The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published (2nd Edition) - Softcover

Bykofsky, Sheree; Basye Sande, Jennifer

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0028639197 ISBN 13: 9780028639192

Publisher: Alpha, 2000

Synopsis

Getting a novel or other work published remains one of the most mysterious processes in business today. Using the comprehensive and easy-to-read format of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published, Second Edition, you'll learn practical steps to get your masterpiece published. Learn how to write book proposals and query letters, how to pitch ideas to agents and editors, how to write outlines and sample chapters, and how to deal with publishing companies.

About this title

Review:

Okay, so maybe you aren't a "complete idiot." But if the publishing industry's mysterious ways leave you feeling fairly ignorant, this easy-to-read volume (hey, it's written for idiots) can turn you into a competent insider in no time. If The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published were reduced to one sentence, it would read: The book business is a business--so be businesslike. Don't send a query letter on pink stationery. Don't stalk your editor. Don't bribe the sales reps. That's obvious, but there's more. Between them Sheree Bykofsky and Jennifer Basye Sander have sold, publicized, written, packaged, acquired, edited, agented, and published books. They know whence they speak, and they freely impart their well-earned knowledge here.

The first step to being businesslike is learning the business. While Bykofsky and Sander include the usual stuff about query letters, book proposals, agents, and contracts, they also offer assistance on settling on a subject, information on how manuscripts become books and how books get into stores, and advice on keeping your book in the stores once it gets there. They augment their own publishing wisdom with that of their colleagues. When choosing a topic, don't be put off by a seemingly saturated market; Ben Dominitz of Prima Publishing claims that two of the best reasons to publish a book are "one, because no one has published a book on that topic, and two, because everyone has published a book on that topic." Never settle for a first offer from a publisher; says author and former lawyer Tim Perrin, "You should always say, 'Oh? Is that all?' ... It's never failed for me." And lastly, how does one land that coveted appearance on Oprah®? "All you have to do," says La Jolla-based publicist Arielle Ford, "is call ... the Prayer Line." Scoff if you dare, but two of Ford's clients got booked after leaving prayers. The book provides the phone number, as well as other useful ones. --Jane Steinberg

About the Author:

Sheree Bykofsky is principal literary agent for the Sheree Bykofsky Agency in New York. She is the author of several best-selling titles, and agent of many more.

Jennifer Basye Sander is a long-time writer and book packager based in Sacramento, California. A former book editor, she has co-authored and created more than 50 titles.

About this edition

• Publisher: Alpha
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0028639197
• ISBN 13: 9780028639192
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 368