Getting a Book Published:  Common Mistakes You Want to Avoid

Do you have a book that you would like to see published?  If so, you may be interested in getting started right away.  As soon as an author finishes their book, they want to start approaching publishers as soon as possible.  While it is more than possible to take this approach, you also want to proceed with caution.  There are many common mistakes that new authors make when looking to get a book published.  These are not mistakes that you will not want to make.

One mistake that many authors, especially new authors, make is assuming that others will like their book, no matter what.  It is important to remember that just because you think that your book will be a bestseller, it doesn’t mean that others will.  You do not want to be negative, but it is important not to be overly positive as well.  In fact, that is a good reason why you should consider using the services of both an editor and a literary agent.  At the very least, consider asking a few close friends or family members for their input.  This can serve as a mini focus group for yourself.

Another common mistake that many new authors make, when looking to get a book published, is by assuming that it is easy to do.  The reality is that it is quite difficult to get a book published, especially if you are an unpublished author.  If you wish to see success, there is a lot of time that must go into your work.  Simply writing a book isn’t enough.  You need to do the proper amount of editing, proofreading, and so forth.  Although it can be very time consuming to get a book published, the reward is more than worth it.

Giving up after the first, second, third, or even forth rejection is another common mistake that many new authors make.  It is no secret that rejection hurts.  The last thing that any author wants is someone to state that their book isn’t good enough.  With that said, a rejection is what you will likely receive.  Did you know that many of the most well-known authors today were first greeted with rejection letters?  As previously stated, it isn’t easy to get a book published, but do not give up.

One of the biggest mistakes made by authors looking to get their books published is with publishers.  Here is where you want to proceed with caution, as your chances of making a costly mistake are very high.  Never submit your manuscript to a publisher without first doing the proper amount of research.

Many publishers, especially those that are well-known or large in size, want to do business with authors who have literary agents.  With that said, you do not need to have a literary agent to see your book published.  However, if you do not use an agent, do not send your manuscript to publishers that do not accept unsolicited manuscripts or those without agents.  This will likely result in your work not being looked at and you may also not even receive a reply back.

Speaking of knowing what book publishers want, one mistake that many hopeful authors make is not doing the proper amount of research.  Invest in the $20 that it takes to purchase the Writer’s Market guides or other similar resources.  They give you detailed information on what publishers accept and from whom.  For example, you may already know that Harlequin specializes in romance novels, but you may not know the specialty of other smaller publishers.  You do not want to send a romance novel to a publisher that is only seeking science fiction books and so forth.

Another little factor that you will want to take into consideration is something that will not have an impact on a large percentage of writers, but it is still an important point to make.  Do you smoke?  If you do and in your office, your papers may end up smelling like cigarette smoke.  Many publishers have noted this as being a major inconvenience and turnoff.

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