | | | otherwise have to do is shifted to the literary agent. |
| these unsolicited submissions are from authors who | | | | A literary agent also knows what the publishing |
| have never had a book published before. | | | | houses are looking for and only submits manuscripts |
| What happens after you send your unsolicited | | | | based on their experience of what will likely get |
| submission is that it goes into a large pile of other | | | | published. They can provide feedback to you on |
| unsolicited submissions. The acquisitions editor will | | | | what to change in your manuscript and this can help |
| then take the manuscripts from this pile to review. If | | | | increase your chances of getting published. |
| the editor likes your manuscript, he will hand it off to | | | | So if you are serious about getting your book |
| the editorial staff. | | | | published, consider getting a literary agent. It will be |
| Now keep in mind, this process can vary greatly | | | | your best bet for getting your foot in the door and |
| depending on how large the publishing company is. If | | | | becoming the next successful newly published author! |
| the company is very large, then the chances are that | | | | |