How to Publish a Book

Have you been searching for an agent for a while now? Have you sent out more query letters than you can count? Having an agent will give you access to industry contacts and inside knowledge that you don’t possess. They’ll keep you current with editors’ tastes and needs and negotiate advances and publishing contracts to your advantage. So, they can help you a lot. Let me give you some unconventional tips that show how to publish your book by helping you track down that elusive agent.

1. Find Literary Agents Through Other Writers

Published authors are very much like you. They are every day ordinary people, but at times can be reclusive when they are working on a project. If you write to your favorite author, most of the time they will respond back to you personally! This gives you an opportunity to build a relationship and possibly a referral to a well connected agent.

2. Get Discovered By Winning A Writing Contest

Here is a gem of a tip. A lot of writing contests actually use literary agents as judges. This will give you exposure and could lead to you being offered a deal after the contest. Warning: choose your writing contests wisely. Review the list of judges so you know who will review your work.

3. Find Them On The Internet

Although book publishing agents don’t advertise for new writers, they usually have a web presence. It’s just a matter of sorting the good from the scams (sorry I meant to say bad!). Look around the web for lists of legitimate agents. I’ve provided a link below to a list that you may want to take a look at.

4. Talk To Book Publishers

Book publishers, of course have good relationships with agents. But here’s the trick, if you get an opportunity to communicate with a publisher (even a small one) they may be able to refer you to agents they use. Then it’s just a matter of networking within the group to land with one that represents works like yours.

Finally, The tips I’ve provided are unconventional and require you to do more work than hit the send button on your e-mail program. But, I believe this road less traveled should give you some access to agents with less competition. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to write, write and write some more and just keep sending your work out to literary agents and publishers. If you have the talent, sooner or later you will strike gold.

photo credit: ImageMD

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