Okay, so you've finished writing your Book. You've gotten opinions from friends and family and you've made that decision...you're gonna publish this book...now what? You've moved from the end to a new beginning.

For tips on how to write your own book see my other blog:

https://workingwishes.wixsite.com/thisnthat/single-post/2017/03/05/How-to-write-your-own-book

Many people wonder to themselves 'How do I publish my book?' The first point is to always make sure you've finished the book. Very few publishers are going to show interest if the book isn't finished yet, unless you're planning to publish a non-fiction, training manual or similar, even then thought you're going to have to ensure that you've compiled the entire concept including your own specialisation and research. If you're writing fiction it's always best to ensure the story is complete.

The next step is to decide whether you're going to publish traditionally or self publish. It's always best to do complete research and ensure you know all the pros and cons of both methods before you decide.

Anyone who claims they have the way to 'guarentee a best-seller' or tell you they'll make you a 'best seller in just a few short steps' is probably lying, trying to sell something themselves, or don't know what they're talking about. Success lies within each individual and the effort you put in.

Remember, what you put in is what you'll get out.

SELF PUBLISHING: (PUBLISHING WITHOUT INPUT FROM A Publishing HOUSE)

When self publishing the first thing to know is that you're going to have to do all the work yourself. In previous years this would mean vast costs to get started, but in today's technological age it means a faster turnover time to get your book out into the public with websites such as Amazon.com. All you have to do is upload your book and you're away. Self publishing is however is a lot of work, and all marketing has to be done by the author.

Some of the benifits include that you have more control over how you market and present your book, and a higher percentage of royalties.

Some of the disadvantages include having to pay certain things in advance, such as editing and cover design, and the amount of time you'll have to spend on marketing.

Obviously perception changes depending who you ask, but finding blogs by people who've used this method and seeing who you agree with is a good start to your research.

TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING: (WORKING VIA A PUBLISHING HOUSE)

When publishing with a traditional publisher the most important point is obtaining a literary agent if you're planning on aiming for one of the major Publishing Houses. Why? The large publishing houses no longer accept works by unagented authors, there may be some of the smaller publishing houses who still accept unagented works, but consider just how many people are submitting works, and you'll realise that publishing houses are considering agented works as works who have already gone through a certain vetting process, since agents also want to make profit.

Reputable agents work for commission only, so before they decide to represent your book they have to be fairly certain they can sell it. It's also important not to jump at the first offer you receive.

Compare offers from various agents before making your final decision. Remember...an agent isn't doing you a favour by representing your book, they're trying to make money. The same must be considered when receiving a publishing contract.

Some of the benefits of publishing traditionally includes that you generally receive an advance on your book depending on how many books they anticipate will be sold. Also there are no start-up costs, and generally an agent will assist you with editing and getting the best publishing deal. You can also be fairly certain that you're working with experienced proffessionals when publishing.

Some of the disadvantages include that this is a very time consuming method which can take up to years to finish. You also loose the choice as to how your book is going to be marketed which can upset many authors who prefer to maintain creative control. When publishing traditionally you must also be careful or restrictive contract clauses. My suggestion would be to have a legal proffessional look at the contract whether you have an agent or not to ensure that you're getting a fair detail, and that none of the contract clauses are too binding. One specific trap to be careful of when signing with an agent is when they include a clause which states that they receive a percentage of any books you publish regardless of whether they were involved in the process or not.

CONCLUSION:

Whether you're going to self publish or publish traditionally, everyone has their own opinions about it, and you will never find a place where the answer is written for you. All you can do in the end is to research as much as possible, look at the answers you find, and then decide which option works the best for you.

Remember, whatever you write belongs to you...and the only one who can decide what you do with it is you.

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