How to Publish Your Book

Understanding where your fiction book falls in the general categories of literature is an essential step to getting published, as there are a plethora of genre-specific publishing houses. Differentiate between the various categories of fiction writing, including defining commercial and literary fiction, and examine the various types of children's books.

The non-fiction world is also broken into categories including memoires, education, creative or narrative non-fiction, and practical or self-help. Delve into the various genres of non-fiction writing, and learn how to determine which publishing house best aligns with your non-fiction manuscript.

The modern publishing markets are far more complex than they were even a few decades ago. Learn about the different agents and publishers, and discover the tools out there that can help you find the right ones for you. Also, learn how to spot scams and get a handle on what questions you need to ask when deciding whom to approach.

Examine the pros and cons to using literary agents, and learn how the responsibilities and obligations of literary agents have evolved. Learn about how to acquire one, what to expect from an agent, and what standard and non-standard practices you may encounter if you choose to go that route.

The query letter is your first impression and often what catches an agent or publisher's attention, so it's important to create a memorable one. Learn what elements comprise a good query letter, what components the publisher or agent requires, and how to stand out from a sea of queries so your book gets further consideration. Find out which red flags almost always result in immediate rejection.

Once you've nailed a query letter, you will need to provide a synopsis. Condensing your entire story into a one-page overview while still keeping it compelling and intriguing is not easy. Get valuable tips on what a synopsis should and should not contain, and learn what your synopsis needs to focus on and accomplish to be successful.

A platform generally refers to an author's visibility and reach to a target audience: who is aware of your work, where does your work appear, and how many people see it. Examine the six components that make up most platforms, and review the requirements for various genres of writing.

Dissect the elements in a book proposal, which is essentially a business plan that persuades a publisher to invest in your book. Because publishers look for a viable idea with a clear market, paired with a writer who has credibility, your proposal will need to demonstrate both of these, which will require investigation into the target market, audience, competition, authors, and more.

Once you've completed the research required, analyze how to effectively incorporate your findings in a compelling manner, how to craft an author bio that will showcase your credentials, and how to integrate a marketing plan-including identifying your target audience-throughout your proposal. Review examples of how stats and research are incorporated into well-crafted proposals.