Another ” Publishing A Book ” Saga

‘Hmm…I have a brilliant idea!’ Wouldn’t it be great if I wrote a book about this family that moved in next door who I suspect are really aliens? I could get it published, and maybe it would become a movie. I’d get rich just publishing a book!” Thoughts like this enter the minds of aspiring authors everyday. One only needs to go to any book store, new or used, go to the aisle labeled ‘Alien Families’, and find hundreds of titles ranging from the cheesy fifties pulp editions to the more recently released glossy paperback editions by the famous and the not-so-famous. It has all been done before. The last thing any tight-fisted publisher wants is another alien family saga.

So how does this future Ray Bradbury or Harlan Ellison go about realizing their dream of seeing their magnificent tale on the Barnes and Noble and Borders bookshelves? It may be a gripping tale or a light-hearted fantasy. It may be the most brilliant piece of work ever penned, but it will never reach the public until it is PUBLISHED! Then, of course, there is the marketing of the work. But let us take it one step at a time.

Any aspiring author must first accept that before they receive any royalties, there are others who must first recoup their costs. That is assuming that a publishing house has agreed to purchase their manuscript and invest in its production and promotion. For the self-publishing author, this could be just another horror story. Publishing a book can be complicated.

Securing a literary agent to pitch one’s masterpiece is widely recommended, but even literary agents must eat. If one happens to have an Uncle Jake who has connections, one may have a chance of a glimpse into their work. Otherwise, the tedious process of finding an agent who is willing to take the time to shop an unknown author’s work can be very time consuming and the chances of finding a reputable one are relatively slim.

If by chance the work is finally accepted, the author will discover that the publisher usually retains the rights, and the author has very little, if any, control over the design, the content, and promotional strategies. There is not even any guarantee that the book will even see the light of day. The enthusiasm fades along with the dream of literary notoriety.

While many young or new authors may be brilliant storytellers, many are not English majors. Even works by some of the greatest authors must be proofread and edited. Experts must be employed and sufficiently compensated for their skills to correct spelling and grammatical errors, redundancies, examine structure and flow, and other elements that make the book readable, and more importantly, credible.

The internet is probably the most widely used form of media today. Newspapers, once the primary media used for the dissemination of information, are being reduced to vehicles to distribute store coupons and to promote holiday sales. Most people are now getting their news online. The vinyl LP was replaced by the CD, and now one does not need to own such cumbersome items. They can simply download their favorite music from online sources such as Limewire and ITunes. Books may be facing the same fate.

Consequently, major publishers are rejecting increasing numbers of potentially brilliant authors in favor of the more established authors. Thankfully, the internet has come to the rescue. For the artisan who is not concerned with the financial reward of a bestselling title, blogging is an option. One can write whatever and as much as one wishes on sites like MySpace and Blogger.com. For the aspiring author who wishes to see their work in print, bound, and in a bookstore window, the options are too numerous to comprehend in one online session. It is overwhelming.

There are many ‘Uncle Jakes’ online who promise publishing for every budget. Many genuinely serve the author’s needs and make it possible for them to retain the rights to their work and receive the lion’s share of the royalties. Very few actually ‘deliver the goods’. The frauds are as abundant as the legitimate companies are, and filtering through each of them can be as time-consuming as pursuing the elusive literary agent.

This should not stop the budding author from documenting their observations of the alien family next door and selling the story. Careful research, reputable referrals, and good judgment can spare the next Bradbury years of rejection and frustration. Shop wisely and keep writing. And by all means get published.

Technorati Tags: get published, publisher, Publishing, publishing a book