It may have taken weeks, months or years, but once you have your completed book, the time has come for the exciting and often frustrating process of getting it published to begin! Before diving in headfirst however, it may be wise to gather a few objective opinions from experienced sources as to whether you really do have something worth publishing. Once you are confident this is the case, the first step in securing a book deal is to research research research. Find out as much as you can about the world of publishing, what competition there is out there for your book, and which publishers specialise in which types of work. Attend talks which literary agents often run for the purpose of giving advice to aspiring authors.
Secondly, it is wise to find your own literary agent. An agent will be familiar with the publishing world, and will be able to knowledgeably decide which editors might be the most interested in your particular genre or style of writing. An agent will also be able to offer you career advice as well as conduct negotiations on your behalf once a book deal is secured. Make sure you do your homework though, rather than approaching the whole world with your work, gather together a reasonably selective list of agents, making sure that the ones you choose are interested in your type of writing. Find out what other books are currently available that are similar to yours, and if possible who their agents are.
Once you have gathered together a suitable list it is time to make contact – many agents have their own websites which you can access and contact them this way. For fictional works, they will usually ask for a few chapters of your book, along with a cover letter. In the case of non fiction, you will often need to approach them with a proposal of your book – this usually consists of an outline of the book, along with details of yourself and your experience.
Alongside finding an agent, aspiring writers could also enter one of the many competitions for writers, with the prize often being a book deal. Cinnamon Press run short story and novel awards twice each year, and the prize is the opportunity for publication. Above all though, patience, hard work and persistence are the key ingredients of successfully securing that book deal. Good luck!
