How to Find a Publisher
Finding a publisher is one of the greatest obstacles faced by today's budding writers. However, modern writers have great advantages over novelists of the past few decades due to extensive online resources. Writers can now locate, contact and negotiate with publishers without leaving their home or computer.
- Understand the classification of the book that you are writing, or have already written, and search for publishers that work within your genre. Most publishing companies focus on a certain genre; it is important that you do not waste your time with publishers that are not interested in your book.
- Do your research. Develop a list of potential companies that publish books similar to your own. The best way to do this is to make a spreadsheet, or a simple sheet of paper, that includes each publisher's name, genre focus and contact information.
- Join any organizations or newsletters that can provide you with the information you need. Newsletters often include books that have recently been published in each genre, take note of the books that are similarly classified to your own as well as the names of the companies that published them.
- Develop a book proposal. The book proposal will basically be a snapshot of the content of your novel; it should include a brief summary, a few sample pages or even full chapters, as well as any information related to the genre and target market.
- Begin submitting your proposal to the publishing companies you added to your list in step two.